Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Staring unseeing at the ash filled clouds above him, Lucifer sits on his throne, daydreaming about his reunion with Chloe, her in his lap.

Making friends with shadows on the wall.

It’s his self imposed reward for counseling another soul out of their Hell loop.

I’m not crazy, just a little unwell, thinking how I used to be. Happy.

He has sat here not often enough, these first six months, imagining their far in the future reunion. Ecstatic pleasure on his face, the sweet in the bitter.

Pay any price just to get you, Detective. Even if our separation is the universe’s longest blip. The newest four letter word with which to curse.

Of course, you have to duck your head into your shoulder, not to hide from the grounded demons, but so you don’t inhale the ashes that taste like regrets. As he relaxes into the head spinning fantasy of Chloe caressing his face and speaking softly of being his partner, Lucifer hears the whoosh of great wings. Amenadiel the interrupter by the sound of it, and lightening of obsidian gray atmosphere. The perks of being worthy to be God, he supposes. What could have brought his older brother here to Hell, that one time before it was because Michael was making trouble on Earth involving the Detective? Lucifer jumps off the throne, rocketing past his brother towards the cracked hallways of Hell.

I gladly gave up all I got. Surrendered my bad life for good. Sorry, Townsend, for mangling your lyrics to Bargain.

As Amenadiel lands, Lucifer starts questioning him immediately. Even though time is slower here in the Pit, whatever might be wrong on Earth has a well, a Hell of a head start.

“Easy, brother, easy. Those angelic wardens, Hoael and Jarenel, overseeing Michael’s detention, brought me word…” Amenadiel’s calming voice is drowned out by Lucifer’s anxious question.

“Brother, what’s happened? Not a Michael repeat, I hope.” Lucifer’s eyes flash red.

Amenadiel confirms Lucifer’s suspicion, “Yes, Michael, but this time he seems to be trying to make amends. Lucifer, he impersonated you in Rory’s time travels. Sowing the seeds of abandonment.” Amenadiel explains.

“How do you know that? Michael is fully capable of fabricating a tale about hoodwinking Rory.” Lucifer puts up defenses against the sudden, unexpected sprig of hope.

“Michael contacted me, wanting to know how to get his wings back.” Amenadiel updates Lucifer in measured tones.

“Fat chance. The only wings he will ever see are the ones on the swans he is cleaning up after at the animal rescue. Still with a toothbrush, ‘Menadiel, that was part of the agreement after I decided his presence in Hell was too much of a temptation for me.” Lucifer growls.

“Linda and I hypothesized that he had to ‘become a better person’, confess his guilt, and right a great wrong. Just as you did with Mom,” Amenadiel encourages.

“And he confessed that he’d impersonated me, we already knew that.” Lucifer paces, impatience in action.

“Michael volunteered the part about interacting with Rory. I think for once Michael is sincere in his regrets.” Amenadiel suggests, trying to convince Lucifer to return to Earth while Chloe is still alive.

“Michael ‘regrets’ getting caught and paying the price.” Lucifer is staunchly against any supposition of redeeming characteristics for his twin.

“Lucifer, the guilt is not yours, its Michael’s. And yet, somehow,” Amenadiel muses, “you and your family are paying the price.”

“Amenadiel, I still gave my word to my daughter to not change her childhood, the one where I was entirely absent.” Lucifer looks away from Amenadiel, unwilling to let his brother see how much pain deserting Rory has caused him.

“Luci, I don’t think it counts, if she extracted that promise based on incorrect information.” Amenadiel holds up his hands to stop Lucifer’s next objection. “Brother, I dabbled in investigative work, but it’s you and Chloe together solving the injustices in Heaven, Earth and Hell who are the experts in finding the hidden truths.”

“But I am supposed to be down here, freeing souls from their guilt. Even, even she agreed.” Lucifer finds it impossible to refer to Chloe by title or name and choke words out.

“Which soul are you working with, I will take over that and you can fly up. Chloe still has a little time left, before the birth.” Amenadiel reassures his brother about the timeline Earthside.

“I’ve been attempting to coax Delilah out of her cell. Brother, are you sure?” Lucifer demands over the snap of his wings rapid unfurling.

“No, frankly, omniscience where you are concerned is non-existent. Pray to me when Chloe goes into labor. My back up plan is to be there to stop time during Rory’s birth if we sense signs of ‘the fabric of time and space’ tearing,” Amenadiel waves his hands in a disturbing Doc Brown imitation. Lucifer glares at his brother, finding stodgy Amenadiel’s sarcasm unreassuring.

“Give you enough time to get away.”

“Excellent.” Lucifer launches from the throne, huge white wings propelling him rapidly through the falling ash and towards the only destination that matters.

Chapter Text

In the precinct basement’s storage room of ancient files, stacked floor to ceiling on rickety metal racks, Chloe sighs deeply, wishing again and again for her partner.  The paperwork she needs is at the very top of the shelves and she has promised faithfully there would be no ladder climbing or standing on chairs.  Chloe shakes her head at herself, there will be no tall consultant, able to leap towering shelving in a single bound and retrieve the file.

Not the only thing I miss about my partner.  Lucifer, I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain.  I had just had to drive by Lux again because I can’t seem to move on past the bitterness.  Passed your tower, but you don’t live there anymore. Sorry, Everything But the Girl, for mangling your lyrics to Missing. Babe, we are both stuck in Hell of separation to save others. This is no blip, I wonder how you endure it with time being so much slower in Hell.  ‘Months have proved, to offer nothing since you've moved’,  at least for me. I miss you, Lucifer. I wonder if you miss me when you command your demons to change their ways from torture to ping pong so souls don’t suffer so much.  Only you and I endure a torment we had no choice about, to protect this precious baby.  I can’t believe I will raise second daughter without a partner. And that’s nothing to what you go through, more alone than I am and for a much, much longer period of time. You wanted so much to be a good father and family man, for Rory and Trixie.

Dan is not here either, to help me accomplish something he objects to the whole way, keeping me safe while he disapproves of my choices.  Why didn’t I keep him safer? Chloe wonders as she wipes her wet face on her sleeve.  Stupid hormones, I won’t cry in case one of the other researchers returns.  What did I wander towards the doorway for anyway?

“Detective,” cheerful British voice, full of anticipation.

Oh, God, whoops sorry Amenadiel, drat, now I’m dreaming Lucifer’s voice during the day.  As if he doesn’t haunt my night time enough, talking in my sleep.

“Detective?” questioning British voice, uncertain of his reception from her.

“Now I’m hearing voices in my head,” Chloe whispers to herself, hoping the sound of her whispers will stop the breakdown to completely unwell.

Don’t crash into the desk, Decker, ignore the sexy British accented voice coming from behind you in the records room you know to be empty.  For all you imagined Lucifer would just stroll into the precinct again, its not gonna happen.

“Detective?” don’t you want me plaintive British voice.

Chloe looks up at this, not even the mirage of Lucifer should believe she doesn’t want him.

This is a good phantom, voice and picture with my eyes wide open.  Does Lucifer imagine me with such detail?

“Chloe, its me, Lucifer.”  His repeat of the words from his previous return to her from Hell convince Chloe that it is actually her partner in front of her.

Chloe fast waddles to Lucifer, burying her face in his ash flecked shirt.  It must be really be him here, in her dreams he bends down instantly to bury his face in her hair.  In reality, it’s a much slower, tentative sinking into her.  Lucifer must again be unbelieving about her affection for him.

“How, what, where, how long?” Chloe demands when she has breath, gazing into his warm brown eyes.

“Not sure, is there somewhere we can be sure to be private?” Lucifer gestures that she should lead the way.

“Oh, yes, behind the shelving,” she replies, spinning him around to walk aside of her, his hand in hers, tugging him further into the dusty den.

Lucifer shudders as they re-enter, “Looks like a paperpusher’s Hell loop.”

“And the record I need is on top of that shelf,” Chloe grouses, glancing up.

“In the coated in dust, of course, oversized brown box,” Lucifer points where Chloe is looking with one hand.  His other hand is still firmly attached to Chloe’s.

“That one, yes.”  Chloe nods, looking down at their joined hands.  She shakes her head and lets go, backing away to give her partner room.

Lucifer kicks the rolling stepstool over and stretches, reminding Chloe of the powerful body underneath the dapper suits he wears as camouflage.

Oh my, missed watching that toned body in action, how long til I can touch him again or will some celestial craziness pop up and I will only have the bittersweet of just seeing him but not reveling in the intimate connection we took so long to develop. Did he have to return now, when I’m so ungainly?

He snags the box, placing it on the table, making faces at the dust and grime now coating his hands.

Better stick with sensible brown boots Chloe.  There is no way Lucifer, connoisseur of skinny glitterati, is going to want Jane the pregnant beached orca.  Rattle those facts off, Decker, so you don’t start drooling over him.

She explains to him, “The department suddenly had money for a cold case researcher when I needed an office position, but not the funds for making the documents more accessible.”

Chloe smiles a little watery when he continues his rigorous inspection of his hands in order to remove those dreaded paperwork cooties.  “There were also no resources to improve the lighting in here, these lights flicker all the time.  That’s a first for them to be orange tinged, though,” Chloe tells him, puzzlement tinging her tone, as she looks up, trying to identify the cause of the ominous color.

She shakes her head, the mysteries of odd colored lights are not nearly as important to her as Lucifer, tense and darkly contemplative.  Those narrowed, intense eyes and stiff posture mean trouble for someone.

Would they have no time to explore the new development in their relationship – partners with benefits?  Or would all their emotional resources be devoted to coping with celestial craziness?  After dragging during his absence, Time had suddenly sped up with the memory of too short happy moments, wasted, versus long anxious separations, going through the motions.

“How long?” Chloe demands, recapturing his now clean hands in hers.

How long is the sweet in the bitter this time?  Can I trust that things will work out for us?  Should I campaign once again for the happy life we deserve, together on Earth, Heaven or Hell?  How long?

“At least til the baby is born,” Lucifer explains, dividing his attention between her tear streaked beautiful face and their connected hands.  He continues, “Michael, of all people, confessed, to sowing the seeds of fear in Rory about time travel paradigms for her and I.  However, my idiot twin is fully capable about prevaricating about lying.  Amenadiel believes you and I, together, can discover the truthfulness of Michael’s yarn,” Lucifer justifies his presence on Earth, near Rory.  He continues, his usual Devil may care attitude absent, “And that I should not be held to a vow in response to a lie?”

Maybe, Hell did freeze over.  That’s Lucifer, uncertain.  Talking a celestial case over with me, the way I dreamed he would.  Just to have him back with me, I would be tempted to agree.  Lucky for me, our justice system is very clear about this.

“Yes,” Chloe concurs.  “Lucifer, you do not have to adhere to a contact made when under duress or misinformation, at least on Earth,” she qualifies.

 Still steadfast about protecting her and Rory, Lucifer vows,  “If something goes awry, Amenadiel will stop time and I, I will do the necessary.”

Chloe hears the unvoiced, “Again and again.”  But she will never get used to the dejected resolution on her partner’s face.

Chloe puts hands to her rounded out stomach. “Oh, baby, you get to hear your Daddy sing in person.”  She looks up at Lucifer, “She loves all the recordings of your music.  Well, the ones appropriate for babies,” Chloe rolls her eyes.

“You, you wanted her to know me, at least some part of me.” Lucifer marvels, dumbfounded.

In response to Lucifer’s tortured and rewarded look (how does he do that?), Chloe puts gentle hands on his scruff.  “I thought if you both liked the same music, it would be a start for getting along with a parent…”

“Who was absent your entire childhood.” Lucifer growls, looking away from her pain, trying to conceal his.

“Yes,” Chloe nods reassuringly in response, trying to contain the tears to her eyes.

“Chloe, your efforts for Rory and I to have an interest in common is a miracle for me to cherish forever, no matter where I am.” Lucifer vows fervently.

“Detective Decker,” an records clerk hails her from the doorway, causing Chloe and Lucifer jump apart at the interruption. “That’s all the time we can give you in the records room today.”

“Grab the box, Lucifer.”  Chloe directs.  “I am not supposed to carry anything that heavy. 

“Right.”  Chloe realizes from Lucifer’s puzzled look that he has no idea about some of the restrictions of activity for pregnant people.

At the Penthouse, Lucifer picks up Chloe, to place her on the bar, a position beloved by both of them for equalizing their heights.

“Oops, no, Lucifer, my feet have to stay on the ground now,” Chloe pats her belly, smiling down at her burden.

“Of course, darling.  Slow and gentle,” Lucifer sighs, that smile of wonderment Chloe adores on his face.  “I had plenty of those fantasies too, not to worry,” he adds reassuringly.

“Mmm,” Chloe shifts her protruding stomach to the side so they can exchange hot, groping kisses, pressed up against each other. Lucifer leans down, his shoulder level with Chloe’s face.

Chloe pulls back suddenly, squirming pell-mell out of Lucifer’s embrace.

“Wha?” Lucifer froze, confused and startled out of amorous activities.

Chloe grabs underneath her stomach, turning away from Lucifer.

Chapter Text

“Achoo.”

Blond hair swings with the force of the sneeze.

“Oh, Detective, you’ve taken years off my millennia.” Lucifer shakes his head, trying to rid himself of the shock from the abrupt separation from Chloe, especially when amorous.

“The ash plus dust made me sneeze.  Shower?” Chloe asks with an invitational grin.

“Excellent idea, darling,” whatever makes those pretty turquoise eyes light with joy.  Someone joyous to see me, with all my inconvenient questions, and eye roll worthy quips.  Not just tolerating me for my part in their scheme, seeing me as a test, or because of a vow to her master.

Lucifer puts one arm around Chloe, headed for the ensuite.  The other hand is busy unbuttoning his jacket.  Well, the top button, the bottom few he just yanked off.  The shirt and his other clothes are similarly shredded in hasty removal.

“Lucifer, not in the shower.  Its slippery.  Wait, let me sit down,” Chloe backs to the warmed shower seat, towing him along.

Any where you want it, darling.  You’ve only to ask.

She puts hands on Lucifer’s jutting hip bones, rolling her eyes up at him.  His cock jumps in response, but he flinches away.

“Lucifer?” Chloe tips her head, trying to figure out what’s gone wrong now.

“Usually, trips to Earth, I wash up first, acquire that society’s sharp dressed clothes, luxuriate in open clear air, eat food for a gourmand.  Then a Brittaney.  Nothing as beautiful as you, of course.” Lucifer explains tenderly, that beloved shy grin on his face.

“We will hose you down, wrap you in a towel, open the sliders to the balcony and feed you cool ranch puffs,” Chloe teases.

Lucifer laughs, relaxing into the joy Chloe brings with her unexpected comments.  Something new in a long lived life is a surprise to be cherished.  Fantasy Chloe lacked the practical streak of the Detective, even whilst trying to be sexy.

He strokes his hands slowly through her damp hair as she draws patterns on his stomach and ribs.  Lucifer leans down into her touch so she is caressing his pecs.  “Know its really you, short practical nails and strong fingers,” his longing poured into her ear.

“That shouldn’t be sexy, but it is in that deep voice.” Chloe grins up at him.

Lucifer chuckles, “I’m sex appeal on a stick, darling.”

Chloe runs her hands up and down his sides as he caresses her ears.  She shudders, blowing out a warm breath, which just wafts over the tip of his cock.  He shakes, one foot sliding a bit, throwing him off balance.

Yep, still vulnerable to the Detective.

“Much as I adore shower sex, Chloe, I believe a less slippery surface might benefit both of us this round.”  He gently strokes her hair, “I find myself still vulnerable to mis-steps around you.”

“Mmm, no, slip and fall would certainly be a mood killer,” Chloe agrees.

No Falling today.  Hopefully, she mistakes that shudder for a reaction to the temperature change from warm shower to cold streaking to the bed.

When they reach the big bed, Chloe advises, “Lucifer, as much fun as the break the walls sex was, this is not the time for that.  In fact, the OB advised me against, well, any kind of penetration.”

“Ah.  Well, then my humping you like a wild animal will have to stay a fantasy.”  Lucifer eases backwards away from her.

“Good, cause about now I’d really prefer a back rub.” Chloe clasps his hand, drawing him back to her.

She wants my touch, even without sex or orgasms, in exchange.  Chloe is truly a miracle.

“She’s a heavy one to carry.” Chloe explains.

At Lucifer’s uncertain look, Chloe shimmies towards him, “We will have to be inventive, darling.” She puts one hand on his stubbled cheek, the other slowly caresses up and down his thumb.  When combined with the glint in Chloe’s eyes, Lucifer realizes there will be more than just affection to follow.

“Ah. As long as invention involves your hands on any part of me.” Lucifer’s voice is husky with want and yearning.  “This is much more what I spent thousands of years imagining.”

“Oh, Lucifer,” Chloe responds with the same level of longing in his name as he had for her touch.

“And your almost begging my name,” he teases, grinning.

“My, what a big,” Chloe glances down his naked body, “ego you have.”

His cock jumps in response.  “Yes, well, apparently the little devil doesn’t care what you call him, as long as you pay attention,” Lucifer responds, amused at himself.

Chloe eases her fingertips into Lucifer’s mouth. “You talk too much.”

Lucifer delicately licks the pads of her fingers, “Mmm, humm.”

With his free hand, he obediently begins caressing the top of her shoulder, stroking reverently through her long blond locks.  Chloe feels when the dam breaks, Lucifer’s need for her affection outweighing the distaste he acquires in Hell for physical contact.

Lucifer quickly has his hand in the middle of her back, his arm stretched along her side for as much skin to skin contact with her as possible.  His entire body has shifted, melting into her.

She revels in the heat coming off him, her soul was cold in his absence.  Thawing is uncomfortable though, Chloe squirms closer to Lucifer, rubbing her face against his stomach.  Maybe touch will convince her Lucifer is truly here, it seems to be working for him.  He shivers as her breath drifts over him.

Lucifer can’t help shuddering, the seductive warmth of Chloe is such a contrast with the ice cold of his soul while in his workplace, in spite of the inferno temperatures of Hell.  His counseling work had been novel and intellectually rewarding, but his spirit had shriveled with the lack of his partner, starlight and fresh air.

He continues to gently caress Chloe’s lower back, basking in her attention to him.  The sounds she makes in response to his touch are the most beautiful music he has ever heard.  Lucifer would normally let his eyes drift shut, but that’s where fantasy Chloe lives.  The real one, draped over him, has warm, golden skin, a feast for his eyes.  Beautiful rounded rump, she moans when he massages one cheek with his long fingers.  Side benefit, his arm has pushed her head a little more towards his lengthening cock.  He can feel more of her warm breath on that so sensitive part.  His other hand is still firmly in her mouth, fingers dancing with her tongue.  Each wet stroke on his fingers sparks want up and down his body.  He indulges himself and Chloe by keeping the palm of his other hand in contact with her skin, letting those piano strengthened fingers massage her lower back.

Warmth and caress on her sore lower back.  Chloe moans her relief, vibrating Lucifer’s fingers, still in her mouth.  She breathes deep, every time she can, inhaling the scent of stars.  As her head drops down onto Lucifer’s stomach, his fingers slide out of her mouth.  With his now free hand, Lucifer fiddles with her ear, she tips her head so he has easier access to the sensitive spot on her neck.  Chloe feels her hair glide over her face, from the tightening of Lucifer’s stomach, her honey locks have drifted over his cock.  His breath hisses out as his whole body jerks.  She grins, Chloe has discovered Lucifer loves a delicate touch.  He might rhapsodize enthusiastically about wall breaking sex, but care and affection leave him trembling for more.

Another kiss then, this time delicately on his stomach.  The teasing is fun too.  Chloe loves to make her partner a hot mess.  Not like she is the picture of restraint or calmness right now.  Practically purring her pleasure, continually shimmying under Lucifer’s fingers to guide them to the most needy spot on her back and neck.  Her warm breath hitching in and out, not just to tease her partner.  Finally, a reward for her stalwart dedication, alone, to being parent, provider, and recipient of so many friends’ grief over Lucifer’s departure.  His warm skin under her, talented fingers caressing her back in all the right places and the scent of stars every time she breathes.  All proof she was not alone in this moment.  How had Lucifer stood the solitude of separation for thousands of years, twice now?  Not again, not for either of them.  For now, she’d make sure Lucifer was confident of her affection.  As soon as her brain was working again, her detective skills would be applied to sifting through the new evidence and gathering more information to solve the time paradigm Rory had been so emphatic about.  Okay, never mind the para thindigemy bobby, lets just solve the problem of Lucifer needing to return to Hell alone to protect her and all their friends. 

Right now, though, her problem solving skills needed to be applied to figuring out the logistics of intimacy with a giant belly bump and a very cuddly devilish bed partner.  Normally, a couple would have a chance to get used to the physical changes as the baby grew.  She’d have to go for incredible instead.  Chloe squirmed under Lucifer’s gentle touch, his piano trained fingers had found the tense muscles surrounding the exit wound of Jimmy Barnes’ bullet.

“Mmmuhmm, Lucifer, just there,” Chloe nodded her relief into her partner’s stomach.

Their movements have shifted her face closer to his pulsing cock.  Chloe breaths out slowly towards him.  “Ahh,” grunts her partner, “Just there.”

Chloe smiles, and repeats the torment.  It’s a game they love, who will break first and shift from delicate coaxing of desire to aggressive stoking of want.

“Darling,” gravely Devil tones convey Lucifer’s desperation for more.

Chloe moves her head so her outgoing breath strokes Lucifer from bottom to top. One touch of her tongue at the tip as a reward for his fingers, tightened over her shoulder blades.

“Mminx.” Lucifer pants.

“You know you like it.” Chloe sauces.

“Yees, but you, you weren’t supposed to guess, my clever Detective,” there’s a hint of strain in his voice now that Chloe takes pride in.

“Should I kiss and make it better?” Chloe suggests.

“Betteerrr?” Lucifer implores, voice deep enough that the rrrs turn to growls and the vowels rumble through her.

Closed mouth, Chloe kisses around his tip, gently, slowly.  He rises up, following her lips with the jump of his cock.  His hips flex to chase her affection. 

Her hair trails over his stomach.

“Won’t last, too much,” Lucifer pants.

Chloe draws back a little, just out of range of his pulsing cock.

“Inventive didn’t mean just my hands on you, did it?” Chloe shifts her head from side to side, hair gliding over hips, top of his thighs and his damp dick.

“Tease.  Aaah, ha, course not Chlo oh e.”  Lucifer quickly returns to caressing  Chloe’s back so he can make music with her.  His struggle to make her sweet stroking last is evident in his shifting legs and breath huffing in and out.

Massage restored, Chloe tips her head down to Lucifer’s cock, opening her lips just a little, taking in the very tip.  Lucifer’s body ripples underneath of her, some of the ‘will she won’t she’ tension released.  Soft, warm tongue flicks have him panting in response.  Ever so slowly, Chloe slides her mouth downward.  His cock lengthens in response, inserting more of him into her wet mouth.  With each small increase in sensation, Lucifer purrs his pleasure.

To reward his enthusiastic noises, Chloe sucks gently, him half in her mouth, the bottom half warmed by her hand.

“Close, Chloe,” Lucifer moans, letting free at last.  “So long, so good, my darling,” he praises in husky Devil tones.

She finishes swallowing under Lucifer’s avid gaze.  “You make an inventive dessert,” she compliments, grinning.

Lucifer laughs, assisting Chloe to shift to sitting up.  He fumbles about, finding the tissue box.  The joy continues, watching her wrinkle her nose at the wet mess and wipe her face, beaming all the while.

Still in the afterglow, they lay back down together.  When her head is resting on his shoulder, belly shifted up to lay along his, Lucifer sighs, body contented, soul satiated, brain struggling to engage to anything more complicated than finding a cover for a moist and snuggling Detective. 

Its all I can think of, though, as she is relaxed in my arms, clinging to me for warmth.  I won’t spoil this, worrying about the future and how to discover the truth.  Just lie here for a few minutes, then contemplate time paradthingys to the music of her snores.  I only ever yawn around the Detective.  There was no true rest in Hell, that must be why I’m so so

Chapter Text

At the ding of the elevator, Lucifer slides carefully out of bed, wanting to let Chloe continue sleeping.  He puts on the lounge pants Chloe had insisted upon purchasing before they were certain he would have to return to Hell.  She’d been quite emphatic that there was no roaming about in just a flimsy robe for a family man, tempting visiting exes or indecent in front of daughters.

Once again, the Detective has provided the forethought he needs.

“Mum?” Lucifer tugs the open robe on more snugly around him, wishing it was a suit jacket with its connotations of dominion.   He stays on the opposite side of the piano, when Mum pops up its time to be wary.  Who knows what scheme in which she might try to involve him.  Or, could this be about Michael?  Lucifer suggests mildly, “This is a day of surprises.”

As usual, the Goddess focuses on her troubles, ignoring Lucifer’s statement about his day, “Son, I don’t need any more surprises.  What I am seeking is a hobby or day job for your father, to keep him occupied, like you did. I am endeavoring to have the TNT network piped into our mansion and keep him charmed with the TV.”

“You think he will be interested in what humans think about how the supernatural works?”  Lucifer shakes his head at his mother’s simplistic scheme.

“Its got to be better than the crazy things I didn’t plan happening in my universe as his memory improves.” The Goddess complains.

“Improves?” Lucifer tips his head in puzzlement and some disbelief.  As explained to him by Linda, humans’ memory loss in the aged might level off, but there’s no recovery trajectory.

“Yes, the longer he has been away from Heaven, the more connected he is to what is going on around him.  Both memory and control over his power are growing stronger, very erratically.” Mum shakes her head, gesturing her displeasure with her hands, setting music sheets to fluttering.

Oh, no, not a repeat of the poor piano taking the brunt of Mum’s displeasure.  Plus, the noise of its destruction might wake the Detective.  Maybe I can sweet talk the Goddess out of explosions, plagues and floods and demolition.

“Are you sure he is not just having a good decade?”  Humans sometimes measure progress in good days and bad days, but immortals judge with a much larger scale.

“No, all he talks about is coming to visit Earth, you and your brothers again.” The Goddess stalks back and forth on her side of the piano to give her exasperation an outlet.

“Speaking of brothers, Lucifer, what about, about your twin’s punishment?” The Goddess probes.

“What of it, Mum?” Lucifer asks, warily.

The Goddess presses, “Was it truly necessary to wrap him in a demon steel chain and confine him to a place where animals are stored?” 

Lucifer resists flinching as his Mum’s voice intensifies, veering towards well remembered venomous.  She’d known how to turn Heaven into Hell, even if he and his siblings had no idea what Hell was at the time.

He retorts, “Michael confined Chloe in a cave at that zoo.  It suited my sense of justice to have him serve his sentence there, with winged creatures undergoing rehabilitation.”

Besides, I can keep him securely stashed there until such time as the Detective gives birth to Rory.  Only then will Chloe and I take the chance of interrogating Michael about his role in Rory’s hatred of me and belief that I deserted her, Chloe and Trixie.

“Did you really believe a home detention anklet will keep him from escaping?” The Goddess scathing tone communicates her dislike of Michael being trapped, especially on Earth.

“This particular ‘anklet’ is demon forged chain, wrapped around his waist, secured with criss crossed chain over his shoulders and attached to more demon forged chain serving as a jock strap.” Mum doesn’t need to know the chains are slow slicing him as painfully as possible. “If he crosses the perimeter in any way, alarms go off in Hell, here on Earth and in Heaven, besides zapping him.” Lucifer elucidates the protections that could hurt Michael, hoping to discourage his mother from enacting escape attempts.

“You are sure there’s no way he could get free?” The Goddess grills.

Always plotting, she is. I need to convince her any foray to free him will increase Michael’s pain.

“If anything, anything is attempted to break the chains, again the alarms will sound and he will be zapped.  No questions will be asked.  Just assume that he has broken the terms of unconditional surrender. No second chances,” Hell’s ruler proclaims.

“As you gave me, son?” Mum reproaches.

Lucifer’s eyes narrow, she has him there. “Fine, Mum, I will ask one question.”

“So, its only you as his warden?” The Goddess’s inquisition continues.

“No, Mum, I have the extreme rule enforcer, Hoael, and Jkarenel, our resident officious scribe observing Michael for any infractions of the terms of unconditional surrender.”

“Lucifer, this is your brother, your twin,” The Goddess insists.  “You know his abilities better than anyone else, to evade punishment.”

Not entirely sure here if she is imploring me to remember the times I took the Fall for Michael’s misdeeds, and thus he escaped Wrath, or for me to set him free.

“Mum,” Lucifer uses a warning tone, “I remember perfectly well my twin’s ability to elude the consequences for his behavior. I also have a most dedicated guard supervising his confinement.”  Not lying, A most dedicated guard.  Just not the entire truth, there are other sentinels, ones returning favors or being paid.

“Who, the bouncy little lab tech, playing with the injured birdies?”  Before Lucifer can reply the Goddess snarls, “Or Maze, who betrayed you?”

“Not exactly.”  Lucifer decides the best defense is a good offence.   “How did you return here?  Mum, I thought you and Dad couldn’t move between universes anymore.” In the years as a civilian consultant, Lucifer has learned to hone in on the discrepancies between someone’s actions and their words. 

“Yes, well, that’s how much stronger your father is now.  Besides, I heard rumors of a granddaughter?” The Goddess angles for more information, peering over Lucifer’s shoulder.

Distraction achieved.

Lucifer looks back, to where he left the Detective sleeping.

“Not quite yet, Mum.”

“Takes a little longer for humans to hatch their young than it did for your Father and I to create flocks of angels,” the Goddess speculates.

“Yes, Mum. ‘Nough on those traumatizing topics.”  Lucifer puts his hands up, hoping to stop this disturbing discussion.

“Alright, I’ve got to get back to your Father.  Think about what I said and give me some kind of suggestion or I’ll have flying pigs as well as multi colored sparkly unicorns and magenta winged Pegasi flying in the skies, to go with the centaurs galloping across the plains.  Where does your Father get these ideas?” The Goddess throws up her hands in exasperation, “Who knows what He will create if I don’t rush back.”

I let the urchin paint a glitter unicorn on my face.  Apparently even Dad isn’t immune to the Decker charm.  What Mum doesn’t know about won’t hurt anyone.  Best see if I can get her out the door before her parent radar kicks in and she deduces I know something about the source of these ideas of Dad’s.

“Off you pop, then, Mum.” Lucifer smothers his grin and makes shooing motions towards the elevator.  With Mum, things don’t change much, even if she has her own Lucifer given universe.  If he is not instantly useful, there is no reason to spend time with him.

“Mum?”

The Goddess spins around, looking questioningly at Lucifer.

“Thanks for letting me know.  ‘Bout Dad,” he admits slowly, not quite looking at his mother, hoping to hide the importance of her offering the information.

The Goddess nods, looking a little downcast.

Lucifer remembers how he felt, ostracized by his siblings even before the Fall.  No one cared what he wrought. Family shouldn’t ignore one another, the Detective had counseled.

“Mum, I’m glad you are shaping the universe you wanted,” Lucifer offers.

“Oh, thank you, my Lightbringer,” the Goddess returns for an awkward hug.

As she and Lucifer part, surprisingly Mum gives a benediction for the soon to be parents, “I hope everything goes smoothly for your Detective and the baby.”

The Detective is correct once again.  If I extend myself a little towards my parents, sometimes they might respond in kind.  Better than assuming she has absolutely no care for me, as I did for eons after my Fall and Dad sending her to Hell.

“Thanks, Mum.”  Lucifer escorts her to the elevator, pushing the down button firmly.

No need to worry her about Michael’s shenanigans from the past, I’ll have both parents on Earth, bumbling about.

Lucifer just shy of sprints back to his not lonely bed, the one with the Detective and his child in it.  Every second of contact with them is precious and cherished.  Perhaps, just maybe, if in the womb, Rory can hear the lullaby he sings her, she can also feel the love.

Chapter Text

Lucifer paces, waiting for the elevator to ding, announcing the return of the Detective from her OB appointment.  He had wanted desperately to go with her, but both of them understood his presence on Earth could not be discovered by anyone else until more was understood about Michael’s contributions to Rory’s beliefs about the time travel paradigm.  He and Chloe needed to discover when Michael had lied, to whom and about what.

He remembered the desperation before she left, foreheads touching while waiting for the elevator, one more time, their talisman against looming separation.  Chloe had said fondly, as if proud of him, the Cast Out One, “You are so excited to be a father, no one would believe any story I gave to explain your presence that didn’t include you as the delighted daddy.”

The elevator doors had swished open, the lift blaring Muzak of the melody from ‘I like me better.’  Lucifer had grinned wryly at Chloe in response to her brave face.  He’d known she was only acting valiant, her knuckles were white from the grip she had on the rails.  Lucifer felt any cheerfulness descend with the lift, as if his spirit went downwards with her, on the express to Hell.

Sometimes, I wonder about time.  Its dragging now, even on Earth, while I wait for Chloe’s return and news of the baby.  Imagine, me eager for news of a baby.  Not just any baby, but mine.  How to ‘pass the time’?  In Hell, I’d be harassing the demons, with no hope of most of them learning anything.  On Earth, I’m stuck in the Penthouse, with hope postponed.  I tried to play piano, but hit too many sour notes to continue.  What could I do for the Detective, in case I have to go back right after the birth?  I’ve never thought of my influence on the future before, but now I have a family dependent on my actions.

Pacing back towards the balcony, Lucifer peers over the rail, for the even he’d lost track of how many times since Chloe left.  Did the lengthy wait for her return indicate something wrong, with the Detective or the baby?  Best not to dwell on that.  Traffic was clear near Lux, that wasn’t the cause of the delay.  And thinking of delays, what could be done to and about those LAPD idiots who had procrastinated on upgrading the records room?

I could harass the other people charged with providing the Detective with alternate career choices, since the charlatans at the LAPD didn’t keep the spirit of their bargain with the Devil.  Time to review all the brain over brawn employment opportunities previously created for my partner, in haste before my departure.  Then, I will reinforce to those responsible for shepherding any choice she might explore that all aspects of the job environment are encompassed in my directives and will be well funded.  The Devil does take care of his own, even if I have to accomplish it surreptitiously so my daughter doesn’t realize I didn’t completely abandon her, her mother and sister.

Lucifer strides loops around the piano, listening for the whoosh of the elevator before it arrives, while stipulating to his intermediary, sworn to secrecy, the breadth of his expectations of repayment.    Recalling Chloe’s recent difficulties at the precinct, Lucifer’s noted charm in achieving his desires vanishes, leaving only the imperiousness of royalty thwarted.  Suppressed anger makes his words clipped and tone sharp.

Where is the Detective, anyway?

Lucifer glares at the elevator doors, obviously responsible for delaying the Detective’s return.  The ground floor push button pops off.

“I like me better when I’m with you,” Lucifer whispers to the spot he last saw her, his glare turning forlorn.

Waiting for her seems endless, no matter where I am.  I’m slipping back into old torturing habits here, trying to expel some of the pain by threatening others with it.  Counseling damned souls towards the light began to seem an ironic and pointless endeavor for me, stuck in gloomy Hell alone for eternity.  Must I always be headed downward, still Falling?  And dragging Chloe with me?  What can I do, here and now, to improve her life on earth so she remembers me at least somewhat fondly? I’ll just have to contact one of these bargain denier miscreants myself.  Put the fear of the Devil into them as an example for all who would cross me.

 Lucifer tries not to glance at the piano, its polished surface reflecting crimson when the one of the deadbeats he contacts directly tries to evade their bargain with the Devil.  None of his debtors can see those eyes flash red, but Lucifer is certain his determination comes through loud and clear based on the chittery groveling response from the shirkers.  Those reverberating Devil tones have a way of making malingerers motivated.

Is there some Hell loop here, that time is crawling by at an agonizing creep?  My surroundings mirror the Penthouse, but the vibe is all Linda’s office for me in Hell.  Never ending torture for me, separated from the Detective.  Never ending worry over how she is doing, coping with raising two daughters without either father.  Fretting over the urchin, I brought so much turmoil and loss into her life.  Despairing over my little girl, developing without me.  Has the Detective decided I’m not worth it? Is she running out again? Has she gone into labor whilst away and unable to contact me? None of the surveillance methods indicate that Michael has her again, but he’s so good at gaslighting.  Where, or now, when, could she be?

Chapter Text

As the elevator stops for the Penthouse, Chloe can hear rapid scurry of feet away from the bar. 

Is Lucifer fleeing from being a father? Flight from emotional connection is his modius operandi.  Leaving to protect me is still leaving.

As the door dings open, there’s Lucifer attempting to look nonchalant on the couch, a bottle of her cheap wine in his hand. 

Chloe strides out of the elevator as soon as the doors open fully, magenta baby prep notebook clutched tightly in her hand. She rushes towards him, “You didn’t leave?”  The ‘yet’ hangs unspoken between them.

Lucifer stands to greet her. “No, Detective, not unless I absolutely must,” he vows into her hair, one warm hand resting on her hip.

Chloe sinks into his embrace, wiping her wet face on his shirt, as she cuddles closer.  The puzzle of why Lucifer has a bottle of her brand of wine is nothing to the need for his touch. 

“We haven’t been separated since you showed up at the precinct.  I thought maybe I wanted you here so much I imagined it,” Chloe admits.  “What were you doing, while I was away, that you have my cheap wine?”

Lucifer sighs, “My imagination conjured up all sorts of horrors for your delay in returning.”

“Horrors?” Chloe turns his face towards hers, no eluding her.

“Car accidents, gunfire, dickhead twin, a surprise appearance by Rory, either from the future again, reminding us of our promise to her.”  Lucifer’s rant continues, “Or as a fatherless newborn because your labor started whilst you were away from the Penthouse.”

Chloe puts a gentle hand over Lucifer’s mouth, stilling his litany of torments.  Once, she would have thought him fanciful, but now she knew his belief that his family and others were out to get him was a reasonable first assumption based on past experience.

She explains, “Someone with an appointment before mine had an emergency.  It put the whole schedule back.  That’s why I was late.”

“Ah.” Lucifer fusses with his cufflinks.  “I thought you changed your mind, about me as delivery coach material.”

“No, but why the cheap wine?” Chloe taps the bottle for emphasis.

“A diversion, a clumsy one, so you wouldn’t guess the extent of my vulnerability to you.”

Chloe smiles and tears start, “Just shut up,” as she snuggles back into the hug.

“Ah, there you are, back in my arms, where I belong,” Lucifer rasps, in that tentative, unbelieving way he has about her affections.  Lucifer gingerly sinks into Chloe, bringing her body flush alongside his.  In the next instant, he jumps back as good solid kick from his daughter catches him below the belt.

He jokes, “Does she hate me again, or is she trying to escape?”

Chloe sees the humorous deflection for what it is, Lucifer’s attempt to hide his pain so others, and maybe himself, don’t detect it.

Boy, he is going to be scarred forever by meeting Rory first as an angry teenager, bent on his destruction.  I really do need to concentrate on how to fix that for him, and for Rory.

“Aurora is anxious to meet her daddy, okay babe.” Chloe reassures, soft hand stroking his face.

He nods, that uncertain hope clear in his expression, as he tips his head into her hand for more contact.

“Lucifer, I know you want me to have the baby here in the Penthouse, so you can be present at her birth.” The Detective checks her facts.

Reviewing his desires is NOT doing much to calm me down about this crazy scheme of Lucifer’s.  I do want him at the birth, if it’s possible to do it safely.  Go figure, I, plain Jane Chloe Decker, making potentially universe shattering decisions.  Does Lucifer have any kind of plan if the time paradigm shenanigans start?

“Yes, Detective, Amenadiel will be flying in as well, in case time begins shredding if I am present for her birth.” Lucifer explains the plan.

One down, thousands of details to go.  How did having my partner, the baby’s father, here for the birth become such a difficult thing to achieve safely?  Is it cosmic payback for ‘focus on the case’ instead of focusing on my partner?

“Lucifer, how can I have the baby here?  I need a hospital in case something goes wrong, either with Rory or with me.” Chloe cautions.

Lucifer insists, “We can have it all delivered here.”

Chloe rolls her eyes at the pun Lucifer may not realize he made.

“How, Lucifer?” the mom to be in Chloe wants hard answers, not wild, unsubstantiated reassurances.   “You wouldn’t, okay might, believe how fast gossip travels in this town.  The beancounter who pocketed the funds for record storing improvement for LAPD is already being investigated for embezzlement.  How can anything in LA be kept secret?” Chloe challenges his assumption that baby delivery items can be delivered to the Penthouse surreptitiously.

“The prohibition tunnels under Lux connect subterraneously all over the city.  There are many points where materials and personnel can be dropped off and transported to Lux out of sight,” Lucifer explains.  “No one has to know I am here, except the people reimbursed very handsomely to keep their silence.”

“Lucifer, we will need a birth certificate and all that,” Chloe contends.

I want my daughter’s paperwork to be tip top.  I’ve so little control over the rest of this and what might happen.

“There is plenty of funding for ‘all that.’  I did glance through the ‘expecting books’ before I left,” Lucifer reassures, offhandedly.  “Money and favors create surprising opportunities when the Devil drives.”

“Lucifer!,” a no nonsense reprimand from the Detective.

“Darling?” Lucifer’s eyes widen, Chloe wonders if he is finally understanding just how soon might he need to step on the accelerator.

“Start that engine.  The OB I saw today said I’m fingertip dilated and I am far enough along that it is safe now for Rory if I were to go into labor.”

Does he even know what that means? Glance thru the expecting books? Months, or in his case, centuries ago?

Whoosh, great wings unfurl, held aloft for the downstroke to begin take off. “Now!?  I’ll get the doctors.”

Chloe shakes her head.  “No, Lucifer.  IF I was going to the hospital, it would be time to check the to go bag at home and make sure I have everything.   It will be within the next week.  I would like to …” Chloe trails off as Lucifer rockets to the bar, punching a code into the mini fridge door.  A drawer pops open and Lucifer scoops up a burner phone into which he dials a number rapidly.

“Megaera, your karma for those deadbeats who did not complete the implicit part of a bargain with the Devil was splendid.  Absolutely the correct course of action to be very public about it so everyone is aware of the consequences of breaking a deal with the Devil.  I’m glad you, at least, understood there was no limit on funding or my interest in smoothing the path.  Ensuring as much safety as possible in each role is the part that matters.  Just as you monitor Miss Lopez’s safety in detail whilst she is at the bird sanctuary.”

Chloe watches, curious at this intent Lucifer, as he listens to the person on the other end of his call.

“Meg, the Devil is very much into the details, at least on this new project.  The safety of the participants is penultimate.   My next rapid response project involves acquiring the top of the line equipment and most proficient personnel for a human birth to take place in the Penthouse.”

Well, that would be her.  Holy crap, her, plain Jane Chloe Decker, the reason the actual Devil Called in favors.  Her, the reason Lucifer troubled himself over earthly customs.  About paperwork even, which he detests.

Chloe breathes a sigh of relief, when he is properly motivated, Lucifer can focus on deets as well as anyone.

I almost never have seen into what makes him tick, while knowing the truth of who he is. What particulars of the birth are most important to him?

“Yes, the better at keeping secrets, the more qualified they are for this particular job.  They should also be able to think on their feet and adapt.”  In sharper tones, Lucifer continues his edicts,  “Lets also be certain they have no religious agendas, shall we?”

Chloe winces, regretting once more ever heeding Kinley.  Listening to your foe could be investigation, but she’d tried to poison her partner.  Because it was such a sensitive topic, Chloe had refrained from researching the potion or how Kinley had acquired it.  It nagged at her, not having the whole story.  Another regret in the episode with Kinley and the trip to Rome.

Not the time to have regrets, Decker, but channel that energy into celebrating every little precious joy out of this time with Lucifer.  And making sure he has a chance to soak up all the love I can show.  Trixie is really the only person to whom my love flows freely.  Losing Dad and then finding out all those people wanted hot tub girl, not Chloe, made vulnerability and commitment difficult.  Then Dan’s gaslighting made me cynical about romantic relationships.  Perhaps that’s why Lucifer fled so often or wouldn’t confide in me.  He is here now, my partner, and I’d better take advantage of it because no one knows (oh poor Dan and Charlotte) how much time is left in the hourglass.

Chloe crosses the room to Lucifer, still adamant on the phone and snuggles in the for the hug.  His ranting to the person on the other end of the phone does not last long after the cuddling commences.  From his expression, Chloe deduces that Lucifer too realizes this could be the beginning of another separation for them.

How did I miss looking into his eyes and seeing the desperation to stay with me?  Some detective I am, never able to see the truth Lucifer was obvious about the entire time.  Time now, to be blatant about my affections.  Let’s relish the sweet, before the bitter.

She smiles bravely at Lucifer, as he leans down into her, resting his forehead against hers in the kiss that is theirs alone.

Chapter Text

Lucifer sinks into Chloe’s embrace, grateful for another chance to do so, sweet before facing the possibility of another bitter parting.

No wonder I was cranky, much too long without the Detect, no Chloe’s touch.  If I can’t even tolerate a few hours missing her without torturing someone, what will I become sentenced to Hell once more?

“Megaera, you don’t deserve my vitriol.  There will be extra funds placed in your account.  Treat yourself to something you desire.  Maintain the watch at that bird rehab center.  I’ll check back in with you later,” as he presses the button to end the call.

“Lucifer, has Ella been visiting Michael?” Chloe asks, worried.  “She mentioned something about someone at the bird rescue who looked like a much older you during your homeless magician phase.”

“She volunteered at the bird sanctuary and met him there.”  Lucifer adds gleefully, “Miss Lopez bosses him about continuously.”

“How do you know all this from Hell?”

“Amenadiel and some others have been supervising Michael’s incarceration.  I received regular reports by way of Rae-Rae,” Lucifer assures her.  “I sent directives to him also, based on his behavior, so Michael would know he was closely supervised.  Couldn’t have him thinking you were unprotected.”

“I knew you were looking out for me,” Chloe assures him, in the intimate tone after he found her at the zoo.

That phrasing sounds so much better with kisses along my neck between the words.  She so rarely has that husky tone I dreamt of so much in Hell.  P’haps the last few days, even with the restraint on our activities, have been pleasurable to her.  One of the few things I can give her.

“Chloe,” he mummers into her hair, longing echoing.

“Perhaps I need a bit of a rest,” she suggests, drawing a finger slowly down his chest.

*    *         *     *      *            *   no plot here, just NSFW  *      *       *       *       *          *

Does rest plus that grin mean naked snuggling? If I concentrate and think of my shirt buttons as a lock, yes, they will just come undone for the Detective’s touch, much as I do.

“Lead the way, Detective,” Lucifer smirks, one hand on her back, the other politely extended waiting on her first step.

A few tears drip down her face.

“Darling, is this uncomfortable for you?  The books indicated you might want to concentrate only on the baby.” Lucifer begins to ease away from Chloe.

“No, Lucifer, I hope there will be tears every time it, it might be our last together.”  She grabs his hand and explains,  “Stupid hormones make me weepy sometimes.”

“Should I stay, or should I go?”

“Oh, Lucifer, how can you not know?”  Chloe places a hand on Lucifer’s arm before he can leave.  “Of course I want you to stay.  I know I’m no where close to a hot young thing right now.  But I went thru the horny trimester without you and don’t plan to do without the comfort of your touch now, unless I’m just too plain Jane ungainly for you.”

In the raspy, deep voice, for her alone, “Nothing about you is plain.  There’s no being horny in Hell, but my soul was eons empty without you.  A Hell loop with no door.  As long as you are willing, I don’t plan to be without you in any way you desire.”

“Help me forget the bitter partings.  All I want now is the sweet.” Chloe’s hands drift over his body.

“Always a challenge to the Devil you are, Satan being sweet.”  Lucifer shakes his head,  “Darling, where do you get these ideas?”

Chloe’s hands drift below his belt line. She whispers in his ear, “You taste like an eclair, devil mine.”

“I’m sweet, and you are finally learning to flirt,” Lucifer grins, letting his hand drift over her loose hair.  “What is the world coming, ha, ha, to?”

Chloe snorts, laughing at her partner’s silliness.

Once in Hell, I forgot to dream of her laughter. I know all languages, but still learning to speak of my feelings.

“Chloe, your laughter proves I’m not in Hell.  There’s no sound so cheerful there.”

“Well, then, lets make more of those noises that prove you are not in a Hell loop.”  Chloe teases, slurping two of his fingers into her mouth.

Bedroom, bedroom, bedroom.  How fast can I, safely, get us there from here?

Lucifer scoops Chloe up and strides up the stairs, taking the Italian marble one careful step at a time, remembering how he discovered the Detective’s role in his vulnerability.  He manages to get them both on the bed without removing his fingers from the caresses of her tongue.

She’ll have me whimpering yet, agile tongue sliding up and down on my fingers.  So worth giving up smoking.  Chloe wouldn’t do this with such abandon when my fingers smelled and tasted of cigarette smoke.  Little one, this thing I gave up for you, has more rewards than I ever, ever could have imagined.

He kisses Chloe’s stomach, knowing it might be as close to kissing his baby daughter as he might get.  As a distraction from that miserable thought, Lucifer tangles his free hand in Chloe’s flowing hair, there’s nothing this soft in Hell, nothing as warm in Heaven.

Chloe whispers hotly in his ear, “Like this, do you?”

“Lucifer likes, yes, yes.”

“Maybe, maybe, I like it too.”

“Bossy.”  Lucifer finds the spot behind Chloe’s ear and slides his tongue up and down the side of her neck.

Missed this taste, sea salt and caramel.  Missed that smell, strawberry champagne.

He kisses his way down to the collar of her burgundy scoop neck shirt.  Chloe brings a hand to his scruff, holding him in place.  He takes the hint and remains there while she sucks on his fingers.

“Mmmmm,” he growls.

“Mmmmhmm?” Chloe encourages.

He takes the hint and copies her ministrations to his fingers at that sensitive spot on her neck.

Lucifer rejoices at her response, “Mmmhmm.”  He can feel Chloe relaxing next to him.  The shift he cherishes more than any one else’s frantic squirming.

Missed those sounds, notes of pleasure.  Missed the touch, searching for me and my desire, not their wants.

“Chloe,” he murmurs into her neck.

“Lucifer,” she sighs.  Her free hand scrabbles at his pants.  “You’ve too many clothes on, love.”

“Can’t figure how to remove them with just the one hand and you doing such deeelicious things to the other,” he admits.

Chloe sputters, laughing, “A countdown, then.”  She pulls her fingers out of his mouth and starts the struggle with her clothes.  “Ten, nine, hurry, eight, seven, just shove them over the side of the bed, six, fiiive,”

Lucifer chuckles as Chloe struggled to bend from the waist enough to push her underwear below her knees.

“Four,” he grabs the recalcitrant cloth.

“Three,” Lucifer pulls carefully downwards.

“Two,” the panties caught at Chloe’s ankles.

“One, I won,” Lucifer brags.

Chloe whoops her amusement, then reaches her still wet hand to Lucifer’s engorged cock.

“One, I won,” Chloe slides her fingertips down the front of him.

Lucifer hardens further in response, “Oh, darling, yes.  The wonder of it all.”

“Where would your fingers like to wander, partner?” Chloe flirts in her awkward, endearing way.

“May I?” as he slides fingers slowly up the inside of her thigh.

“Oh, yeah,” Chloe’s head bobs up and down leisurely.

His well manicured finger strokes over her pussy, gently slowly.

“Just like that,” she breathes, matching her tongue’s caressing of his ear to his rhythm on her.

Lucifer groans into her hair.  Breathing in the scent of beach. 

“We will do this awhile, yes?  No rush?”

“Never hurried this, Det.” Lucifer is stopped mid word as Chloe takes her fingers out of his mouth, laying them on his lips.

“No, no. Past stays in the past, Devil.”

Lucifer nods slightly, so as not to dislodge his partner’s touch.  Chloe moves her wet fingers to his other ear.

This is what I spent thousands of years in Hell, imagining. My fantasies were never as incredible as this.  I will do this aaawhile, as she’s been overtly reluctant to finish and come.  If that is her true desire, I must fulfill it.  She’s oddly content, making sure I’m fulfilled.  The Detective is always full of surprises for me.

Lucifer shifts, wriggling until his legs are entangled with hers, as much contact as possible.  She seems to understand, squirming back to him in return.  Each little movement of hers transmitted by the hair on his legs.  Only with her is so much tantalizing sensation possible from such slight contact.  He listens carefully to her whimpers and moans, intrigued still by her responses.  What is he doing right, and where can he improve?  But not too much, he must respect her wish, understand it or not.

The wriggling and squirming shifted to more of an up and down motion.   No pleasure in Hell, but long strokes of it here, hard cock sliding along her soft thigh.  Again and again.  He panted, hoping the noise would remind him to stay on the outside of her thigh.

Strong hands rested on both sides of his hips, pushing him over towards her center.

Lucifer blinked, and shook his head.  Happy to follow her lead, but was this truly where she wanted to go.

“Chloe, you’ve not wanted complete fulfillment, or even to come.” Confusion rings through Lucifer’s next question,  “Is that what you desire now?”

“Ohh, Lucifer, I didn’t want to come, because sometimes contractions can be started that way,” Chloe explains.  “Doc said its safe now, for Rory, if labor starts.  No more restrictions on on my responses.”

Chloe moves her hands to his face, focusing his attention on her.  “Still nothing going in, though, yeah.”

“Course not, Det, Chloe.  Yours to command.”

“Good, shift your hips over here.” Chloe shoves so his hips are directly above hers.

Lucifer straightens his arms, to keep his weight off her stomach. He shifts, lining up his cock with her pussy. 

“Ahhh, its hot.  Go  lly Lucifer, I’ve missed this.”  Her words, in concert with those strong, yet soft, hands caressing up and down his body result in shudders coursing through him  So much pleasure after such intense deprivation, when he knew exactly what he was missing.

“Yes, darling.”  The deeper, reverberating timbre of his reply inspires Chloe to reach her hands up and lightly scratch up and down his neck.  He lowers his head so she can caress his ears and groans, “Yes, that spot, darling, you may disarrange my hair all you want.”

With her enthusiastic caresses petting the short hair at the back of his neck, his cock jumps, an unplanned response.

“Ohh, that’s nice.”  Chloe repeats the petting.

“Ah, ha, I can make that happen again,” Chloe realizes.

“Again and agncredible,” Lucifer’s syllables are garbled, but the sentiment is clear.

He shifts forward, more of his body might be touched by her investigating hands.

“Hot and long,” anticipation and satisfaction ring in Chloe’s murmur as the motion drags his cock between her folds.

“Sexy and luscious,”  Lucifer’s tone echoes her, following still.  He pants above her,  his mouth open, able to taste her while breathing.  He’d never call anything Heaven, but this with Chloe was surely as far from Hell as he’d ever get.

Lucifer gradually increases the pace of his thrusting as Chloe pulses under and around him, well, most of him.  In this, they are finally in tune.  And the sounds that she makes, music to his ears and soul, another sense has proof he is no longer in Hell.

Chloe grabs his buttocks, pushing him further into her folds.  “Proof I’m not alone, separated from you forever, my Hell loop.”

“Shh, shhh, love, past in past,” he reassures.

“Need more, Lucifer, to get my brain to shut up,” Chloe begs, her head rolling back and forth, just a little frantic.

Lucifer grabs a pillow, shoving at Chloe’s shoulders, “No need for you to lie flat, is there?”

“No?”

“Grab onto me, I’ll scoot this under you.”

Chloe complies.  Both sigh in relief as it brings their upper bodies in closer contact.

Lucifer folds the other pillow, putting it under one hand.  He is then able to lean his head down to Chloe, whispering hot approval in her ear, “Lead on, darling.”

Turned on by the reverberating Devil tones, her keen is a cajoling response to his reveling in her having power.  Her warble travels through his body, his cock throbbing in tune with her melody.  Chloe enjoys his reaction so much she continues the music.  Wanting to experience the vibrations of her enjoyment, Lucifer lowers his head further, lips on her neck.  He sucks on the side of her neck in rhythm with his thrusting.  She begins chanting, “Yes, yes..”

In his haze of pleasure, Lucifer slips a little sideways.  As the tip of his cock slides over her clit, she shudders and he can feel the gush and clench of her coming.  Her release is enough to trigger his orgasm.  He shifts sideways, remembering that sometimes, with Chloe only, the pleasure tuckered him out to the point of collapse.  Lucifer sinks down next to her, still spurting against her hip.

He tucks his face into the space between her ear and shoulder, this Chloe smells the best, satisfied sweaty relaxed, in his arms.

“Oh, babe.”  Chloe’s exhale is languorous as her eyes flutter closed.  She rolls unto her hip.  “Ick? Its very damp here.”

“Right.”  Lucifer shifts them out of the wet.  He yanks a pillowcase off and hands it to her.

“These are hideously expensive, Lucifer,” Chloe objects.

“Nothing but the best for you my darling.”

“Oh.” Chloe swipes the cloth over her thighs.

She hands him the pillowcase.  After he cleans up, he flings the damp material off the bed.

Chloe grins, and pulls his hand towards her mouth once again for a kiss.  “I did get the best, finally, didn’t I.  Nothing but incredible for us from here.”

Lucifer shifts his body to cuddle hers closer.  How to answer, when to agree with her could be to lie, about their future.

“Here was pretty incredible on its own.  Sleep now, and let a chuffed Devil get some rest.”  Lucifer snuggles down, hoping that pretending to sleep will end the conversation. 

Chloe giggles softly, “Yes, Devil dear.”

Lucifer feels her eyelashes sweep downwards against his skin and very quickly his pretense becomes reality.

Chapter Text

A few nights later, tucked in his bed with Chloe, Lucifer dreams.  Sitting outside in a lawn chair?!, watching a happy dark haired baby, splashing water onto his pants from her blue kiddie pool.  What other angelic ability did she have, to be so small and get the water from the pool all the way to his belt?  Woken by the increasing dampness, Lucifer assess his situation and the Detective’s.  She is snuggled up next to him, not snoring.  Enlarged (ah, the benefits of buns in the oven) breast resting on his chest.  He stopped a moment, to admire, having coaxed her to sleep without a top.  Her pregnant belly laying on his stomach, a first step for him in supporting a child. My child in there, but will I see her in person?  Will she know she is loved? Lucifer put a hand to her extended stomach, which now felt oddly taut.  But nothing wet here.  Moving further down her body, Lucifer encountered dampness on her sleep pants, as well as his.  He’d better wake her.

“Detective, darling,” Lucifer coaxes.

“Not time to wake up.” Chloe sighs, “Want to dream of Luc’fer a little longer.  So much fun in the hot tub.”

If there’d been nothing else in this trip, those sleepy words of Chloe’s made the journey worth it.  She wanted to dream of him, in a hot tub having fun together.

Why does the Detective do this to me?  Her, me, fun in a hot tub.  And I can’t even fantasize about it right now because there is this bloody wet mystery to solve.

Regretfully, he stroked her shoulder to encourage her to wake.

“Lucifer, oh my, I think its started.”  Chloe tenses, clutching his arm tightly.  “My water broke,” Chloe states in a high pitch Lucifer rarely hears from her. 

“What, while you were sleeping?” Lucifer thinks back, but can remember reading nothing about the water breaking before contractions.  Or the adventure starting while mom to be is sleeping.

Chloe lets out a long, shaky breath.  “All the equipment is here, correct, Lucifer?”

“Yes.”

“You had better summon Amenadiel and the delivery personnel then,”  Chloe instructs, a little shaky.  Even Lucifer can tell that in this, just as when the Detective was incapacitated due to being poisoned, he will have to be the lead.

Hopefully, this time, it doesn't involve a trip to Hell.  And if Michael’s newfound remorse and subsequent confessions are real, does mean I will have to thank him for not leaving me stranded in Hell, missing every moment of my daughter’s life? For informing Amenadiel of his transgressions?  Chloe wants to interview Michael about exactly what he did to Aurora.  In order to acquire more information out of him, will I have to grovel a little and show gratitude?  Perish the thought.  Perhaps Chloe will have some other, more palatable strategy to follow.

“Ow, Lucifer, ow,” Chloe grabs her stomach.  “Grab the checklist, babe, the one we prepared together.  In answer to all your questions about childbirth.”

“Oh, right.” Lucifer rushes to find the preparation sheet.  “Did I tell you yet, Detective, how much it meant, that you found a use for all my inquires?  I was cast out of home and Heaven for asking questions.  Only you have known how to employ my curiosity.”

“Lucifer, unless you want to satisfy your curiosity about unattended home births, start dialing the doctors,” Chloe directs, anxious.

“Not only do you know what to do with my constant questioning, but its wanted, desired even, by you.”  Lucifer paces, picking up her small detectiving notepad and tapping on the cover.  He tapped twice at the upper left, once at towards the bottom middle and the slightly to the right of the section between the two.

“Lucifer, 1106 is your passcode for your phone, my notebook will not put you in contact with anyone who can help us here,” Chloe suggests, trying for kindness through gritted teeth.

“Oh, right you are.”  Lucifer looks down at the notebook surprised it doesn’t have glowing numbers on it.   “So clever, Detective, to note that your birthday is my favorite PIN.  My idiosyncrasies no challenge for you.  My favorite hobby is watching you solve them without being exasperated at me.”

“Most of the time,” Chloe sighs.  “Lucifer, this is not the time for puzzle solving.”

“And I have the opportunity to learn new things.  Hell is so dull.  Ash showers continuously, suffering . . .”

“Lucifer, unless you want me suffering while you learn how to deliver a baby without medical assistance, you need to contact the doctors immediately.  Remember, its much better for Rory and I if there are experts here, not just you winging it.”

“Right, ah, hello phone, there’s no escape now,” Lucifer jokes as he spies his phone.

“Lucifer, do you want to escape?”  Chloe spreads her fingers over her baby bump.

“Yes, Detective, I do,” Lucifer asserts.

At her shocked, hurt expression, he continues, “The thought of your pain, giving birth to my child, is making me useless to you.”

Shaking her head, Chloe huffs, then responds, “Lucifer, you can alleviate at least the anxiety I have by getting the docs and Amenadiel here.  With the delivery team here, I will be much safer.”

Lucifer starts tapping numbers on his phone, “That’s all that matters, Detective.”

Chapter Text

Alone after the birth with baby Rory in the Penthouse, Chloe smiles fondly at Lucifer’s fascination with nursing.

Even after three days of newborn continuous feeding, Lucifer is still enchanted by mom baby bonding.  He looks so wistful, I’ll have to be sure to include him as much as possible.

“Lucifer, was Amenadiel just concentrating on detecting tears in time and space, or did he seem distracted to you?”  Chloe wonders if she imagined Amenadiel’s spaciness. 

“What, love?” asks the distracted, delighted Daddy, free enough in her presence to not hide the enormous grin on his face.

Smiling, Chloe rolls her eyes at Lucifer’s struggle to draw his eyes away from Rory at her breast.

“Did Amenadiel have a fight with Linda? Or stay up all night with Charlie?” Chloe searches for reasons for the angel’s fogginess upon arrival at the Penthouse.

“Love, don’t know, didn’t ask.  Why do you wish to know?”  As usual, Lucifer is much more interested in Chloe than the mystery she is trying to solve.

“He seemed very unfocused, especially when he first got here,” Chloe insists.  “As if he was in some kind of fog.” 

“Exactly so, Detective, head in the clouds, remember.” Lucifer answers cavalierly, dismissing Chloe’s concerns.

“I suppose that makes sense.  Maybe when you see him again, you should ask if there’s difficulties in Heaven.”  Chloe suggests,  “He might value your opinion, as another ruler.”

Lucifer snorts, “As if that lot of sanctimonious space cadets wants my input.  He sure took off fast enough when I inquired about how Dan and Charlotte were adjusting to Heaven.  There’s lots of details to attend to, as God.”

“Still, Lucifer, something was off,” Chloe insists.   “You certainly weren’t so absent minded and almost lethargic when returning from Heaven.”

“Couldn’t sit still, especially up there.” Lucifer shakes his head, discomfort at his trips to Heaven apparent.  “Just as you can’t stop detectiving.  Your other inquiry was regarding Ella whilst she is at the bird rescue.  As you indicated, she has met Michael there, and even with him rushes in where angels fear to tread.”  His rueful tone conveys his worry about Ella spending time with other angels.  His siblings, who might demolish her notion of him as a method actor, simply to make his life miserable.  And his fears she would become collateral damage, like Dan.

“She thought he was you for an instant,” Chloe adds,  “but in your homeless magician phase.”

“Michael deteriorated significantly past that, Detective.”  Lucifer adds with satisfaction,  “Angels shouldn’t age, but his beard is patched with grey and his long, shaggy, untamed curls are shot with silver.”  Lucifer shudders dramatically, reciting his brother’s appearance faux pas.  “Thanks to the ankle monitors criss crossed over his body, he walks like an old man forced to lift weights for too long.”

Lucifer sounds satisfied with Michael’s suffering.  Normally, I try to talk Lucifer out of harsh punishments.  In this case, not so much.

“Its odd that Michael would be the one to start to look old first,” Chloe muses.  “You’ve always said that you are older than any other angel, because of all the time in Hell.”

Whoosh, ding from the elevator.  Lucifer flits towards it, obviously glad of the interruption.

“I will retrieve the package, Detective.  I’m still not exactly sure why you insisted on having formula.  The Squallette seems to have twigged the procedure for acquiring nutrition from you competently.” Lucifer concludes proudly.

“Lucifer, you know better than anyone that the unexpected is a constant in our lives.  Besides, who knows if an angel baby needs more nutrition that I can provide.”  Chloe unhooks Rory from her breast, putting the baby on her shoulder for a burp.

He’s so, not heedless, but has a great flight response to thinking about anything in the future.  Who can blame him.  I’d like to protect him from thinking about yet another separation.  What other reason can I give for getting Rory accustom to taking a bottle?

Lucifer comes back with the formula and bottles, with the same dark look on his face when he is evaluating if someone is a suspect or not.

“Lucifer, it was very kind of you to fund the nightshift overtime so the formula factory could run three shifts without raising the price,” Chloe praises.

Lucifer scuffs the floor, looking sideways, his normal reaction to being called out for doing something generous.  “Yes, well, you wanted a choice, Detective.  One all parents should have.”

Rory burps her agreement and begins mewling for more.

“Does she really need to start this bottle feeding from week one, Detective, especially fussy, as she is now?” Lucifer frowns.  “Rory certainly believes breast is best.”

“Lucifer, I thought you might like a chance to feed her.” Chloe suggests.  Neither mention out loud that this might be his only chance.

We really must start the investigation of Michael’s tale as soon as possible.  Not just for the threat to time and space, but also because living with this anxiety of being separated is Hell on Earth.  Its even rendered Lucifer speechless and stunned.

“Oh, oh.”  Blinking rapidly, a raspy voiced Lucifer divulges, “Chloe, I did not even know I desired this, until you made it possible.”

Smiling, Chloe jots this event down in the baby book.  She looks up when Lucifer calls to her, in the intimate tone he reserves for her name, “Chloe, look, Rory consumed most of the bottle.  I actually might be able to parent.”

“Of course you will, but you need to burp her now,” Chloe instructs.

“Take the bottle away?” Lucifer is aghast.

Chloe explains, threatening, “Unless you want her spitting up all over you.”

As soon as she is turned upright over his shoulder, Rory burps loudly.

Grinning amazedly at his instant parenting success, Lucifer immediately returns his daughter to the bottle.

“Tip the bottle Lucifer, so she doesn’t swallow any air.  That’s right.”

So this is what paternity leave is about.  Look how enraptured he is, feeding Rory.  So worth all the effort of convincing him to order formula and bottles.  I wonder if he even knows he is humming to her.  Or that she is drinking in time with the beat.  As handsome as he is in suits, shirtless with a baby in his arms is even more adorable.  He does love the whole skin to skin contact ‘for the baby.’  Now that she has finished the bottle, I’m not sure who is more contented, Rory or Lucifer.  Perhaps I am, both of them settled, Trixie being spoiled by Dan’s parents.  I might finally get a chance to review my inbox messages.

While newborn Rory sleeps, Chloe monitors emails from work.  Lucifer appears engrossed in the book open in front of him, “Guilt Management and Reduction.”

“Lucifer, perhaps we should prepare for the Apocalypse.” Chloe muses, eyes wide.

“Darling?” Lucifer looks up abruptly from his reading.

“The LAPD records department moves into this century, this decade even?”  Chloe’s astonishment is plain.  “This email states that this past week they hired the best paper digitizing company in the world to make pdf copies of our cold case files.  I won’t have to trapse to the precinct anymore.”

Lucifer fumes, “Or climb ladders for heavy boxes.”

“Lucifer, what did you do?” Chloe demands.

“Fed the bonnie baby, my queen, shall I see if she is still sleeping soundly?” Lucifer lets the book slide from his lap, looking towards the bedroom where the bassinette is.

“Lucifer, don’t you dare.  I know all your distraction tricks,” Chloe reminds him.  “How is this possible, the LAPD having money to spend on something that doesn’t net immediate results, wait, like an active Detective examining cold cases and updating records management as she suggested several years ago?”

Chloe is now standing, hands on hips, laser focused on her favor slinging partner.

“Yes, Detective, well, I may have provided the funds,…”  Lucifer starts rolling his sleeves down.

“Lucifer, what do you mean, you funded the cold case research job at the precinct?” Chloe paces. 

“I couldn’t provide directly for you and Rory and the urchin, because Rory needed to be mad at me.”  Lucifer tries to defend his actions.  “A little subterfuge seemed in order, in order to keep you”

“So now I am your kept woman?” Chloe is hot about her independence being impinged upon.

“No, of course not, Detective.  Any position you desired,” Lucifer claims, winking.

“Any. Position. I. Desired?  Really, how freaking exciting,” Chloe snaps. “And professional.”

“Apologies, Detective,”  Lucifer focuses on his feet, looking adorable abashed.  “Inappropriate choice of words.”

“No, just truthful.” Exasperated, Chloe looks to the ceiling.  “There were several other not field work occupations suddenly available at the precinct,” she continues sharply in interrogation mode.

“I wanted you to have a choice,” he confirms, still keeping his eyes on his shoes.

“So none of it was on my own merit?” Chloe hisses.

Lucifer cocks his head, “Of course you qualified for any of those pos, pursuits.  Notable instincts, unbelievable attention to detail, dedication to the truth.”

Flattery, he thinks to appease me with.

Chloe counters, “Lucifer, you were supposed to be honest with me.”

“I told you the truth, Detective.” Lucifer defends.

“Fine, yes, okay told the truth.  A carefully selected part of it.”  Chloe’s sarcasm is not reassuring to Lucifer, along with her finger twirling in a whoop de doo spiral, with her eyes narrowed.

“Partners are honest and forth coming, Lucifer.”  She continues sadly, “Not secretive or, or manipulative.”

Oh, too bad, he reacted to that particular word.  Now, he is all stiff and fidgety.  What’s next on the male agenda to stay out of the doghouse?

“Detective, I apologize.”

Classic, must have read the playbook.

“For what?” Chloe confronts him.

“Withholding information?” Lucifer suggests, hopefully.

Predictable, he even looks vaguely like an uncertain puppy, hoping he got it right.

“Lucifer, if you are not sure, don’t apologize at all.  I don’t need to be gas lighted yet again.”  Chloe starts stuffing baby items into her bag, with perhaps a little more force than necessary.   “I’m going back to my apartment to think this through.  I thought I’d been considered for this job based on my own qualifications, not your collecting of favors and dispensing of money.”  Chloe stomps into the bedroom and returns, baby Rory in her carrier.  Her tirade continues, “And really, if you went this far, you couldn’t also get the stupid evidence room demolished.  The queen,” a sarcastic Chloe jabs a finger at herself, “is furious about all the snide remarks anytime I set foot in there.”  Chloe slings the diaper bag over her shoulder, grabs her keys and stalks to the elevator.

Chapter Text

In the living room of the apartment, Chloe and Trixie enjoy a quiet moment with baby Rory as the sun glows through the windows.  Chloe gives the appearance of being content in her chair, gazing down at a sleeping Rory, wrapped in her pink blanket. 

This is the part where I try desperately to NOT hold my every breath til your return, Lucifer.  I will not say goodbye, my love will never die.  The six months without you after the Mayan and then the six months after Rory’s teenage appearance, well I was in

   An unhealthy holding pattern in the blackest night.

                Always longing for a rewrite

              of some hastily concocted plan

     where you and I have to suffer apart for my lifespan

to protect humanity or for our daughter’s future to be bright.

 I cannot repeat that experience and be a good parent.

She not glances towards the doorway, trying to keep her cool for both daughters.  They deserve calm, competent Chloe, their loving mother.  Not the strained person she actually is under the smile plastered on her face. 

Acting, its all acting.  The set decorated with festive, happy pink balloons and streamers.  Thanks Mom.  Don’t think of disastrous engagements with world’s first murderer, the last time there were party decorations for me.  If Lucifer actually returns, I’ll have to let him know, no balloons or streamers for me, ever. If he doesn’t return to me, well balloons and streamers will be the least of the things I will just have to  power through.

“Quietly, Trixie, don’t wake a sleeping baby,” Chloe cautions collectedly by all appearances.

This wouldn’t be the first time Lucifer and I were growing closer, and then he ditched me.  He might say no more going backwards, but then careens sideways, away from me.  What if its not his choice, like the desert?  Where are you, my fearless love?  Is his departure worse if it is his choice, because I’m too demanding?  Will I weep forevermore when no one can see?  What celestial craziness could be making it take so long for him to return to me?

As the door swings open Lucifer announces from the doorway, “Darling, I know you said you forgave me, but apologies should include gifts.  At least, that’s what Dr. Linda indicated and the checkout magazines confirmed.” 

Chloe glances at the time on the microwave.

Wait, what.  Damn, I let the argument with Lucifer discombobulate me so much I can’t even tell time.  Yipee, post partum mom brain.  He’s not late, Trixie was dropped off early.  And I was so upset by the balloons that I didn’t text him a warning that she was here already.

Lucifer carries in boxes, stacked above his head.  “Chloe, I brought for your apartment the baby monitor camera, the high end breast pump, rainbow xylophone, bath toys and stuffed animals.  Also, books for the urchin’s summer class report on birds.  Summer must be more parole than freedom from child jail.  I have returned sooner than expected, I know.  There are a lot of sales clerks with hustle who have been generously rewarded for their assistance.” 

“Lucifer,” Chloe tries to stem the tide of information.

“And I have spoken to Miss H.O.A. on earth, Hoael, and Miss Snitch, Jkarenel about the spawn’s telescope.  It stays where the urchin wants it.” Lucifer decrees, over his shoulder, exiting the apartment.

He returns with the second load, the large bassinette box nose high.  “Also, as we discussed, in the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that…”

His recitation peters out as he puts the vision obstructing box down and notices Trixie, standing at Chloe’s side.

“Oh, hello, Urchin.  I thought you were at your Grandmother’s till tomorrow.” Lucifer’s voice becomes higher pitched as he realizes Trixie now knows he has returned.  The dominos of discovery have begun to fal, no tumble over. 

“Mommy, you said that WE would be raising Rory.  Not Lucifer.  That he left again to protect us and had to stay gone.” Trixie, child of two detectives, fires off facts as she understands them.  Then starts the interrogation.

“Did he bring Daddy with him?” Trixie begins to check around the apartment for signs of Dan.

Oh, no, she is so hopeful. Ready to forgive Lucifer anything if Dan can return also.  How do we explain that’s not how it works?

Lucifer stills.  “Sweet child, we informed you your Daddy did make it to Heaven and was happy there.”

“Without me?” Trixie sobs.

Lucifer looks frantically to Chloe, how to answer this impossible question.

Chloe starts, “Monkey, Lucifer could help your Daddy visit only the one time.  Its more than…”  Suddenly post partum hormones overwhelm her, remembering missing her Dad and her daughter facing the same thing, because Chloe hadn’t properly protected Dan.

With Chloe choked up, unable to conciliate between upset child and inexperienced guardian, the fractured silence explodes.

“I hate you Lucifer.  You don’t care about me at all.  Why am I the one to grow up without a Daddy?” Trixie wails.

Trixie, intent on the open front door, runs past a crumpling Lucifer.  The urchin’s tears are one of the few things that weaken the Devil.

“Trixie, come back,” a tearful Chloe begs.

Lucifer stumbles to her, chest heaving.  “She hates me.  I’m a terrible even stand in father already.  I should go back to Hell, I deserve it.”  He kneels down to give Rory a good bye kiss.

“No, Lucifer, no.” Chloe implores.

Must flight be his first response to any emotional stress?  Yes, it must, think Decker, isn’t that what winged creatures do, fly away from trouble.  What can I give him that will make him stay, at least until I return?

Lucifer insists, “Yes, now.”  He shifts away from Chloe.  Leaning heavily on the back of her chair, Lucifer attempts to get to his feet.  Before he can, Chloe spins out of her chair towards him, cradling Rory.

“Lucifer, I have to go after Trixie.  Here’s Aurora,” Chloe passes the baby to Lucifer.  “And why do you shudder every time I say our daughter’s name?”  Chloe wails as she bolts out the door after Trixie.

I may weep forevermore, between Lucifer’s pain and Trixie’s.  And me, with a constant ache.  How long this time?  Will the current sweet seconds make a future bitter blip worthwhile?  There was nothing sweet about this reunion, not even a make up kiss.  Not how I imagined our getting together post his groveling explanations.  How much time that we could be together will one or both of us waste this time?  Or will it just be circumstance and fate that does in our relationship?  Where is Trixie, poor child, suffering with me for my poor choices?  I must find a way to protect her from celestial craziness.

Chapter Text

Lucifer looks down at the pink bundle, with a living tiny person in it.  His living tiny person.

“Sorry, beautiful one, I never, ever, meant to hurt your sister.  This family stuff is a more than a little unfamiliar to me,” Lucifer confesses.  “I still need my therapist, but the person I would trust most to be my tutor on how to be a good father is, is in Heaven.  Not m’ Dad, a’course, but your sister’s.  Not sure I can visit where he now resides again.”

“AaaAA?” Rory comments, a high note of distress at the end.

“When your cousin makes those noises, Dr. Linda rocks him.”  Lucifer starts to gently swing his taxing burden side to side, hoping to quiet her.  Rory squirms and waves her arms.  Afraid she will launch herself out of his arms, Lucifer lowers her to the ground.  He eyes the still open door distrustfully, he’ll have to deal with whatever comes in the apartment after it gets inside because baby Rory has a firm grip on his finger and he can’t bring himself to detach her.

How far can you get from one of these things anyway, before disaster strikes?   

His daughter fidgets on the floor, face still pinched, squeaking dismay.  Lucifer remembers the swaddling of a fussy Charlie, but no idea how to accomplish that. 

Perhaps the floor is too hard.  Best grab the comfy blanket off the couch and lay her on it.  Bollocks, I’ve scattered the Urchin’s drawings of some large flightless birds building nests.  Rory is on the cozy blanket now, but the squallering hasn’t ceased. Is she cold down there, alone?  Dad knows, I was cold in Hell, alone, no matter what the temperature was.

He eases down next to the baby, fidgeting so she is snuggled in between his arm and side of his chest.  As she quiets, he sighs.  “Its been a long few days, beautiful one, frantic flight up from Hell, your mother’s labor, trying to hide from fri, er, um, associates so they don’t suffer another round of goodbyes.  Plus, feelings are exhausting.  Its like I became a whole ‘nother person the second you were born.” Lucifer yawns as Rory blinks her eyes towards sleep.

“We will just stay right here til your mother and sister return,” he assures Rory with the best he can offer.  Lucifer yawns hugely,  “Did you acquire some powers from Morpheus?” 

Abruptly awake, Lucifer wonders if he is back in Hell.  Hard ground underneath him, intense sense of unease, watery snuffling close by.  But no, scent of Detective and and Rory!? 

No wonder the child claims I deserted her.  First thing I do when I’m solely responsible for her is fall FALL asleep on the job.

“Mommy, why are Rory and Lucifer asleep on the floor?” Trixie stops sniffing long enough to ask.

“Interesting question, Monkey.  Babies make parents tired and then you have to hold still so the baby goes to sleep.  Sometimes, all that makes the parent sleepy too.”  Chloe’s calm tone, answering her daughter's endless questions, quietens Lucifer enough for him to contemplate his next move, instead of heedlessly taking action.

Do I scramble up and chance waking Rory?  I know Chloe disapproves of abruptly waking Rory and no wonder because she wails and wails.  Worse yet, sometimes Chloe tears up in response.  Then, I know I truly deserve Hell.

Lucifer scans his surroundings rapidly for ideas or rescue.

“Lucifer,” Chloe sooths.  “Its okay.  We will have to practice you being alone with Rory.”

“But, the floor, Detective.” Lucifer is aghast at the mishap.

“Lucifer, its an unusual choice, but obviously Rory wasn’t worried about it.”  Chloe reassures,   “Because you were right there with her.”

“Oh, I was, wasn’t I?” Lucifer brightens a little.

Lucifer glances at Trixie.  “And, are you alright now, Urchin?” worry in his tone.

Trixie nods, “Mommy explained that even if you are an adult, sometimes you don’t have control over a situation.  Lucifer, can you bring Daddy back?”

“Child, if its possible, I would, only IF it is safe for both you and Daniel.  Venturing between planes can be stressful, even for celestials.  Most of my brothers and sisters do not make the journey from Heaven to Earth often.” Lucifer hopes he has explained enough to convince her of the potential danger, without frightening her.

“And to Hell, where you lived?” the curiosity is strong in this one.

Now, I’m frightened.  How did I admit to such an innocent one that I did something so terrible my family felt it necessary to banish me forever as a monster?  I would not want her to fear such a thing.

Lucifer sighs, “Only me, Amenadiel and one of my sisters as part of our functions.”

Tears track down Trixie’s blotchy face again, “I don’t want Daddy hurt.”

“Nor do I, child, nor do I.”

Still wobbly, Trixie wonders, “Is Daddy looking for a way do,own?”

Ever practical, Chloe responds, “We can’t know that, Monkey.  What I do know is that its time to get Lucifer and your sister up off the floor.  Will you help with that?”

“Sure, Mommy.”

Still a little listless, she is.  Apparently, even when your parent did not want to abandon you, their absence still hurts.  How can this possibly be the future my daughter wants?  And what would it take to cheer Daniel’s daughter, to whom I am now, someone help her, a father figure?

“Which one do you want, Trix?”

“Lucifer,” Trixie shouts, with some of her old exuberance.

She wants me, she of the sticky hands.  Which truly doesn’t matter for this poor suit, dusty and covered in baby drool and yarn fuzz.  But how does such a tiny creature help me off the floor?

Chloe kneels next to him lifting an awakening Rory off the floor.  “Just play along with it, Lucifer.”

“Did you like my pictures of rheas, Lucifer?” Trixie asks as she stacks her scattered drawings back together.  “Did you know the daddy rheas take care of all the baby birds of the mommy bird, even if the baby bird has a different father?”

“No, child, I did not know that.” Lucifer is suddenly aware of how little he knows of any kind of parenting.  “Why the sudden fascination with birds?”

“Rory will have wings, won’t she? Trixie asserts.   “Since you weren’t going to be here, I wanted to be able to help her with them.”

Lucifer shoots a questioning look at his partner.

Chloe shrugs, “She is the child of two detectives.”  Chloe carefully places Rory in her bassinette.

“Ah, well, child, that’s very generous of you.”

If this child is any indication, Dad certainly upped the amount of sibling loyalty in humans, versus what he gave angels.

“Are angels like these birds, Lucifer?” Trixie holds up a drawing of the male rhea on the nest, one white fledgling, one gray fledgling under his wing.

“No, not at all.” Lucifer says dismissively, remembering that his Dad didn’t even always want the ones that were his.

Bollocks, Linda is right again, the truth can be the wrong answer, now the tears have started again and the tiny body is quivering.

“Child, why do you ask?” Lucifer asks hoping to distract Trixie, or be asked a question to which he has a more encouraging answer, or at least, one that doesn’t put the small human on the verge of bawling.

“I, Daddy’s gone. Who is going to teach me to swim in the ocean, or take me to the amusement park?” Trixie continues her showcasing of the highlights of Dan’s parenting, “Daddy was teaching me about Mars and star travel.”

“Urchin, what does that have to do with those birds?” Lucifer tries not to be impatient.  Human emotions, and especially children, are so confusing to him.

Trixie shakes her head, turning away despondently.  Rory begins to whimper from the bassinette.

Lucifer looks back and forth between the two children.

Of the Detective, of course.

“Beatrice, if you are asking if I will take care of you, the answer is I never expected such an honor.  One rumor about me is true, the Devil takes care of his own,” he explains to her back.

Trixie continues her slow shuffle to her bedroom.

Chloe tries, “Trix, did you understand what Lucifer meant?”

Snuffle, snuffle, very quietly, “No.”

Lucifer walks around to face Trixie directly, crouching down to her level.  “It means that yes, I consider you to be one of my fledglings, part of the nest with your mother and sister.”

Trixie flings her arms around Lucifer and sniffles right into his shirt.  Lucifer sighs, children are hard on the wardrobe.

“Will Daddy be angry?”

Does every child ask such impossible questions?  Certainly, I won’t answer as Father did, furious and threatened. Humans often raise monuments to the deceased or name streets after them.  What might cheer the child?

“Shall we find something to name after him, child?”  Lucifer suggests,  slightly desperate, “A park or a swim center?”

Trixie nods enthusiastically, “Ella says the new bird rescue center wants to make a display of what not to feed birds.  Chocolate, like dogs, avocados, lilies, daffodils.  I looked it up.”

Chloe shakes her head at Lucifer.

Now what?

“Daddy always warned me about what plants not to eat when we camped and where the poison ivy was and to never eat mushrooms in the wild and

Now, the Detective is nodding at me.  Time for evasive maneuvers, with a non answer.

“Child, we will take this idea under consideration.” Lucifer hedges.

“Is that no or yes?” Trixie insists.

Can she still be bribed with gifts?

 As he masquerades that Trixie’s assistance was vital to his standing straight up, “There are presents for you too, Monopoly expert,” Lucifer teases.   “Open the box that says ‘Aurora toys.’”

As Trixie races for the brightly colored boxes, Chloe leans into Lucifer.  “I know you struggle with how to parent,  but Lucifer, know you did an awesome job with Trixie, trying to abate her melancholy over Dan’s absence.”

Lucifer smiles, that tentative hope on his face, “Ah, is that the name for that feeling.  Don’t want either child to feel that, ever.”

I do want the Detective snuggling up to me like this right now, smiling with approval. Maybe I can be worthy of them, even without cosmic sacrifices.   How can one chaste kiss on the cheek be better than my break the walls imaginings in Hell?

Trixie about dives into the boxes.  “Oh, Mommy, look, it’s a herd of unicorns and Pegasus.”  Trixie pulls out one fantastical stuffed animal after another.  “Look at all the pretty colors on them.  They are really sparkly.  Watch, Rory, I can make them fly.”  Trixie holds a stuffed animal aloft in each hand, waving them about.   “Unicorns and Pegasus are sisters, just like you and I.”

The urchin, Dad created something in Mum’s new universe, based on her specifications, sparkly unicorns.  She is a miracle’s daughter, what celestial abilities might she have? Or influence on the old man?  If angels self actualize, can the child of a miracle encourage others to produce what she wishes or create a fantasy creature?

“Sweet child, be careful what you wish for and the bargains you make,” Lucifer directs a pointed glance to the Detective.

And she is wrapped up in Rory, gently rocking the bassinette.  Perhaps that’s for the best, no need to worry her about both daughters.  Dad never worried about me from Heaven, I wonder if human parents in the Silver City fret about their children still on Earth?

Chapter Text

“Charlotte, even if you do find the spot where Eve ‘escaped,’ its doubtful Heaven will let you out too.” Dan protests, trailing behind his companion.  “Is that how it works?” Dan objects, as he watches Charlotte close her eyes and step off the edge of a cloud.

“Then how does it work, Dan?” Charlotte demands, now stomping her feet into the topside of puffy clouds as if to find the hole in the floor.  Faintly, they hear the thunder she caused.

“I don’t know.” Dan shakes his head in disapproval.  “You don’t even know if you could get back here.  Hoael and Jkarenel certainly hassled us for even trying to discover Eve’s path.  Half of Heaven would be glad to see you gone anyway.  Everyone thinks its all harps and harmony up here, but there is a lot of dissent over our presence.  Angels aren’t as open minded as the Devil, you know.”

“My children need me, Dan.  Both kids are hiding drugs from their dad, failing in school and being victimized by the very people I defended before I went to Hell.”  Charlotte continues to stare downward.  “It might not take much for me to descend, anyway, I can feel the guilt pulling me down.”

“You shouldn’t have looked, Charlotte.” Dan reprimands.  “We were only to keep an eye on Michael and make sure he didn’t escape from his earthly prison.”

“And Eve shouldn’t have eaten the apple.  If we aren’t supposed to know, why is there a way to find out?” Charlotte reasons.  “If I get down there, Michael,” she snarls the name, “is on my list too, of scum to visit and turn the tables on.  He flinches every time those giant swan wings flap,” Charlotte reminds him, dark satisfaction in her tone.  “Lucifer does know how to pick an apt punishment.  Solving my kids illicit drug issue is first, though.”

Dan shifts to block her path, “Charlotte, even if you do manage to land in L.A., you can’t just storm into your kids’ home and take the drugs.  They will just get more,” Dan replies in the saddened, measured tones used with the many parents who tried that strategy and failed.

“Then I will cut off the supply.” Charlotte rejoins, determined.  “It can’t be just a coincidence that my kids buy their drugs under the pier near where my soul came back from Hell.  That’s where I realized I could take a different path, one with less guilt, protecting others from harm.”

Dan shakes his head again, determined women are his type.  Or, maybe, its fate.

This time, I’m going to know more about her plan and what she is investigating.  Charlotte won’t be in the line of fire alone.  I’ll play along, so she doesn’t withhold information from me.  Time to be a detective again, just in case of danger or  success.  Who am I kidding here, that she wouldn’t succeed, she is the first of us to sentence herself to Hell, make the journey through guilt, and achieve Heaven.  If we do follow the same path as Eve, will I be corporeal enough to hug Trixie again? In my own body?  Where would I land?  Maybe its like the clock tower or Ground Hog Day, you wind up at the same point to get an opportunity to redeem yourself to fix your future.  I hope Michael is not getting up to anything, while we play find the hollow spot in the cloud floor up here.  At least Hoael and Jkarenel are down there, supervising Michael’s incarceration.

“Drat, Dan, it thunderstormed in the same spot again.  If that area floods again, do you think people will be suspicious?” Charlotte worries.

“Suspicious of what? That climate change is real?” Dan scoffs.  “Besides, its kind of fun to torment Hoael and Jkarenel by having the flood debris always drift into their yard.  Watching them race out there to clean up wet, soppy messes is very satisfying after all the times they wrote us up for not having the correct moisture content in our clouds.”

Charlotte observes, “That high humidity Hoael and Jkarenel recommended did obscure our view of Earth, right as the bird sanctuary was visible from here.”

“Very odd timing,” Dan agrees.  “If Lucifer hadn’t recruited them to watch Michael, I would have wondered if they were working with that imposter.”

The sudden lightning and thunder behind them cause them both to spin about, racing towards the gap the electric discharge created. 

“Dan, look, there are the drug dealers.”  Sharp eyed as always, Charlotte asks,  “Isn’t this near Penelope’s house?”

Dan growls,  “Stupid time differential.  I don’t know if Trixie is still there or if she has returned to Chloe’s apartment.  What good is vision without sound, especially when I can clearly see they are casing the house.”  Dan begins jumping with both feet at dark clouds, empty spaces between them and where lightening had just discharged.

“Look for the cold spots, Charlotte,” Dan suggests.  “The air will sink down to earth and maybe take us with it.”

“Is that how it works?” Charlotte shoots his derisive words right back at him.

Huffing and puffing from exertion, Dan pants, “There’s only one way to find out. If the guilt can pull us down.”

Charlotte joins him in trampolining from one spot to another, trying to find the passage between planes.

Chapter Text

As the elevator dings, Lucifer looks up from his tidying the Penthouse of newborn debris.  He smiles a welcome at Chloe, but continues to softly sing. 

La la lu
La la lu
Oh, my little star sweeper
I'll sweep the stardust for you

La la lu
La la lu
Little soft fluffy sleeper
Here comes a pink cloud for you

La la lu
La la lu
Little wandering angel
Fold up your wings, close your eyes

La la lu
La la lu
And may love be your keeper
La la lu
La la lu
La la lu

There now, little star sweeper
Dream on

When he finishes, Chloe comments, “Aww, that’s the lullaby from ‘Lady and the Tramp.’  Trixie enjoyed watching that Disney movie with you.  You were so intent on the storyline of Tramp taking care of Lady after, after…”

“She was cast out, Detective.  And protected her family anyway,” Lucifer shakes his head in amazement.  “I did not understand that part ‘til Mum visited.  And danced on table with a bunch of sweaty miscreants leering up at her.”

Chloe snorts, “I never heard that part of her stay.”

“And you won’t from me,” Lucifer declares.  “The urchin was launched to her trampoline date successfully, Detective?”

Chloe smiles at Lucifer’s swift change of topic.

“Yes, Lucifer, thank you for feeding Rory while I dropped Trixie off.” Chloe hugs him from the side, tipping her head into his shoulder.

“It was my pleasure, Chloe.”  He continues unusually hopeful, “Now, at the very least, Rory will remember I didn’t abandon her before she was born.  I sang to her, La La Lu and she cooed at me.  She’s very musical already, Detective,” he declares proudly.

“Lucifer, she won’t remember any of this,” Chloe warns.

His eyes flash red, “I know, I know.  Michael managed to erase it all.  By lying, Detective, by lying.  Lied in Heaven so my entire family hated me.  Spread false rumors on Earth, so humans thought I was evil because I supervised the punishment of people who felt guilty.”  Lucifer’s angry rant breaks from overwrought yelling to dejected anguish, “Impersonated me with you and with Maze, so you would, you would think I was unfaithful.” 

“Lucifer, it might be different for angels, but human babies don’t remember much from the first few years,” Chloe cautions.

“Rory won’t remember this at all, ever?” Lucifer’s voice breaks.

Still, she won’t remember me, if I have to go back.  What’s the bloody point?

Chloe reassures, “Rory will remember the love, not the specifics.” 

“The urchin remembers specifics about Daniel?” Lucifer objects, searching for a loophole as he carries the latest bottle to the sink for washing.

“Yes, from when she was four years or more, not as a baby.  He has, he,” Chloe hiccups, trying not to start crying, “had told her every camping trip about which plants were poisonous and things like that.”

“Detective, I did not mean to distress you.” He carries on washing the bottle, so as to prevent Chloe from fretting over sour milk and germs.

“I am going to be upset about it Lucifer.  But that won’t stop me from doing what’s best for Trixie.  If she wants it, we should fund the informational exhibit at the bird sanctuary.”  Chloe explains, “I was only worried because Michael is there.”

“Michael can be shifted, Detective.  At any time.  His punishment should in no way inconvenience you or the Urchin,” Lucifer assures her.

“But you have all that equipment set up there to monitor him,” Chloe worries.

Always with the objections to making life easy.  Not anyone else’s life easy, just hers.  She’s not yet made the move from normal to incredible for her life with me.  P’haps that’s due to farcical amount of torment from loving me.  What could counter the curse from caring for me?

Lucifer waves a hand, “A bit of bother, moving recording devices, is nothing to easing the Urchin’s pain in some small way.”

“Still, that’s a lot of trouble for you, Lucifer.”

She’s worried about me, me having to do a little something.  When the reward is her and the Urchin feeling that Dan’s presence on this Earth will positively impact more people, even after his death.  Which brings what peace there can be to them.

“I would like to provide a memorial to Daniel, who kept his decency to others in the face of devilish provocation.  Besides, my darling,” he reminds her, “I call in a favor or two, and while I command, other people trouble.”

There’s a trait the Detective and I share in common, thinking we are not worth another person making an effort.

Chloe hugs him again, “You do think of others, from a human perspective it appears over extravagant sometimes.”

“Darling, full disclosure, I want to move Michael from one Hell on Earth situation to another, just the way he used the Loops,” Lucifer growls,  “to bamboozle our daughter, even if it is in the future.”

“Now that we are sure Rory will take a bottle, Lucifer, we should start our investigation with interviews to discover just what Michael did, will do, did do?”  Chloe is obviously puzzled about what tenses to use when discussing time travel.

How can Michael know, if its in Rory’s future?  Ah, well, don’t know, don’t care.  Just want revenge.  I’ll let the Detective be in the details and create a clear picture of Michael’s transgressions.

“Lovely, I will just get the demon forged blades to properly cow Michael.”

I branded him twice now, once in front and once in back.  Won’t mind reminding him who wields the sharp weapons still.

“Lucifer, before we visit Michael, we should interview Hoael and Jkarenel.”

“Why, Detective?” Lucifer asks, putting Rory’s latest empty bottle upside down on the baby bottle drying rack.

Chloe explains, “So we have the benefit of their perspective, from direct interaction with him, which neither of us have currently.”

“Well, direct interaction is easy enough, Detective.  We can go visit my dickhead twin.”  Lucifer paces away from the sink, roaming the Penthouse, picking things and placing them back.

Chloe follows him, taking her voluminous notes out of their box as she sits on the couch. “Lucifer, most people don’t catch on to when family is hiding something from them.”  She spreads her papers on the glass table.  “Look how long Dan gaslighted me, for example.”  Chloe reasons.

She drops her gaze after Lucifer’s questioning stare at her, without words reminding her of her stringing him along, a conspirator in Kinley’s plot to send him to Hell.

Lucifer watches as Chloe leans over that coffee table, where her notes are spilling over each other, like red wine from a shattered glass.  She picks up a pencil, jotting notes on one page as she shivers imperceptibly to human eyes.

That’s her tell, pretending to concentrate on papers.  How often has she said, “Lets just focus on the case,” to redirect the conversation away from something upsetting to her.

“You need not be uncomfortable, Detective.”  Hoping to reassure her, Lucifer expounds,  “To date, everyone close to me has attacked me or something I cherished at some point, hoping to banish or manipulate me.  If I didn’t forgive, and fairly quickly, well, I’d just be alone.”

Chloe implores,  “Lucifer, stop.  I feel guilty enough already.”

“Never that, Detective,” Lucifer shudders. “The fault was mine, delaying revealing the truth to you, out of reluctance to face your reaction.  Glad of the excuses to procrastinate, to be able continue to maintain the fantasy.”

Chloe snorts ruefully, “You and I both.  I had plenty of evidence I ignored, or shoved to the bottom of a drawer, to keep the delusion of son of Larry Morningstar, plumber, going.” 

She crosses the distance between them.  “Perhaps we both need to work on forgiving ourselves,” and puts her hands out to him.

“You’ve taken the first step, Chloe.” As he leans down to complete their forehead kiss, Lucifer takes her hands in his.  The contact calms the demons of doubt for both of them.

I’ll follow faithfully, as I’ve done since I met you.

Chapter Text

Lucifer’s breathy response to her up and down caress of his sides reminds Chloe that between baby care, care of a grieving pre teen, and discussions of cosmic importance, they have not been intimate since she stormed out of Lux in a huff.

I wonder if Lucifer’s ever experienced make up sex.  Time to find out.

Chloe starts to unbutton Lucifer’s shirt.  He’d abandoned wearing jacket or waistcoat when alone with Chloe and the baby.  Smelly baby drool on dry clean only clothes just wasn’t sensible when trying to keep your return a secret.

“Tective?”

Chloe grinned at the low pitched hopeful want in Lucifer’s voice.

“Lucifer,” she responded, deliberately using the husky intimate tone her Devil adored.

Her smile grew at his hard swallow before he spoke again.

“Chlooe,” with all the longing in the universe.  His hands moved slowly to her waist, gentle pressure outside her shirt.  “Every time with you is more incredible.  How is this possible?”

Who longed for more than Lucifer?  Longed for a return to home, parents who cared in some comprehensible fashion.  Longed for a respite from Hell.  Longed for her enough to endure trips to Hell, dreaming of her for thousands of years.  Stupid of her to leave him longing for the physical affection he needed so much.  And rewarded her so well for initiating.

“Welcome to make up sex babe,” Chloe kisses his chest.  Her hands slide under his shirt, having undone just enough buttons.  His stomach quivers under her fingertips.

“We are still at inventive, Lucifer.  Is that okay?” Chloe presses a kiss to his lips.

“Always, darling,” he mummers, brushing his lips against hers with each syllable.

He pulls her shirt out of his way, wrapping hands around her back, fingertips toying with the clasp of her nursing bra.

“Lucifer,” Chloe cautions, “don’t just undo the bra.”

“Mmm?”

“It will hurt if the boobs get dropped abruptly, when they are so full,” Chloe explains.

Lucifer noses her hair out of the way of his kisses to her ear.  “Softly, gently.”

Chloe’s hands explore upwards on his chest.  The strained buttons of his shirt snap.  From her vantage in front of Lucifer, she watches one ricochet from her onto that table, scribbled on papers covering the wine stained surface of regrets.

He just laughs in response to the destruction of his shirt, “But not to the pesky clothes.”

“Naked fast, then slow.” Chloe flirts in her awkward way, trying to keep his attention away from the site of her betrayal.

“You had me at naked, m’dear.” Lucifer’s wide grin reflects his enthusiasm for her

“I’d like to have you naked,” Chloe hopes her sexy repertoire is improving.

“Your wish is my desire, my love.”  Lucifer steps back from Chloe and strips at light speed.

Chloe snorts, “The berries are ripe.” She reaches for his chest, caressing nipples.

“Well played, Detective.”  Lucifer intently tracks her hands, obviously enchanted by the confirmation of touch and sight together that this is real, not a fantasy.

How do I get him up the stairs, away from the scene of my betrayal?  Someday, I’ll brave the memories, but this is not that day.  Maybe that table can just someday go away.

Chloe tucks her arm in the crook of his elbow and takes a half step towards the bedroom.  Ever the gentleman, Lucifer escorts her up the stairs, grinning in that pleased way of his that shows his constant enthusiasm for her company. 

He stops at the top step, bent over to peer into the room.

“We, it, won’t disturb the imp?” he asks, halted on the top step so nothing below the waist is visible from the corner where the bassinette stands.

“No, Lucifer, she’ll most likely stay asleep.”  Chloe tugs on him a little.

“Detective, I’d rather not, in front of the child.”  Lucifer explains,  “Too many memories of Mum and Dad, uncaring of their children, witnessing their relationship ups and downs.”

Chloe nods, “Wait here, I will move the bassinet into your enormous closet.”

“Toss me a robe and I will assist.”

Chloe throws a robe in his direction and picks up Rory so Lucifer can move the bassinette.

After placing the restless, but still sleeping, infant on the firm, oval mattress, Chloe directs, “Rock her a little bit in the bassinette, Lucifer, so she stays asleep.”

She hurries into the bedroom, shimmeying out of her practical mom clothes and tearing the ponytail out of her hair.  Chloe smiles, hearing the Disney lullaby again, she will now have a tiny bit of time to find something to wear more desirable.

Can you wear sexy lingerie over a nursing bra?  Nope, not doing it for her.  Even with her hair loose.

Chloe discards the gauzy top.

What would Lucifer like?  Ah, ha, one of his dress shirts.  The one in electric violet, over the nursing bra.  Lots of leg showing, a good bit of deeper cleavage, cloth flows over the post partum tummy without revealing it. I’ll just roll up the sleeves, out of my way.  Definitely as good as its going to get.

“Detective,” Lucifer voice breaks. “Beautiful,” he rumbles in a deeper register than usual.

Chloe looks down at his cock, bobbing in anticipation, “To you, apparently so.”

She waggles one finger at him in invitation.  “C’mere, then, before a phone rings or elevator dings.”

“I thought you’d never ask, Detective.” Lucifer steps to her, putting his hands on her waist.  When she steps into his embrace, he lowers his head next to hers.  He whispers compliments in her ear.

Chloe giggles, “You never stop talking, do you?”  She brings her hand up to his cheek, cradling him close, wanting him to know she’s listening.  Lucifer continues pouring his love into her ear.  Her other hand drifts up to the back of his neck, petting the short stubble at the back.

Lucifer groans into her ear, “Really wasn’t sure I’d ever be this lucky again.”

Chloe joshes with him, “Yes, buddy, its your lucky day. The Hot Tub girl in your arms.”

“You are so much more than that,” he moans through her hair.

“Yeah, I know great instincts, notable… OH, that’s notable, somebody likes being teased.”  Chloe shifts her stomach against Lucifer’s enthusiastic cock.

Lucifer peers downward.  “Never thought I’d find rubbing myself against my own shirt arousing, but here we are.” Lucifer comments breathily, the dry humor at himself apparent, even through the evidence of arousal.

Chloe slides her fingers gently between them, undoing just one significant button.  She shimmies so his member slips inside, to rest against her stomach.

“Ah, Chloe, so soft and warm. Nothing ‘made up’ about this.”

He makes it sound as if, as if soft and warm is well, a miracle to him.  Maybe so, I saw nothing soft in Hell certainly,  And it was much more hot and stifling than warm.  He needs all the affection I denied both of us.  I suppose so do I.  I deserve what’s underneath his clothes.

She kisses his shoulder, sucking at his collarbone.  He begins easing them towards the bed, with Chloe’s full cooperation.  She pushes him backwards onto the bed, then sinks down unto him.  The shirt has ridden up, out of the way.  The only thing separating them is her cotton underwear.

“Daarling?”

“I just want to feel you Lucifer.”  His cock jumps in response to her sultry voice, whispering his name. 

“Through the underwear?” Lucifer asked in a strangled voice, pitched higher than normal.

“MmmHmm,” Chloe whines, rocking just a little.

“You’re damp, even through the underwear.” Lucifer’s voice drops a register.

“MmmHumm,  Its making it difficult to remember we have to stick to inventive.”  Chloe rolls her eyes.

“Is this some torment of my Dad’s?” Lucifer gripes.  “Inventive sounds like a loophole to me, which I will fully finesse for our pleasure.”

“Lucifer,” Chloe cautions.

“Not to worry, Chloe, I will always, ah, adapt to, to, ooohh.”

“Can you undo the buttons?” Chloe rocks again. “Even if I am moving?”

“Of course, darling.” Lucifer starts at the first button, just below her cleavage. When that significant obstruction is removed, Lucifer curls up, kissing the sweet spot between her breasts. 

Chloe can feel his lashes flutter against her collarbone.

Gasping for air, Lucifer blows on the next button down, which comes undone.

“That’s handy,” Chloe teases, kissing his ear.

“No, Detective, no hands.” Lucifer grins widely at his Detective, rolling her eyes at his silly joke.

Chloe shakes her head slightly, “Well, fatherhood hasn’t stopped you being ridiculous.”

“Should it?” Lucifer suddenly turns serious.

“No, Lucifer, bring on the absurd jokes.”  Chloe arches her back, bringing the next button within range.

Lucifer parts the shirt as far as it will go.  He licks the skin under her bra.  Chloe can feel his rapid breaths.  With each slow caress, Chloe wiggles her core against his cock.  She continues with this til Lucifer is a panting mess.  One handed, she undoes the other buttons on the shirt she is wearing.

“Those fancy buttons of yours left bruises on my stomach, Lucifer, time to kiss and make it better,” Chloe jests breathlessly.

He complies readily, taking his time hunting for non existent button imprints.  As he licks and sucks his way down, Chloe shifts so her inner thigh rubs against his seeking cock.

She climbs off him, spinning around and stripping off the shirt, letting it fall onto the bed.

Glancing at his stomach, she declares in a sultry tone, “Oh, dear, Lucifer, those naughty buttons left bruises on your stomach, too.”

“Chloe, that’s not possible any more, is it?” Lucifer looks down, puzzled.

“Shut up, Lucifer, so I can kiss it and make it better,” Chloe proposes, giving Lucifer one of her charmingly awkward winks.

“Yes, Detective,” he nods enthusiastically enough that his curls spring free of their product prison.

Her blond locks swish over his stomach, some drifting over his cock.

“Nothing feels better than this,” Lucifer sings to her.

“Underneath your clothes, that’s my story,” she returns.  “Its called make up sex because we are ‘making up’ after a a disagreement.”  Chloe kisses her way down his sculpted stomach. 

Lucifer delicately returns her affection, caressing thighs and lower back. He carefully stays outside the area her panties cover, tracing the outline of them on her sensitive skin.

He’s respecting the limits I’ve set.  I will trust him now, to remember where I have to draw the line, for my own health.

Chloe shimmies off her underwear.  “I’m trusting you to keep me safe.  My future, our future, depends on you, Lucifer Morningstar, not testing the limits.”

“As you wish, Detective, always.” Lucifer looks slightly affronted that she might think otherwise.

“Lucifer, I want to test those limitations.  Partners, remember.  Its your turn to play responsible one, okay?” Chloe implores.

“Det, Chloe, you know I will always protect you, even from myself.  I give you my word to abide by the physical restrictions necessary for your health and safety,” he assures her.  “That’s all that matters.”

Chloe blows a steamy breath across his cock.

“Sure about that?”

Lucifer groans, “Yes, darling.  Inventive is delectable, with you.”

No wonder he was able to have anyone he wanted, all the time.  The Devil does have a golden tongue.  The compliments he gives, plus what he can do with his fingers.  The slow, easy circles might drive me mad.  Will he like that as well?

Chloe circles the tip of his cock in rhythm with his fingers on her mound.

If the jerk of his hips is any indication, yep, he does like the drawn out anticip ant, wait.

“Chloe, as long as you lick the frosting off, I will be your crumpet anytime,” Lucifer begs.

Slurping sounds at pianissimo level float in the bedroom as Lucifer sucks a hickey onto Chloe’s thigh while she treats him as that éclair.  With her goal being just the cream, thank you very much.

They are familiar enough with each other now that Chloe knows Lucifer is close when his entire body stiffens and he pants harshly near her thigh.  They glide over the edge together, Chloe retaining just enough brain power to swallow around him gracefully.

Contented sighs are the only sound as they clean up and snuggle, drifting together into the cozy sleep of a couple in harmony once again.

Chapter Text

“The colosseum where you defeated Michael is a good choice for this meeting, Lucifer.  Even if I’m not thrilled with being away from Rory at her bedtime,” Chloe sighs into the deepening darkness.  The Detective opens her notebook, pencil ready.  She strategizes with Lucifer,  “When will Hoael & Jkarenel arrive?  Which one of us should start questioning them first?”

“Detective, when I contacted Amenadiel to set up this meeting, I told him we still were not leaving Rory alone.  I implied that only you would be here interviewing Hoael & Jkarenel,” he explains.

“Because?” Chloe poses a leading question.

“Because I wish to see how they treat you without me.  Also, there’s nothing like the element of surprise to reveal the truth.”  Lucifer adjusts his cuffs in preparation.  He continues, “My other informants’ reports differed from Hoael & Jkarenel’s recitations as communicated by Amenadiel.”

“So, either Amenadiel didn’t pass the information along fully, or H&J are lying?” Chloe reasons.

“Correct in one, Detective.  That’s why I requested you bring your detective notebook.” He instructs, “Go out and wait for them along the parapet.”  He points to the walkway behind the nosebleed seats.  “I’ll just wait here, inside the archway.”

“Lucifer, there’s no cover there.”  Concerned, Chloe wonders, “Won’t they see you?”

“Not at dusk, Detective.  ‘Black as Hell’ is one of the things about which your mythology was correct regarding the Devil’s abilities.  They won’t see me until I choose that they do,” Lucifer’s confident regal tones echo off the concrete.

“Darling?” confident and regal has become questioning and uncertain.

Did I break her?  Americans do have peculiar objections regarding permanent rulers and royal edicts.

“That’s hot, you know, when you get all imperial and majestic,” Chloe confides in the husky bedroom tone that never fails to inspire Lucifer.

Lucifer huffs, “And you expect me to focus on the case after that declaration?”

“Yep,” Chloe nods, “do it all the time.”

“Detective, perhaps you might exit before I’m tempted to test the strength of these walls.”  Lucifer evaluates the archway in an exaggerated fashion.

Chloe rolls her eyes at his flamboyant display, smirks and hustles away.

Ah, those hips, swaying with confidence.  The sight of that sexy wriggle of her backside is almost worth the price of watching her walk away.

After Hoael and Jkarenel have landed, Chloe starts her interrogations.  “Thank you both for attending this meeting.  I’d like to start with a few simple questions.”

They nod.

“How well did you know Michael in Heaven?”

“Would you have known if he had visited Hell?”

Chloe concludes, “What qualifications do you have for this assignment?”

“Human, we agreed to meet with you so you could be our messenger to Sa, Lucifer.  We are not here to answer a mere mortal’s questions,” Jkarenel refuses disdainfully.

The coliseum shakes, a fracture in the concrete appearing beneath the angels’ feet.  The crack runs perpendicular to their feet.  Chloe looks down, there’s no damage below her.

“What was that?” the angels ask, glancing about nervously.

“Its California, there are earthquakes all the time,” Chloe deadpans.

She continues her questioning, “Has Michael given any indication to you, of plotting against Amenadiel or Lucifer?”

“Celestial affairs are none of your business,” Hoael declares, hostile with hands on hips, obviously trying to intimidate Chloe.

“She is my partner, the celestial Consultant,” Lucifer thunders, coming around the column.  “And that which stands between all universes and the true apocalypse.”  Lucifer waves a hand and pennant poles sway back and forth.  His siblings cower as screws and bolts holding the poles up pop from their moorings, scattering at their feet.

“That simple, to tear Heaven and Earth asunder should she be displeased.  I would begin with the two of you,” Lucifer threatens.  He continues, Commanding, “Start at the first question, and answer her completely.”

The wide eyed angels babble, “Everyone shunned Michael.  The wounds from the Rebellion were horrifying.  His injuries did not heal, he was not perfect in Heaven.  An indication of his less than total commitment to, well,” realizing they are pontificating to the angel on the other side, Hoael stutters to a halt.  Jkarenel continues their excuses,  “He is an archangel, we did not track his movements.  He kept to himself in Heaven.”

“For inveterate busybodies, you sure don’t have a lot of information..” Lucifer grouses.

Chloe rolls her eyes, well, that’s question 4 answered.  “Has Michael said or done anything tipping his hand about any plans to defy Lucifer or Amenadiel?”

“Oh, yes, he destroyed part of the coop in which he is detained,” Hoael tattles. Jkarenel informs them with great eagerness,  “An exhibit being built at the bird sanctuary.  Intended to warn humans what not to feed birds.”

Chloe shifts her attention to her partner.  “We will have to get back to these two, Lucifer.”

The look they exchange communicates their worry that Ella and Trixie could get caught in the crossfire between brothers, without letting their informants know of their concern.

“Yes, Detective, we know Michael is the villain here or rather, at the avian infirmary.”  He sweeps her up in his arms, as lustrous white wings pop out,  “Lets be off, to interview him.”

As his wings beat them swiftly thru the air, Lucifer admits in that warm whiskey voice, “Detective, I never thought I would be one for routine, but its incredible to be working with you again.  Interviewing witnesses to start, then going after the perpetrator.”

“Yes, funny how that worked.  You always thought it was the suspect looking most guilty at the start, but then we did actual detective work … “  Chloe squeals, then scolds,  “Stop Lucifer, flying barrel rolls take a little getting used to.  I’m not sure Rory will approve of a ‘milkshake’ either and she is our next stop.”

Chapter Text

“Lucifer, why have we landed here, near this cave with the fake rocks?”  Chloe steadies herself with one hand on the craggy, jagged surface.  “The rocks are certainly sharp enough to discourage trying to climb to those nests.  It looks a little like Hell, Lucifer, all grey and sharp edges.”  Chloe shudders, “I still never understood why you bought this old zoo where Michael kept me captive.”

“This, Detective, is where the cleaning supplies and toothbrushes are kept,” Lucifer triumphantly tells her with dark satisfaction, gesturing extravagantly towards the cave.  “The more exhibits I fund, the more cleaning there is.”  He is clearly pleased at the opportunity to enumerate to her the specifics of Michael’s earthly punishment.  “The avian rescue cleverly hides their janitorial equipment in fake caves, so the birds’ environment is more natural looking.  My idiot twin should be along any minute now as the park is closed to visitors at dusk and open to custodial work.” King of Hell and punisher of evil takes pride in the cleverness of the convict’s sentence.  “Look there, the cleaning bucket is full of foaming caustic chemicals, just waiting for that toothbrush.”

Lucifer turns his head, sensing something Chloe doesn’t yet.  His grin is all sharp teeth, while he rubs his hands together in anticipation.  Chloe shifts her attention to his battle prep fidgeting.  Yep, anticipating a challenging encounter, the Devil adjusts his shirt, tugs on the lapels of his jacket, then fiddles with his cufflinks.

For herself, Chloe checks that her gun is loose in its holster and feet are firm in her familiar boots.  Boobs are empty, Rory had enjoyed her milk shaken.  Hair was braided before the flight, courtesy of Maze and Eve.  Discussions of restraint and strategy had mostly fallen on unwilling ears of Devil and demon.  Maze had objected to being left out of the interrogation, but agreed with the necessity of her and Eve guarding Trixie and Rory while Lucifer and Chloe confronted Michael.

“Well, well, well,” Chloe freezes, the same sneer laced tones in different accents on either side of her, in the way of twins, Lucifer and Michael have spoken in unison. 

If the situation hadn’t been so tense, Chloe would have rolled her eyes at the identical looks of disgust on their faces.

“What do we have here?  Slacking on the job or have all the damned souls been counseled free?’ Michael taunts.  A bird screams in fear in the background, sounding just a little like an upset Rory.

Why are we wasting time here, with Michael, when we could be with Rory?

Chloe shifts, not turning her back on Michael, but able to murmur to Lucifer.  “Never mind my lecture on procedure and strategy.  Let’s go the quick route.  Pound him til he gives us answers.”

There should be no quarter for Michael, who arranged Dan’s murder and now threatens Rory’s future and everyone’s happiness.  Look at the expression on Lucifer’s face, eager to be set free from all my rules.

“Truly, Detective?” Lucifer never takes his eyes off Michael, but his body shifts towards hers.

“Yeah, let’s not spend one second longer than necessary with this cowardly murderer.”   Cowardly was laced with all the scorn I feel for Michael, but did he catch the hiccup when I mentioned murderer.  I wanted so to ask Dan to guard the children.

“As          you          wish,    Detective.”  Lucifer rushes Michael with celestial speed, shoving his back against the uneven sharp surfaces of the cave.

“Answer her questions, completely, or you will long for the sword’s clean cuts once more.”  Lucifer deliberately reminds Michael who won their most recent battle, and the price of losing.   The Devil continues by threatening, “Make her ask a thousand questions to drag the truth out of you, and you will have a thousand upon thousand nasty slow slices to match, no death only continued, increasing suffering.”

Focus on the details, Decker.  Deep breath.  Confirming questions to start, just like any other case.

“Amenadiel said you used the Hell loops to convince Rory her father abandoned her,” Chloe starts.

“Yes, that is what I told Amenadiel.” Michael agrees warily.

“Is that what you actually did, use the Hell loops to convince Rory Lucifer abandoned her?”  Chloe catches that her suspect only confirmed what he told a third party, not that he committed the act in question.

“Yes,” Michael manages between pushes from Lucifer.

“Did you know who Rory was when you met her?” Chloe continues her interrogation.

“Yeeeah, did share the same face with Sa, ow, shit, okay, Lucifer.”  Michael squirms and flails, Lucifer having punched his tormentor in the stomach to get more leverage to grind his entire back against the sharp edges of the fake cave.

Everyone can hear Michael’s heavy duty tan coverall shredding under the pressure.

“Did you,” Chloe voice breaks in spite of her best intentions to be strong, “Did you frighten her into the Hell loops?”

“No, ha ha, Miracle, I had Squee tell her they were her father’s Hell loops for abandoning her and she could see how the guilt would punish him.”  Michael shifts his attention to his brother. “Inside the Loop, I would attempt to play your beloved piano, totally jangling up both the tune and your musically inclined daughter.”  As a last taunt, Michael squawks, “You see, Lucifer, even I can hit the right note sometimes.”

Michael forgets just whom he is trying to bedevil.  Tuned to the Detective, Lucifer realizes she has stalked away, towards the cart of cleaning supplies.  Perfect time to threaten his daughter’s tormentor while she of firm principles is out of earshot.

“I will make you sing,” a red eyed Lucifer growls in resonating Devil voice. “The thousand cuts of lingchi is an oft practiced torture in Hell. You will howl the song of the tortured and moan like the damned you are.”

“Lucifer,” Chloe’s admonishing tone in his ear makes him snarl in protective Devil timbre at Michael, warning him from acting up when the Detective is so close.

“No, Detective, not even for you will I stop.” Lucifer’s address is more polite to Chloe, but still determined.

“Pin him on the ground, face down,” she instructs from directly behind him.  “I intend to do more than wash his mouth out with soap.”

Lucifer glances swiftly around and sees the sudsy cleaning bucket in one fisted hand and long handled industrial brush in the other.

“As you wish,” Lucifer vows.

Solar flare fast, Lucifer flings his brother to the ground and pounds one foot onto Michael’s throat.  With his other foot, Lucifer rakes the shredded clothes from his brother’s back by digging the heel of red bottomed shoe from neck to belt.  The demon forged chain scrapes along Michael’s already sliced up back, opening and enlarging the weeping sores there further.

Michael howls, then needles, “Your Miracle in sensible brown boots won’t approve of torture, you know.”

Chloe snarls, “You know nothing, especially about me.” As she dumps the contents of the bucket of concrete cleaner onto Michael’s ravaged back.

Startled, Lucifer leans back from the spray, still not letting up on his brother, even as sparks fly from electrified demon forged chain encountering caustic chemicals .

“Detective, I did not know you had it in you.  P’rhaps I’d better stop pissing you off because just so I can admire the fireworks,” Lucifer muses approvingly.    “And what purpose do you have in mind for that long handled bristle brush?”

With everything she has, Chloe swings the brush over her head, then at the end of the downward stroke, sharp, twisted bristles impact Michael’s already oozing back.  And the scrubbing commences.

Chloe grins as Lucifer’s eyes widen, years as partners and she can still surprise him when she deviates from restrained rule follower.

“Look out, Detective.  All that useless flailing of his might knock you off your feet.” Lucifer warns.

Chloe steps back, letting her partner handle the supernatural strength of his twin.

Lucifer stomps his foot onto the arm nearest Chloe, who has cleverly backed out of range.  Devil wings snap out, trailing spikes cracking the concrete and pinning Michael by his arms to the ground.

“You have forgotten, Michael, all that I am,” Lucifer chides regally.  “Poison of God, remember.  I can torture you from the inside out.”  As the Fallen Angel continues, his tone morphs from deep human snarl to resounding imperiousness of the ruler of Hell,  “And with what I have become, spiked wing talon laced with the cleaner, puncturing your veins.  The inferno of Hell, flowing through you.”

“Stop, stop,” Michael begs, chest heaving, legs jerking.

“Why did Aurora fall for the same trick over and over?” Chloe hisses.

“Took a page from your wing, brother, and poisoned her.” Michael gloats.

Always with the dig at Lucifer, what an idiot.  Are all angels this determined to get a rise out of others?

Lucifer flips Michael up against the cave wall and commences grinding his back against the rough surface until the rocks drip red with blood and foam.

Chloe sucks in a breath, “Who else used the poison?”

“Kinley based his potion on the formula for the aerosol I developed and used to subdue Aurora.  I played abandonment Hell loops over and over again, so she would believe Lucifer had deserted the ‘taxing burden’ before her birth.” Michael needles out of habit through the pain.

Must all villains brag about their accomplishments. A useful trait, I suppose, when we have to investigate their crimes.

Lucifer’s eyes flash red, an accompaniment to his subsonic growl.

Determined to get the most information possible out of Michael, Chloe steps away from the threatening Lucifer.  He shifts to stand at her shoulder, glowering at Michael.

“How did you impersonate Lucifer so easily in Hell?” Chloe resumes her questioning.

“The demons knew Lucifer could change form, from angel to Devil.  Not my fault the ignoramuses assumed wing color could change as well.  Demons’ default is afraid of angels, I encouraged their terror.  They never knew it wasn’t Lucifer, always grouchy when first returned to Hell.  They didn’t challenge me.  I lured Aurora into the Hell loops so she could experience your absence over and over in different situations until she believed that was what happened.”

“How long in the Hell loops?” Lucifer demands in the resonating voice used to carry throughout Hell and command demons.  His venom reverberates off the cave wall behind Michael. 

“At least as long as your Earth trips.” Michael tries to squirm away from Lucifer, whose angry human form is growing more massive even without switching to Devil mode.

“So Amenadiel did Lucifer a favor, chasing him back to Hell all those times.” Chloe surmises.

“Amenadiel returning Lucifer certainly interrupted my efforts.” Michael grouses, still stuck between a rock and the Devil’s ire.

“How did you aerosolize the potion?  And where did you experiment with it?” Chloe presses for more information.

Lucifer strides in front of her, going straight for the suspect.  He grabs Michael by the neck, effortlessly lifting his twin off his feet. 

“On whom else did you try out the potion, Michael and where?” Lucifer grinds his brother’s re injured back against the rough edges of the stone wall.  The Devil knows he is using the correct amount of force, he can smell fresh blood from his enemy.

“Lucifer, stop” Chloe admonishes, “What is more violence going to achieve?”

You are getting closer and closer to crossing the line between forceful questioning and becoming evil. Just as I am, in this situation.  How do I lead you away from this, without giving any hints to Michael? 

Chloe improvises, “We need him coherent, Lucifer.  Where are you going with this?”

“Detective, perhaps the third time will be the charm needed to convince Michael NOT to wage war against me and mine.  ‘Mendiel said Michael had back injuries from the fight between us before the Fall too, that never healed.  Back definitely hurts from wingectomy, I should know.”  Lucifer snarls his vengeance,  “For Rory, first I will shred his back against this ragged stone wall, then pour bird poop on top of the cleaner in it til he screams in agony, divulging every misdeed against me.  Answer the question, brother mine, who was your non consenting guinea pig?”  Lucifer shakes Michael, growling,  “Where did you test the potion?”

That’s a lot of venom coming from Lucifer, who only gets that upset about family.  On whom does Lucifer suspect Michael tried out the potion and where?

“I, I ehhh, near the Throne.” Michael squirmed, trying to ease his back off the wall, currently crumbling under the force of Lucifer’s jamming him into it.  “I wanted Father to forget you,” he confesses.

“You didn’t succeed there.  Dad didn’t forget me, he HATED me,” Lucifer roars his pain.

“Don’t I know it. The hate possessed him so much that when he remembered anything, Father concentrated on you.  The rest of us, obedient, were nothing.” Michael spits.

Disgusted, Lucifer drops his brother abruptly, shaking his hands as if to remove any traces of Michael on them.

Lucifer, accustom when on Earth to his adversaries being much less powerful than he, turns his back on Michael.  With his hand fisted around a jagged rock, Michael begins to push up off the ground.  Chloe draws her revolver and shoots him, thru the right shoulder, aiming so the exit wound is where that wing was sliced off.

He won’t have the chance to imitate Pierc, Cain.  Or did Cain imitate him, bashing his brother.  I hate that history is suddenly so lengthy and we now can’t honestly be sure which part happened first.

“You can’t kill me like that,” he whimpers through clenched teeth, left arm wrapped around him to support his right.

“Who says, you?” Chloe mocks, pinning him with a feral glare, determined to protect her man.

Order of history be damned, I just need to make sure it doesn’t get repeated here and now.

Chloe chides, “I made the Devil vulnerable and an immortal killable.  Perhaps I don’t want you dead just yet.”  She taunts further,  “Who is to say what I can do to the Angel of fear FULL?”

Michael protests, “Didn’t take the rock to bash him over the head with, just to clench it against the pain.”

Chloe shoots his left arm at the bicep, shredding the heavy coveralls there, “Didn’t mean to shoot you, just see if I could make the chains spark.  Don’t. Lie. To. Us.  Ever.”

“Your markswomanship is unparalleled, Detective,” Lucifer praises.  He inspects the damage and grins proudly, “His outfit is still smoking.  You clipped the chain and set off the shock collar.”

Chloe hisses at Michael, “You won’t trick or intimidate either of us again, without fearing the retribution of both.”

From his accustom spot aside of his partner, Lucifer laughs, darkly, “She has you there, coward.  And if you value your current untortured state, you will remember that.”

“Untortured,  I have no wings, stuck on Earth with the advanced monkeys, scrubbing swan poop off of sidewalks on my hands and knees,” Michael whines.

“Michael, I spent thousands of years in Hell.  There’s an endless variety of torment available.  I’m sure with very little thought your situation could be made more revolting.  There’s always your tongue instead of the toothbrush.” Lucifer taunts, grinning hellishly.

Michael shifts his attention and glares at Chloe, “You think you possess the ability to make me suffer.”

She stands tall, fist clenched around Lucifer’s ring, now confident in the face of Michael trying to fear whammy her, “Besides already having done so, yes, I am confident its within my capabilities as Queen of Hell to deceive and cripple you.”  Chloe touches her tongue to her upper lip, deliberately reminding him of her ability to hoodwink and rattle him.

Chloe sees the second she has Michael convinced, years as a Detective reveal to her his flinches of mind and spirit, yes, he knows, this human woman can tyrannize  him, aside from being able to launch his twin as a self-guided weapon.  It’s the right time for her and Lucifer to depart, with the upper hand.

“Michael, don’t leave town,” Chloe admonishes sarcastically, flapping her hands tauntingly, meaning to torment him. “We may have more questions for you.”

She senses Lucifer stiffen, wanting to continue their interrogation of Michael.

Easier to get Lucifer to cooperate with touch.  I’ll just indicate he should fly us out of here, in front of his wingless twin.  These wings are bat leathery, but sometimes peacock behavior comes to mind.  It will be a good lesson to Michael also, I’m no longer afraid of the Devil form of Lucifer’s.

Chloe gently rubs Lucifer’s shoulder, as if to caress the wings and stands in front of him, clearly waiting to be scooped up in his arms.  Never one to deny a lady, Lucifer picks her up, flapping his wings to spread the maximum amount of rock dust over Michael’s oozing back and the grounds he has to clean.

Chapter Text

I’ve landed, hard, but where?  Am I still in Heaven, in the middle of a cloud?  Wait, landing on clouds doesn’t leave you with sandy clothes from the impact debris.  Have I reached the ground, like a meteorite?  Is this fog, then?  What is that racket, beside waves crashing on the beach?  A fair, one of those itinerant road shows with rides, an amusement park?  I vaguely see a giant Ferris wheel on the pier. What I don’t see is Dan, who was seeking a way to accompany me, even as he disapproved.  If he did escape Heaven, where would he go?  This is where I wanted to descend, the spot where I came back from Hell. Where my children are being lured to their future guilt and present torment.

Charlotte scrambles up, determined to go under the pier to where her children and their drug dealer make exchanges.  Having watched the villains’ transactions many times, she knows the exact spots they frequent.  In the concealment provided by the fog, Charlotte creeps stealthily towards the thugs.  She halts under the pier upon hearing the coarse conversation of the conspirators, clearly discussing double dealing methods of protecting their territory.

“Yep, revenge on that stupid hot snitch, even dead, is sweeet.  And a sign to others, thinking to ‘see the light’ and betray us to prove their new goodness.  Her kids are hooked on high level loco weed.  We made sure the stuff the brats get is really addictive.  Soon, we will be ready to set them rich kids up for a sting G,graham’s old pal is planning,” the pusher rubs his hands together in glee, forgetting his unease at the darker shadows flitting in the mist after the giant thump.

Charlotte snarls and the noise resounds oddly in the fog dense enough to be clouds.

“Did you hear that?” the supplier asks, flicking his gaze abruptly up to the underside of the pier.  “Freakin’ fog makes it sound like stuffs falling out of the sky.”

“No, dude, stupid smog shadows is making you hear things.  Fog jazzes up sound, it weren’t no big thump we heard earlier.  S’only the two of us and the bags here.” The pusher reassures his jumpy conspirator, who shudders as footsteps are heard directly above them.

“Still getting out of here now, I will be back next week sometime to refresh your stash,” as the supplier hurries off, as much as one can on sand

Charlotte listens as the supplier tromps off across the beach.  Here is her chance, brains and cleverness over brawn.  Although, she wouldn’t mind some back up from brawn.  Was Dan successful in following her, at least to Earth?  Without him, Charlotte knows she should look for something to help her defend herself.  She scoops up a handy length of abandoned rusted bike chain, rattling it.

“What, w,who’s there?” the spooked pusher demands.

Softly, Charlotte begins yowling like a tormented soul.

“Shit, I’m getting out of here,” the pusher grabs the bags with one hand, preparing to flee.

“There’s no where you can run, that I won’t find you.”  Charlotte shifts out from behind the pillar, and quickly ducks back behind it.

Her enemy drops the drug bags, grabbing for his gun, “I’ll, I’ll shoot you, even if you are d,dead.  The both of you.”  His eyes flicker up to the underside of the pier, the barrel of the gun pointed above her head.

Charlotte cackles in response, deliberately moving about to increase the distortion effect fog has on sound.  Eerie effects will bolster her attempts at intimidation and distraction, in case it is Dan up there.

“If you don’t change your ways, you are going to wind up doomed, as I was.” Charlotte explains.

“Not doomed, I have something on everyone, especially women snitches,” he resumes shakily aiming the gun at Charlotte.  “Supplied information about your deadly exchange at the hotel.  Your kids will be a lesson for everyone thinking to cross me,” the dealer argues.

“You are in trouble, big trouble, taking your revenge on children for the sins of their mother.” Charlotte threatens over the quickly stifled gasp above them.

“You are dead, you can’t d,do anything to me.” The dealer taunts, still backing away.

“Can’t I? You can hear me, I was the great THUMP,” Charlotte reminds him.  Menacingly, she hisses, “I am a vengeful ghoul and will haunt you straight to Hell if you go near my children again,”

“Right, lady, sure,” the dealer agrees, pointing the muzzle of the gun upwards towards the edge of the underside of the pier.  “What does your friend, with the swinging dark ponytail, want?  She gonna beg me to stop leashing her little Latina sisters until they are willing to be unpaid ‘domestic’ help,” the dealer sneers, while backing up to  increase the distance between them.

Charlotte starts to stalk him, rattling the rusted links wrapped around her wrist.  “If you don’t take care, you too will wear the chains you forged in life.”  She holds her hands up as proof.    “Over and over, you will relive the results of the events for which you feel the most guilt.”  From above, thru the cracks in the wooden pier, they hear the eerie whoop whoop of a klaxon signaling danger.

Her children’s persecutor turned tail and bolted from the pier through the sand, abandoning the drugs not already in the backpack he snatched up while fleeing.

From above, Charlotte hears the rapid light footsteps of the someone running over the wooden boards.  Before the sounds fade completely, she hears the cell phone tinny tones, “Shields up, red alert, red alert.”

Well, definitely not Dan.  Where in the universe could he have gotten to?

Chapter Text

On the Penthouse balcony, watching for the Detective’s boring car, Lucifer cringes at Trixie’s accusations.

“You don’t know what to do for Rory?  I told Mommy to call Maze or Linda.  No wonder you want to stay hidden from everyone, they will be disappointed with you, letting Rory cry so much.”  Through her tears, Trixie wails,  “You should go back to Hell, you aren’t good enough.”

Thankfully, he hears the ding of the elevator.  Lucifer hopes with all that is left in him that it is the Detective, here to properly parent both distressed daughters.

Its not her footsteps he hears, but Daniel’s, rushing towards his still shrieking daughter.

Has Daniel descended from Heaven to haunt me for his daughter’s tears?  And will there be a yet another heart wrenching separation after the bittersweet reunion? My own personal Hell Loop played out by those for whom I care, again and again.

“You overheated the first bottle and spoiled it, what did you do wrong with the second bottle that she won’t take it.”  Trixie accuses,   “You only had to pour the formula out of the can?!”

“Trixie,” Dan admonishes as he walks past the piano towards the balcony.

Trixie spins about and joyfully shouts, “Daddy!”   She runs towards him and he scoops her up, holding her close against his chest.

Lucifer watches their interaction jaw open.

I want that for my child.  Secure enough to run in joy towards the parent scolding her.

Once Dan has reassured himself that whatever upset Trixie is not an immediate threat to her, he tips his head at Lucifer inquiring without words.

Still feeling protective because of both girls’ distress, Lucifer asks questions first, “Daniel, how did you get here?”

“Followed Eve’s path down.  At first I wondered if I’d landed in Hell, again.”  Dan prattles on,   “But no, it was cold concrete, not steamy basalt.  The basement where Graham tied me up.  Didn’t need the knife this time, my hands weren’t zip tied.”

“What are you doing here?” the bracelet bros demand of each other in unison.

Dan’s incomprehensible ramblings have calmed both Trixie and Rory.  I knew I couldn’t parent, even Dan does better.  I will just let him keep nattering on, as long as it keeps the Urchin and the Imp soothed.

“Daddy, how did you know we needed you?” a joyful Trixie chirps.

“You are my baby girl.  Of course I knew.  When I realized I was close to Lux, I went through the Prohibition tunnels  and now we are here together.  What had you so upset, Monkey?”

“Aaahh,” comes from the small frothy bundle Lucifer is clasping to him.

“Its all true,” Daniel sits abruptly in the doorway between piano and balcony. “the the Anti.”  The rest of the phrase is lost to Dan’s huffing.

“No, Daniel, don’t call her that.  Please.” Lucifer implores over Dan’s panting for breath.

Dan breathes deep and abruptly between clenched teeth, still holding a watery Trixie. 

“Yours?”

“Yes.” Lucifer confirms.

Will Dan hate the child, because she is mine?  Never mind the obvious reasons to hate a child your ex had with someone else.  Will he hate her because of malicious myths about my offspring?

“Chloe’s?”

“Yes,” Lucifer hears the bewilderment in his answer, matched by Rory’s whimpers.

“Crying not good.  Is the baby wet?” Dan starts running down the baby distress checklist.

“Just changed her.” Lucifer answers, a little desperately. He moves towards Dan, a surprising fount of wisdom in this situation.  Perhaps he can pass the whimpering baby off to Dan, and play piano to calm Rory.

Be honest with yourself, Poison, flee to the piano.  That last diaper change was harrowing,

“How could she possibly need another so soon?”  Lucifer explains, “Just changed her completely awful diaper.”

“Doesn’t matter dude.”  The bracelet bros check together, but all is dry.  Rory cries harder.  Lucifer finds himself unable to hand the teary baby over to Dan. 

Even if I am failing my baby girl, I won’t desert her or push her away for exposing my inadequacies.  But I did leave her in the future, at a moment she needed me most.  What in the universe was so important that, in their time of greatest need, I deserted both Chloe and Rory?

“Trixie,” Dan includes his daughter, “What do you think?”

“She wants Mommy,” Trixie replies confidently.

“My brilliant apprentice,” Dan squeezes his daughter.

Trixie waits patiently for her Dad to continue his fact finding.  Still safely on the floor, Dan asks, “When did she last eat?” peering down at the fussy baby in Lucifer’s arms. He puts his arm back around Trixie, holding his little girl close.

Seated on the floor!, next to the piano, Lucifer explains, “She drank a little,” Lucifer holds up the mostly full bottle,  “but stopped after just a taste of this bottle of formula.” Lucifer shakes it, regarding the thick liquid balefully.  “After a mishap overheating the first bottle of pumped milk, I made one with formula.   By then Rory had herself so worked up, only mom will do, but Chloe is away longer than expected.” Lucifer glances towards the elevator, hoping for rescue.  “She won’t stop with the caviling no matter what I do.”

Dan inquires, “Lucifer, why is the baby dressed in well, a starchy ball gown?”

“It was the best one,” Lucifer assures Dan.  “The Detective told me to plan a celebration.  Something about six weeks being a big deal?”

Trixie chimes in, “Daddy, Rory likes my baby clothes to wear better.  Don’t you, li’l sis?” Trixie sways Rory’s tiny hand in hers.  Lucifer sighs, at least one little girl is content with just her father near.

Dan inspects the baby, feeling the clothes, which rustle when touched and every time Rory squirms the least little bit.

“Are these new clothes?” Dan follows up.

“Yes, Daniel, what kind of cretin do you take me for?  They are fresh out of the package,” Lucifer asserts.

“That may be your problem then. Babies don’t like starchy clothes.” Dan explains, “You have to wash them before you put them on the baby.”

“All the clean outfits here are still in their packages.  And they all look glamorous, not like the urchin and Charlie’s fuzzy baby clothes.” Lucifer concludes sadly.

Already, I’m failing the fundamentals here, she is uncomfortable with my choices.

“Got anything not too dirty or smelly, hasn’t been washed yet?” asks Dan.

“No, no, no Daniel.” Lucifer objects as Rory’s cries grow more distressed.

“Baby says otherwise, dude,” Dan, the surprisingly complex, shakes his head right back at the Devil in his den.

“I can find something Daddy,” Trixie races for her room at the Penthouse.

While she is gone, Lucifer and Dan remove the starchy clothes til Rory is just in her diaper.  “Daniel, she is still wailing.”

The baby books all say that the baby will echo a parent’s mood.  I’m not sure from my tone who is imitating whom here.  What are we supposed to do now?

“Some babies like to be wrapped up.” Dan counsels, hopefully.

Trixie patters rapidly towards the distressed threesome with a wrinkled T shirt of hers with the Milky Way on it.

Between the three of them, they manage to get Rory’s head thru the top opening and her arms thru the sleeves without breaking the baby or saying out loud words Trixie shouldn’t be exposed to by parental figures.

When they finish, Rory heaves a great baby sigh and the crying subsides.

“Daddy, you and Lucifer are just like the rhea birds I’m doing my report on.  The male rheas take care of any baby birds of the mom that she lays in his nest,” Trixie explains.

Lucifer, wet eyed, mummers, “Thank you, Beatrice.  You have definitely inherited your father’s kindness in entertaining obnoxious strangers, who turn out not to be angels.”

“Sorry for yelling at you, Lucifer,” Trixie replies in a small voice.  She latches onto Lucifer from the side, still in her father’s arms.

The urchin still cares, even though I never reciprocate her hugs. I never want her or Rory to be uncertain of my affection, abandoned even when a parent was physically present.  I know the return gesture is to cuddle her, I’ve seen Dan do it often enough. 

Lucifer shifts Rory to one arm to put the other around Trixie’s shoulders.

“I understand, Beatrice, this whole celestial craziness can be overwhelming.” Lucifer exhales, what a gigantic understatement.

Dan coughs, “Wait, what – the whole ‘be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware’ is real?” the timbre of his voice rising with every syllable.

Lucifer rejoins, “Well, you have certainly ‘entertained’ angels with Amenadiel and Michael, at least.”

“Drat, drat, drat.” There are obviously other words Dan would like to say, but the presence of his daughter and baby Rory stop him.  “Dude, Michael is waaay less of an angel than you are.”

“Not to most of the world.” Lucifer grouses. “I thought after living in Heaven you would be more adjusted to the whole ‘interacting with celestials’ thing.”

“Lucifer, not in Heaven any more.  Plus, Charlotte’s and my slice of Heaven was kinda on the wrong side of the tracks.  We did make it ‘down’ to Earth didn’t we, and not you up, right?” Dan’s trepidation is clear from his widening eyes, as he glances towards Trixie.

“Absolutely!” Lucifer nods.   “Glad you are here, on Earth,” Lucifer reassures.  “But why did you escape ever so pleasant Heaven?”

The ding of the elevator answers Lucifer.

Chapter Text

“Lucifer,” Chloe calls out as the elevator doors open in her impatient, ‘I’ve got news and I expect answers’ tone.

“Detective,” even Lucifer can hear his relieved tone, an attitude he didn’t know possible for him.  Something new, he should stop being surprised by this around Chloe.  Speaking of surprises, who belongs to the other footsteps he can hear?  Without discussing it much, he and Chloe had stayed in the habit of not informing the world of the Devil’s return.

“What are you doing behind the piano?”   Lucifer hears Chloe’s strides in his direction, “I’m late because I found.  Dan!?” female voices chorus.

“Charlotte,” Dan exclaims, starting to scramble up.

He goes to her, still holding Trixie’s hand.  Chloe intercepts them, drawing her daughter away from Dan and Charlotte’s passionate reunion, “Come with me, monkey, and tell me why Rory is dressed in your shirt from yesterday?”

Trixie takes a deep breath, “She was crying and crying.  Daddy came and told us her fancy clothes were too fussy.  Lucifer didn’t have any comfy baby clothes here for her, so I gave her my shirt and she stopped crying.  Why has she started again now?”

Somewhat stressed, Chloe explains, “Because she is hungry, I hope.”

“Detective?” Lucifer’s confusion over Chloe hoping the baby is hungry is very evident from his clutching Rory closer as her cries increase.

“I’m kind of busting at the seams here, Lucifer,” as Chloe gestures to her breasts.

“Ah, right.  Child, would you like to show your Daddy and Charlotte your quarters here?  Perhaps the foretelling of your tenure as the President of Mars?” Lucifer encourages Trixie to distract Dan to other parts of the Penthouse besides the open plan bedroom and nestery.

“C’mon, Daddy.  Grandma is in a new Althea movie and we have an advance copy.  Mommy and I visited Grandma on the set.  The people making the movie begged and begged til Mommy agreed we could have parts in the movie.  I was President of Mars and wore an astronaut costume.  As President,  I fixed the air leak in the biosphere and saved all the colonists.  Grandma says I will be royalties forever.” Trixie reattaches herself to Dan and leads them towards the hallway.

Chloe scoops up Rory out of Lucifer's arms and rushes towards the bedroom.

Lucifer starts after them, offering over his shoulder, “Daniel, Charlotte, we will natter about your descent and my reappearance on Earth later.  Please don’t contact any one, the world at large is unaware of my presence and…”

“Lucifer,” Chloe implores, mounting the stairs to the bedroom area.

He spins about, “And I’m a wanted. I’m just wanted.  On my way, darlings,” he reassures Chloe and Rory while rushing after them.  He passes Chloe’s brown blazer, laying on the stairs and grins.

His shirt follows Chloe’s to the floor next to the bed.  Ever a hedonist, Lucifer has taken advantage of the fact that Chloe is swayed by babies, his in particular, love of skin to skin contact.  Topless Detective in his bed, fantasy realized and surpassed.  Truly proof of the Miracle status of his partner.

By the time he enters the bedroom, Rory is approaching wailing on the bed.  Chloe is frantically trying to screw the cone attachment of the breast pump to a fresh bottle, even though the threads are not aligned properly.  “Fix this,” she shoves the pieces at him, scooping up Rory once again.

Lucifer glances up, those delectable boobs expansion is most distracting.  “Lucifer, I’m going to be leaking here, very quickly.” Chloe insists.

“Yes, dear, but the machinery is across the room.” Lucifer answers, confused that Chloe doesn’t want the pump as well.

Chloe scrambles up onto the bed. “Lucifer, just sit behind me and hold the cone in the correct place, but not in Rory’s way.”

Lucifer watches as his favorite pillow is abducted as a nursing support.  Another luxury item lost to the Decker ladies’ needs.  As Rory latches on, he sits behind Chloe and holds the cone and correctly attached bottle in place, as directed.

“She’s eating,” he whispers enthralled, watching over Chloe’s shoulder.

“Babies do that,” Chloe replies calmly, now that Rory is quiet and nursing.

“You are leaking!,” Lucifer watches the flow of breast milk through the cone and into the bottle.

“Boobs do that,” Chloe replies, amused at his continuing amazement.  His devoted interest in every detail of newborn care warms her soul. 

“You don’t even need to pump.” Lucifer cocks his head, above hers, observing the process.

“No, Rory is enough.  We will catch the leakage while she nurses, then I’ll pump.” Chloe directs.

“Incredible.  You allow the child to literally suck the energy from your body.” Lucifer corrects himself,  “No, you encourage the child to remove nutrients from you.  And, at least with the older one, you have no expectation of her purpose in your plans.”

“No, Lucifer, she’s my daughter, not some servant or employee.”  Chloe asks, slightly afraid of the answer,  “Didn’t your parents provide for you?”

“When I was fulfilling my part in their schemes.  And not asking questions or making demands.”  Because his answer is so unemotional, Chloe knows he was badly hurt by his parents’ lack of interest in the person he actually was.

Chloe strokes Rory’s head, then turns to kiss Lucifer’s bicep as it wraps around her arm.

“Detective?”

“Love you.”

“And I you.”

“Darling, something you need?” Lucifer asks as Chloe snuggles closer into him.

“Its better for Rory, skin to skin contact, but cold for me,” Chloe explains.

Lucifer brings his long legs flush with hers, leaning his torso flush with her back and shifting his arms so he warms her as much as possible.  He drops his head against hers also, warming her on one side.  She rubs her head against his for the sensation of his stubble on her cheek.

In that deep, devoted voice, Lucifer joshes, truthfully, “Better for me too, skin to skin.”  He squirms suggestively against her spine, enjoying the freedom to reveal his desire for her.

Chloe laughs softly, so as not to dislodge Rory.  For some time, there is only the sound of happily nursing baby and contented parents.  As Rory’s snacking slows, Chloe shivers again. 

Lucifer huffs disapprovingly, rolling his shoulders.  White wings pop out and immediately envelope Chloe and Rory.  As the wings adjust to cover as much of her as possible, Chloe sighs, “That is better.  Thank you, Lucifer,” she rubs her cheek against feathers. 

Lucifer shudders against her back and Chloe feels his cock, already half hard, stiffen and lengthen along her spine.

There’s an fascinating reaction.  I’m glad the six week wait for ‘penetrating’ sex is over and I have the all clear.  I’ve wondered about those great big wings.  Just how sensitive are they?  Lucifer is so conflicted about them, I didn’t want to spoil the mood and ask.

Lucifer sags into Chloe, “I, darling, I wasn’t expecting that reaction. Well, maybe, a little, but its nothing about which you need concern yourself.”

“Shhush.  Its okay,” Chloe sighs.  “Hopefully, there will be time for that too, in this crazy day.”

“Night, now, Detective,”  she rolls her eyes at Lucifer’s need for the last word.

After settling Rory in her bassinette, Chloe admires Lucifer, shirtless, humming ‘Eternal Flame’ as he sits on the edge of the bed.  She draws her fingers through his curls, disarranging them in her quest to pleasure him.

He makes the most delicious noises when I pet his hair.  Those deep groans, vibrating through him and me. 

Lucifer groans, “Detective.”

Chloe grins, leans down and whispers warmly in Lucifer’s ear, “Yes.”

Finally, I can indulge myself and free those curls.

“You don’t know, what it does to me, to hear you say ‘yes’ so so encouragingly.”

Hot as Hell, that deep Devil rumble of his.

Chloe runs her hands down Lucifer’s bare chest, her enlarged bosom flush against his back. She kisses the shell of his ear, “You could show me.  Rory will sleep awhile now and Dan is occupied with Trixie.”

“Chloe, I want your full attention, uninterrupted,” Lucifer kisses her wandering hands.  “Not you listening for your ex-husband to trapse towards our bedroom,” Lucifer shudders.

“Ewww, yuck, Daniel interruptus.” Chloe agrees, withdrawing from Lucifer.  “Lets maneuver so their room is at the far, far end of the Penthouse.”

“As you wish, Detective.” Lucifer smirks his complete agreement.

Chloe sighs, and turns on the pump so she will be more comfortable during the chat with Dan and Charlotte and for adult activities hopefully happening afterwards.  In private, with Lucifer.  Suddenly, this whole hide away from the world idea Lucifer had was looking better and better.

Chapter Text

While Rory continues her nap in her bassinette in the bedroom, Chloe and Lucifer meet with Charlotte and Dan once Trixie is asleep.  Lucifer gestures Chloe to the so familiar in her hot and heavy dreams burgundy couch. 

Great, the leather couch. Scene of the beginning of my intense erotic dreams about Lucifer.  How ‘m I supposed to sit on this couch, next to Lucifer all cuddly and warm, and concentrate?  Is this what is life is like for him, all the time?  Want and desire and longing scrambling my brains.  How do I get rid of these people? I want rid of Dan. How can that be?  What a horrible person I am.  Focus, Decker, focus.  Sprint thru the information exchange, ditch them to their room, rooms, I don’t care and get Lucifer naked before Rory needs her next feeding.  What did Dan ask?

“Chlo, you alright?  You spaced out there a minute,” Dan observes.

“Yep, sure, fine.” Chloe answers her ex with bright veneer.  “What did you need to know?”

Dan repeats, “Chloe, how did you know where to find Charlotte?  Did you use your special ‘Lieutenant skills?” he teases.  “Congrats on your promotion, by the way.  Trixie is very proud of you.”

“I had the police scanner on and I overheard some unis on the radio mocking Ella, who thought she saw Charlotte’s ghost under the pier through the fog.  I thought to support Ella, not find Charlotte.”  Chloe explains,  “I also wanted to be sure it wasn’t the Goddess visiting again.”  She drums her fingers on her knee, keeping them occupied away from Lucifer’s thigh.

Charlotte pokes Dan sharply, one manicured finger denting his bicep.

Dan blurts, “According to Trixie, Lucifer, you have been holed up in Chloe’s apartment and here for the last seven weeks.  Saw no one but Chloe, Trixie and Rory.”

Chloe adds, “And the folks who delivered the baby, but they did not stay.”

Where is this leading?  Even I can’t figure out this change of topic from Dan.

Dan shakes his head warningly at Charlotte.

“What?” Lucifer demands.

“Buddy, I have trouble picturing Mr. Social Butterfly content without all the extravagant partying and mayhem.  Seven weeks, really?” Dan is incredulous.

“The best I ever had,” Lucifer admits, satisfaction and longing in every syllable. 

Chloe cherishes Lucifer’s enthusiastic admittance that he has enjoyed their family time.  She saddened too, time as a family is short, if future Rory was correct about the time paradigm and Lucifer’s presence on Earth.    Even without that knowledge, Chloe knows they could lose each other at any time.  How accurate could a grieving angel who just discovered her self actualized power be?  And Lucifer’s child, fly off the handle and make overblown assumptions with little to no evidence, entirely plausible.  Time for her to focus on the case, in this instance, how to keep Lucifer out of Hell (and in my bed, thank you very much)  while ensuring Rory and the universe’s safety.  Did Dan and Charlotte’s unexpected escape from Heaven have something to do with that? 

Time to dust off those detective skills.  Human consultant to the Devil, trying to figure out celestial mysteries.  And add some fairness to this whole process.

Dan cautions, “Charlotte, we have to stay out of sight for a while, just as Lucifer did.”

“You’ve hugged your child,” Charlotte protests.  “I’ve been able to do mine no good at all.”  Charlotte leans forward, opening her hands to question  the universe,  “What’s the point of being here?”

“Your children’s drug dealers are both out of commission for a while,” Chloe reassures the distraught Charlotte.

At the other couple’s puzzled look, Chloe continues, “The distributor, Biff, was clocked in the head by a ‘Mothers against Drunk Driving’ frisbee on the beach.  He stumbled into the cart taking away the dog park refuse.  When the police examined him for a concussion, they found enough drugs to jail him.  The perp, our dealer Tannen,  sprinted into a wheelbarrow of all natural compost.  Tannen will also be traveling straight from hospital to holding cell,” Chloe attempts to reassure Charlotte.

“So the kids will just find a new dealer,” Charlotte counters.

Chloe reminds her, “Charlotte, you were a defense attorney long enough to know that long term planning isn’t the hallmark characteristic of hoodlums.  How many times did you have to provide the plan for a client to avoid jail?”

Charlotte nods.

Chloe adds, “The drug dealing labor market is down by two, in a way that will make the others lay low.  There’s normally only one contact person for buyers, it may take awhile..”

“for the children to reconnect with a dealer.” Charlotte can see the logic now.

“They will also have to establish a new spot for drug transactions,” Dan adds.  “Dealers don’t like to use a spot that has attracted police attention.”

Chloe adds, “As lieutenant, I can make sure this case is a priority and sends a message to perps dealing drugs to children.”

Dan comforts Charlotte, “You disrupted the supply chain, at least for a little while.”  He hugs her to his side, “You’ve given your kids a chance.”

“I wanted to see them, even, even, if they shouldn’t see me.” Charlotte pleads.

“That can be arranged,” Lucifer assures her.

The three separated from their children exchange commiserating glances, then look away from each other’s pain.

To cut the grieving silence, Chloe directs their attention to a review of recent events with the goal of determining the purpose of their return.

Is it possible all of them could stay on Earth?  What story could we make up as cover to explain their absence?

“Dan, Charlotte landed at the beach, where the Goddess left her body and Charlotte came up from Hell.  Did you land here in the Penthouse, or somewhere else?” Chloe starts gathering facts.

“Just like Charlotte, I landed where my start at redemption began.” Dan replies, reminiscing back.

“Where?” Chloe wonders, shifting closer to her Lucifer shaped temptation, then away from him again as he stiffens up.  She glances up, only to recognize the anguish now on his face as a response to her move away from him.

Dan looks away, “Where Malcolm captured and marooned me, under the Palmetto gym.”

“Oh,  How did you get here?” Chloe continues her quest for details.

“Took the tunnels, underground a long time.” Dan shudders,  “I did not see anyone.  Really hoped I wasn’t wandering in Hell.  Or, on Earth again, unable to interact with anyone.  So I didn’t have to go through being invisible once more, I stayed out of sight until I got to Lux.”

Chloe nods, “Ok, good.  Charlotte was seen, but the only person who understood who they saw was Ella.  Everyone else at the pier was too busy watching Biff and Tannen get their just rewards.   I picked Charlotte up on my way home,” Chloe emphasizes, leaning into Lucifer, “to the Penthouse.”

Lucifer whispers to Chloe,  “You consider, my flat, the Penthouse, your home.  I have a home with someone.  Someones, you, Rory and the urchin.  That makes me part of a family.  Haven’t felt that since before I Fell.”

All the times I wished Lucifer opened up to me.  He does it now, his hot breath in my ear, while we have the ultimate important case and need to get info from Dan and Charlotte.  No wonder Lucifer fidgets so much, all the time around me.  What’s next to keep us from being together, a ‘bloody’ phone call?

Chapter Text

The strident ring of Chloe’s cell startles them all.  “Its Ella, stay quiet, I will put her on speaker.”

“Chloe, are, is the baby asleep? Trixie?” Ella’s tone is tentative and subdued, especially for her.

“Yes, both asleep.  I have time to talk now.” Chloe reassures.

“Did you hear what happened at the pier?  Ella asks anxiously,  “What I thought I saw in the fog?”

“Yes, I did hear, Ella.  You must have been very startled.” Chloe tries to remain non committal, she can’t reassure her friend that she actually did see a ghost this time.

“Chloe, should I tell Carol, about seeing another ghost?  Except for you, people don’t take it well.  Always want to fix me.”   Dread and uncertainty replace Ella’s normally exuberant tone. 

Chloe looks to Dan, Carol was his friend and colleague after all.  She covers the bottom end of the phone, gesturing for him to say something.

He shrugs, hands up and whispers, “Men don’t talk about that kind of thing.  Not enough trust, unless there’s a few beers in you.”

“Ella,” Chloe bites her lip.  “Carol is a very practical person.  Needs proof of extraordinary before he believes.”

“Even if I did mistake that community service j,janitor at the bird rescue for Lucifer,”  Ella laments, “Is my word not proof enough?”

Lucifer’s eyes flash red. He hisses at Dan, “What kind of fool did you recommend to Miss Lopez, for her to trust?”

Chloe glares at Lucifer, shaking her head disapprovingly.

Ah, she still objects to my haranguing Dan.  Or, I’m making too much of a racket and Miss Lopez might hear me.  Unlike all the perps I’ve taunted with my brashness, she doesn’t deserve to be distressed to the point of blathering.

Chloe, in slow, steady mediator tone, suggests, “Ella, for world view changing concepts, well sometimes its hard for, for fact followers to make the adjustment, no matter how much they love the person telling the truth.”

Why does her grip tighten, then shake?  Her voice doesn’t waver, wait, just like when she is afraid and trying to sooth some insane weapon wielders out of their violent mood.  What message is she trying to send me now with the hand clenching?  Sometimes not being able to mojo her vexes me.  If it was simple, I wouldn’t be so attracted to her.

“Chloe, I really, really like him.  For once, not a bad boy, or something even more horrible.”  Everyone in the Penthouse winces at the reference to Pete, and their failures to safeguard their friend.  Ella continues,   “But how can we have a real relationship if I can’t trust him with this?”

“Whatever you decide, Ella, we will be there for you,”  Chloe assures.

Lucifer shifts Chloe’s grip to his other hand, and slings his arm over the back of his partner.

Ah, this side hug does provide comfort to her.  Her breathing has slowed and her grip on my hand has loosened.  Wasn’t sure about dressing relaxed, even in the Penthouse, but t-shirt wearing has definite benefits, as long as its my signature black.  I can feel her warmth through the thin fabric of her top because my arm is bare.  There’s the softness of her golden tresses, streaming over my arm.

“Do you believe me, about my second ghost?” Ella asks, anxiously.  “Seeing someone you knew alive as a ghost is different.  Rae-rae has always been a ghost.”

Chloe smiles at Dan and Charlotte, “Oh yes. We understand.”

“We?” Ella asks, ever attentive to details.

“Oh, yes, yes,” Chloe stalls.   “Tribe, Maze, Eve, Linda and me.” Chloe goes for the not whole truth.

“I miss Lucifer. I could tell him anything, nerdy or extraordinary, and he listened like it mattered.” Ella reminisces.  “I wanted it so much I scared the poor dude doing community service at the bird rescue, geeking out like I would to Lucifer.  Little odd, he said his name was ‘Miguelito.’  In the Bible, Michael is an archangel, same as Lucifer, like brothers, you know.”

“Yes, recently I found that out.”  Lucifer flinches at the side eyed glare from Chloe.

“It didn’t matter how far fetched it was,” Ella unwittingly grinds salt in the wound, “Lucifer believed me.”

“Yes,” Chloe sighs,  “I wish I had extended him the same courtesy and trust he gave me,”  The regret on her face apparent to Lucifer, who dealt with it all the time as part of the detested job from which he’d retired.

P’rhaps that’s what the hand squeezing is about.  Ella’s situation with Carol is similar to ours, the truth is unbelievable to one person.  Could Chloe still need reassurance over that?  And how does the Devil provide comfort?

“That’s it, Chloe.”  Ella declares,  “I’ll trust him with my ghosts and hope he trusts me.”

“Okay, good luck, Ella.  I hope Carol is more accepting than I was,” Chloe wishes fervently.

“If he doesn’t believe me,” Ella sighs, “there’s always the island Miguelito told me about where the bird sanctuary releases its rehabilitated birds.  The birds are set free there where its isolated, so they have a chance at survival, at least.” A melancholy Ella concludes, “Even if like me, they can’t be fixed from childhood.”

Rae-rae, like all of us, will have a lot to answer for one day, as regards Miss Lopez.

“You don’t need to be isolated or fixed, Ella.”  Chloe reassures,   “Just like any innovative scientist, the world needs to catch up to you.”

Ella laughs, “That’s supposed to be me, with the positive spin on insurmountable challenges.  Bye, Chloe, thanks.”

In the contemplative silence after Chloe’s phone goes dark, Lucifer quips, “It was good to get the band back together, even if one member didn’t know the bracelet bros were back.”

“Are we on a mission from God?” Dan asks.

Lucifer quips, “Me and the Lord, we got an understanding.”  His eyes open wide,  “Amenadiel did bring me the news that future Rory’s request was based on lies.  Said I could come to Earth.  Maybe we are, Dan, maybe we are.”

Chloe laughs, then sputters, “All you two need are the sunglasses and a classic black and white police car.  Look at you red hot movie buffs, quoting the lines from Blues Brothers.”

“The damned,” a laughing Dan points to himself, “and the Devil, doing God’s work.”

And wouldn’t that be the weirdest event ever, the Devil doing God’s work.  Makes me shudder, just thinking of it.  I’d like to be shuddering for much more fun reasons.  How can I ditch Dan and Charlotte to their room, rooms, don’t care and have some naked time with Chloe that doesn’t involve Rory or a breast pump.  What’s Dan blathering on about now?

Glancing at the elevator, Dan sighs, “I’m sure my apartment and Charlotte’s have been rented out.”

“Dan,” Chloe implores, “stay here, with Trixie.  At least for now.”

What does her return side squeeze mean?  What is she trying to convey?  Normally, she wants me to be at least gracious to Dan.  This, I can do now.

“Yes, Daniel, Charlotte, you are most welcome.” Lucifer seconds his Detective.

Ah, ha, her hand has pulled up my t-shirt in the back and slipped underneath.  I’m liking relaxed clothes better and better. Chloe’s approval is swift, certain and affectionate.  If I melt into her touch, what if, already did become honey in her hands.  Focus, Morningstar, focus, there’s still a case here and witnesses.  Including her ex, for whom we’d like to find another occupation just now.

Dan shakes his head, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Detective, perhaps you and Charlotte could investigate the guest rooms for whatever she might need.” Lucifer suggests.

Charlotte agrees, quickly, “Of course.”  During the walk across the room, she and Chloe have their heads close together.  As they leave, Lucifer overhears Charlotte explain to Chloe, “Dan is just jumpy about staying in an angel’s home because Lucifer’s sisters, Hoael and Jkarenel, are such fussbudgets about the aesthetics of our dwelling and shape of the cloud.  Just like earthly neighborhoods, no one wants the newest kind of immigrant moving in.”

“’As above, so below,’’’ Chloe agrees, “Isn’t that how it goes?”

With his angelic hearing, Lucifer hears Charlotte’s response, when Daniel obviously doesn’t.

“Speaking of below, has Michael made any trouble yet?” Charlotte whispers.

“No, all seems peaceful on that front, but we need to conduct some research on a certain matter.  I will tell you more, later.” Chloe tips her head back towards the guys.

Obviously intending to keep secrets, but from whom and regarding what?

Once they are out of earshot, Lucifer explains “Daniel, Eve has been able to spend a long time here on earth.  The human souls previously escaped from Hell, well, had shorter stays on Earth.  Your and Charlotte’s return to Earth is unprecedented.  Hell to Heaven to here.”

“All the more reason to be independent.” Dan insists.  “Had to be self sufficient in Heaven, none of the ‘proper angels’ wanted us in their neighborhood.”

“Daniel,” Lucifer wipes a hand over his face, contemplating how to explain. “You and yours are caught up in ‘celestial craziness.’ Its like being a cop, magnified.”

“Dude, you lost me,” Dan replies, frustrated.  “And don’t say it, not a first.”

“You have already been abruptly yanked from your daughter’s life once. When the celestial craziness became combat, with collateral damage.”  Lucifer gropes for  cufflinks, huffing in irritation upon finding only his bony wrists. 

There’s nothing with which to fiddle, to avoid looking at Dan.  “You know there is no guarantee of tomorrow,” Lucifer commiserates with his one time nemesis.

“Best to stay close to Trixie then.” Dan puts a hand out to Lucifer, as if for a handshake.  Lucifer responds with their bracelet bro wrist bump, both grinning.  They become serious very quickly when Dan’s bracelet slides out from under the sleeve of his worn jean jacket in which he died. 

“I will order you some new clothes tonight, Daniel.  Should be here with the dawn.”

Dan nods once, sharply, “Charlotte too?”

“Of course," Lucifer reassures.  Then suggests, "Go look in on your daughter.”

The Penthouse rings with the unspoken, ‘while you still can’ both fathers feel.

Chapter Text

Hearing Lucifer washing and sterilizing the most recent baby bottle, Chloe scrambles for the not mom unmentionables from her shopping trip. The stop after her six week gyn appointment but before picking up Charlotte at the beach and the endless discussion with her and Dan. 

Midnight blue robe with white boa trim, check.  Covering a spaghetti strap silk midnight blue, with stars, hideously expensive teddie, check.  A way to shift my attitude from ‘Detective and Celestial Consultant’ to desirable sexy partner as fast as I changed clothes, not so much.  Best to ditch normal and reach for incredible. 

“Chloe?” Lucifer calls tentatively from the stairs leading to the bedroom.

She walks out to where he waits, “How do I look now?”  My turn to be unsure. Sexy outfit with too tight ponytail.  We don’t catch a break very often.

Lucifer’s gaze heats up, but not from turning red. “Beautiful,” he sighs.  “Unlike me,” he comments ruefully, looking down, “black clothes speckled white with formula and soap bubbles.”

“Lucifer,” Chloe starts in a husky voice, “there’s nothing hotter than a man spotted with soap from washing a baby bottle.”  Her fingers trace a path on his shirt from one white speck to another.  Hoping to make Lucifer more comfortable with his state of parental disarray, she confesses, “I, I didn’t have time to take out the ponytail.”

A sure sign of no nonsense, working soon to be middle aged mom of two children.  Once again, I’ve cheated myself and  forgotten to leave time for foreplay to intimacy.

“Ah, Detective, if I might?” Lucifer raises his arm, hand drifting towards her head head,

And I missed this, while he was in Hell, Lucifer leading in the dance to sensual.  Nothing as desirable as a man whose clothes show signs of washing up baby bottles.  I’ve domesticated the Devil and isn’t that a heady bit of power.  Look at him, waiting for my okay.

Chloe nods, smiling.  Lucifer walks over to her, brushing his hand over her hair.

Pop, twink, the snapped elastic flies across the room away from them.

In response to Chloe’s inquiring look, Lucifer sighs, “So, it is enough of a lock to be susceptible to my power.  I did wonder, often,” he admits in that deep, sexy register.

“I think it left snarls in my hair.” Chloe smiles conspiratorially, knowing that Lucifer loves to play with her hair.

Given permission, Lucifer reaches out for the long blond locks.  He trails his fingers slowly through her hair, untangling it from the bullet necklace.

Look, I found that shy, disbelieving smile.  Many weeks of being together all the time, and still he doesn’t take the soft touches for granted.  I hope I learn that too.  Now, I’m just going to savor this moment, Lucifer’s fingertips finding all the sensitive spots on my neck.

Chloe reaches her hands up to the back of Lucifer’s neck, intending to free the curls as he had freed her hair from its restrictive ponytail.  Fond of Lucifer’s shyness, but impatient, Chloe shifts her body full length against his tall frame.

Finally, the main event is on the table.  The appetizers were extraordinary, but I’m ready to be stretched, then filled.  This day has definitely had too many ups and downs, it sounds like I’m talking about an éclair.  Although, Lucifer might like that innuendo.

“Good evening, Detective,” he rumbles in that tone that invites seduction.

“Good evening again, Lucifer,” Chloe glances down, yep its gonna to be a gooood evening.

Lucifer grins, appreciating the reminder of their incredibleness. He leans down to kiss her, “Your words sound formal, but your sultry tone indicates desire, my darling.”

“You have penetrated my disguise.”  Chloe teases between kisses, “What fantastic detective work, Lucifer.”

“Taught by the best,” he brags. “The rising star in the department, succeeding on the fast track to Leftenant.”

I’ll never get over creating that look on him.  The one where he’s amazed and unbelieving at the joy he feels.  And that’s enough thinking for this day, except for figuring out how to get underneath his clothes.

Chloe tugs up the bottom of his black t-shirt, yanking to get it off her lover.

“Impatient, aren’t we?” Lucifer teases through his grin, bending down so Chloe can slide the shirt off of him.

“Aren’t you?” Chloe mummers in that deeper breathless tone just for Lucifer.

“Always, Chloe,” his voice has dropped a register to match hers.

“Time for a demonstration of that, my love.” Chloe wiggles her hips against his hard thigh.

Must he be so tall?

Lucifer shudders at her display of affection for him.  He sinks into her.  She welcomes him by rising onto tip toes, clutching at his shoulders for balance.    Lucifer wraps his freed arm around her rear, boosting her up.  Even through pants and silken teddy, she can feel the hardness of his desire.  She wriggles against it, whimpering against his neck.

His groan in response echoes through her and she vibrates in his arms as the piano strings do with Lucifer at the keyboard.

Ohhh, that’s so good.  My whole body feels like an instrument only he can play correctly. 

“That deep rumble of yours is the sexiest I have ever heard.”  She whispers to him, “We are incredible.”

“Oh, yes,” Lucifer responds, rubbing his beard against her neck.

Yep, I may not be musical at Lucifer’s level, but I can sure play him til he is all sultry and purring.  If I don’t turn into a puddle first. 

Chloe grinds down on in the crook of his elbow reveling in the pressure on her clit.

“Detective, you are sinking?”

“Its time to equal this up, you absurdly tall creature, but with both of your hands free,” Chloe directs.

“Whatever for, Detective?” Lucifer plays coy.

Chloe glides her hand between them, caressing herself while sliding her knuckle along his length.

“Ah,” Lucifer grunts and starts moving towards their bedroom, carrying Chloe, his arms securing her to him.  “That’s a new move for you.”

“Mmmm, the fan fiction I’ve been reading to understand celestial craziness better has a surprising amount of smut.  I don’t want my Devil bored.”

“Never,” Lucifer vows.  “But fan fiction, love?”  Its plain from his tone that Lucifer is surprised by his normally no nonsense Detective reading fan written stories about fantasy characters.

“You weren’t here to answer my questions about Rory’s celestial side during my pregnancy.  When I had to become a research Detective early because of pregnancy complications, a search for hybrid pregnancy symptoms lead to fan fiction.”

“Start desk duty early! pregnancy complications?” Lucifer stops striding towards the bed.  “What was wrong, Detective?”

You weren’t heeeere. So much had already gone terribly wrong.  Dan was dead, Trixie left fatherless and our short lived happiness was crushed by our daughter and your flying off the handle.  I mustn’t tell you all that, though. Deep breath, Decker, then what would Lucifer do, oh yeah, limit the truth.

“I didn’t gain enough weight.  Oh, Lucifer, I missed you so much.”  Through her sobs, Chloe explains,   “Maze wound up calling in favors and having fancy foods you like delivered to the apartment pretty continuously.

“Missed me?”

And then you are incredulous that me or anyone could miss you.  I shouldn’t resent you for leaving to protect me, the girls and everyone’s future.  But, sometimes, I do.

Lucifer rubs his face on Chloe’s hair, which grows damp in time with his erratic breaths.

“Lucifer, are you crying too?”

“It would seem so,” Lucifer agrees wetly.   “No one sheds tears for the Devil, my love.”

Chloe teases affectionately, “You missed the sympathy cravings and morning sickness, but you are here in time for the erratic post partum hormones”  Chloe tightens her grip on him,  “Lucifer, I love you.”

“An, And I you, Chloe,”  a damp faced Lucifer looks deeply into her eyes.

“Okay, back to regular programming.  Or, in our case, incredible,” Chloe smashes her lips against his, determined to bring back the sexy mood.

Lucifer opens for her instantly, passion is distracting from the feels and tears.  Chloe tastes the salt from his upset and hers, only making her more adamant to switch back to pleasure for both of them.

There’s no reason to hold back now.  The 6 weeks to recover from childbirth is over over over. 

After she stops grinding against him in rhythm with her inner chanting, she pleads, “Let’s just both shut up, Lucifer.  Stop overthinking it and be together.”

Lucifer smiles warmly at Chloe, obviously charmed by her reference to quintessential Deckerstar.

She tips her head and he leans in to mouth where neck and shoulder meet.

Chloe moans, and one clever hand reaches between them to undo the buttons of his jeans.

“Eager, are we?” somehow, Lucifer sounds strained and approving at the same time.

“Oh, yeah,” Chloe sucks at his shoulder, wrapping an arm around him to play with his ear.

As Lucifer rolls them into the bed, Chloe manages to shimmy his pants off him and the clothes slide off the side of the bed.  Reassured of Chloe’s desire, Lucifer pulls down the straps of her teddy, groaning at the sight of firm, full breasts.  When he curves his body above hers, to kiss at her cleavage, Chloe shoves off her silky panties.  The bullet necklace is the only item left between them.  Or, not so much, as Lucifer uses the silver chain as a guide for where to kiss his beloved Detective.

Chloe traces muscle ridges on Lucifer’s sides, just to feel him quiver under her caress.

He peppers kisses around the metal that penetrated him, bullet to the leg and arrow to the heart.

Her hands trail down to his firm ass, massaging and applying pressure on his hips downward.

“Darling, to what new inventive position does this lead?” Lucifer begs.

“Everything’s okay, Lucifer.  NO more inventive needed. The doc gave me the all clear.”

“Clear?”

“Any position is okay.”

Chloe wriggles again, trying to line Lucifer’s tip to her aching and finally have him inside her.

“Yes, Chloooe, this is incredible.  So soft and warm. Delicious for me, but what’s next for you?”

Being embarrassed, having to explain this so clearly.  I’d forgotten he could be so clueless.

“You, in me.”  Chloe hopes to get through her embarrassment at having to explain explicitly by doing it swiftly.

“I thought that was off the table?”

Embarrassed at having to explain even more explicitly, Chloe holds up the bullet on the necklace.  “Lucifer, its your turn.”

“Detective, I won’t shoot yo, oh, OH.”

Chloe laughs in that sputtering way of hers at Lucifer’s lightbulb moment and eagerness.  He winks at Chloe, rocking back and forth so his tip slides between her lips.

As he lines up to push in, Chloe tenses up.  He pauses.  She replies consideringly, “Might need a stretch first.”  Rolling her head, Chloe kisses and licks at his fingers to make her meaning clear.

“With pleasure, darling.” Lucifer slides to Chloe’s side, his hand gliding down her body.  “Ah, even softer and more warming,” he groans as his fingers stroke her inner thigh.

Lucifer gently inserts the tip of his finger into her.  Chloe wriggles around him, with high pitched chirps of pleasure.  Lucifer is still Lucifer, his huffs for control in tempo with her ecstatic trilling.

“Tight.” The combination of gravel and longing in Lucifer’s strained revelation has Chloe swiveling her hips, encouraging him to push further in.  He slides his finger further in, using his thumb to circle her clit.  Her hips swivel, chasing the sensations.

She opens her eyes, to see him watching her.  His hair in disarray, breathing hard, love and fascination written all over his face.  Chloe puts her hands up to his face, slowly stroking his beard, the way he likes.

Joy dawns on his face, followed by a desperate yearning for it all to be true.  Chloe shimmies up til her forehead rests against his.  His full body shudder creates delicious sensations where his fingers play.  Whether those sensations are hers or his, Chloe is no longer sure. 

The deep moans are clearly his, almost purring in her ear.  The vibrations flow down to her toes, adding to her restlessness.  Her legs bend and straighten, caressing along Lucifer’s.  Like a big cat, his purring turns to a rumbling growl, to the same rhythm as his hand on her cunt.  With friction finally inside her also, Chloe’s orgasm blossoms through her. 

“More beautiful than the dawn.”  Lucifer pushes another finger into her softness.  “Mmm,” Chloe encourages, “more.”

“Oh, yes, darling,” Lucifer reassures. “For you, always, mmmore.”

He circles his fingers inside her.  As she does that embarrassing snort/giggle, Lucifer tips his head, “What’s funny?’

“Never thought the ‘stretching’ you suggested would feel this go,oh,ood.”

“Neither did I, Detective, neither did I.” Lucifer admits to the breast he is currently licking.  His hips keep time with tongue and fingers, gliding his cock along her thigh.

When her head starts rolling in rhythm with his  motions inside her, Chloe shifts over Lucifer, dislodging his fingers.

At his choked groan, she grins at her power.   She can make the Devil whimper and chase after her touch.   Chloe slides her soaked cunt over his pulsing hard cock.  Lucifer hisses in relief as she glides up and down him.  He shudders underneath her, striving for enough control to be led by his partner to his pleasure and hers.            Chloe at her own pace, leading him to new, more intense experiences.

At the top of her rise above him, the wet tip of his cock slips in. 

“Mmmm,” Chloe approves.  Inside her, he hardens still further with proof of her praise.

“I’m an overstuffed crumpet here, my darling,”

“Oh, yeah, you are” Chloe croons, wriggling down unto him.

“Yes, yes,” Lucifer chants.

Chloe can feel his legs shifting behind her, as he attempts to keep his hips still and not thrust upwards before she is ready.  His hands grasp at the sheets.

“Ow,” Chloe winces.

“Darling?”

“Gravity is a bitch.”

Lucifer instantly brings his large hands up to her hips, preventing her further descent.  He presses upwards gently.

“Mmm, no Lucifer, just hold it steady there if you can.  A little time to adj,oh just.”

Supernatural strength comes in handy sometimes, he is able to support her with the palm of his hand, freeing his thumb.  Lucifer slides that lucky digit over to her clit, rubbing gently in circles. 

“Don’t stop that,” Chloe warns, begging.

“Certai, eh, nnn, not.  Chloe,” Lucifer breathes, he who knows all languages down to one word.

With one last squeak, Chloe comes.  Lucifer bites through the pillow in an effort to wait to come until he is fully seated within her.

Chloe sinks down unto him, wriggling again to send him deeper.  He braces his legs to stay completely inside as she moves.

“Better, better, be,etter,” she chants.  His hand on her rump squishes them together in just the right way.  He feels her flutter around him as she begs “Come with me now, don’t think I can do this again anyeetime soo..”

Lucifer hears nothing but the roaring in his ears as he joins Chloe, tumbling over the edge into bliss.

Chapter Text

“What had you so insistent on meeting with just me?” Maze teases Chloe, “oh gift to the King.”

“Gift?” Chloe scoffs.  “Gift is my new four letter word, Maze, along with ‘blip.’  What kind of gift am I to Lucifer?  Used continually to send him back to Hell.  Chloe switches from brooding to snappish decrees, “Mazikeen, really, if you are going to bedevil me, I’d prefer you stick to the royalty angle.”

“You two are so lame, can’t bear to see the other one hurt,” Maze sneers.

At a glare from Chloe, Maze puts her hands up in surrender.  “Alright, I wouldn’t stand for Eve to be hurt by someone’s stupid teasing either.”

Focus on the case, Decker.  Get the intel you need from the only non angel you know who takes on these feathered know it alls.

Chloe huffs, draws in a deep breath, then asks, “Mazikeen, why did Lucifer have scars on his back, from when his wings were cut off?  Those were from before he met me.”  In the privacy of her apartment, Celestial Consultant Chloe Decker begins information gathering for her investigation.

“Why, he piss you off?” Maze chuckles, holding her curved knife, hilt towards Chloe as if passing scissors safely.

“No, I need to set some rules for Michael, and make an example out of him for any other random disapproving angels.  Just plain bullets don’t have enough emphasis,” Chloe concludes.

“What rules, Decker?” Maze spins her knife, indicating her dismissal of rules.

Chloe explains, “I need to convince him that I can exploit his weak spots. Without any assistance from angels, devils or demons.  He needs to understand that the children are off limits for all time, celestial or human, future, past or current.”

Maze glances at Trixie’s art work, still covering knife holes in the walls.  Inspired by her daddy’s return, Trixie had continued her investigation of dedicated fathers in the avian world, and many of the new pictures were of penguins and rhea.  Maze stared hard at the newest drawing,  a smiling Dan with Trixie and her ear to ear grin, Rory, milk bubbles spouting from her mouth and Charlie, gripping his toy motorcycle tight.

“Alright, Decker, how to harm an angel class just began.  They can be punctured with demon forged blades, among other things.”  Maze taps her wicked, curved blade, her tone as sharp as its edge.  “These are what I used to ccut off Lucifer’s wings.  Hell forged blades will leave a scar on angels, even the Devil.”

“Maze, I am more comfortable with a gun than with knives.  Besides, the further from Michael the better.”  Chloe’s loathing of Michael reverberates in her every syllable.

“There is that.  Close combat with him has its risks.” Maze acknowledges.  The women exchange glances, for once the demon dropping her gaze first as they both remember Maze’s betrayal with Michael as he pretended to be Lucifer.

“I bought bullets that explode on impact, but I’m not sure that’s enough.” Chloe spills bullets out of the box into her hand.  She shakes her head at them, not satisfied.

“No, Decker, its not.  I could make you bullets, with bits of demon forged steel in them,  that then explode inside him,” Maze offers.

“I like that idea, the pain would vary with each bullet and keep him off balance about my abilities,” Chloe speculates.  Maze nods, confirming.

“Good, I want all angels unsettled about my talents,” Chloe clarifies.

“When you have on your side the Devil and Amenadiel as God, why are you worried about random feathered fiends?”  long game strategies might elude Maze, but Chloe’s ability to scheme attracts the demon’s interest.

“Lucifer is not always here,” Chloe snarls.  “Maze, this six month deployment to Hell schedule we seem to be on,” Chloe sighs, shaking her head. 

Maze attempts to commiserate, “Its like those old Greek tales, of Persephone splitting her time between Earth and Hell, in six month stretches.”

There’s no comfort in that.  Fun to read about star (oh, Go ,GIFT, this shit is real) crossed lovers, not so much fun to be one.

“At least for her,” Chloe gripes, “she visits Hell, where her love lives, and knows she can return to Earth.  Lucifer has to return to Hell, never knowing if he will be able to escape again.”

“That’s why they call them “Hell loops.”

“Right, so I can’t afford to wait around for some male to rescue me.  Lucifer and Amenadiel both often have other commitments.  I need to convince those ‘random feathered fiends’ and any disobedient demons that I can protect myself and the children without angelic assistance.”

“And what about former room mate assistance?” Maze fidgets with her knife, pretending to concentrate on spinning it.

She’s spent enough time with Lucifer that her tells are the same.  Divert people’s attention when the answer really matters to her.

“Well, roomie, I, as Queen of Hell,” Chloe joshes with Maze to reassure her,  “know that you,” Chloe points a finger at the demon, “don’t let your girl go into enemy territory alone.”

“You remembered,” an astonished Maze breathes, “what I said at that remembrance thingy at the exclusive school during your murder investigation.”

“I was a detective, have to remember what people say, before I became Celestial Consultant,” Chloe reminds Maze.  She continues, “Dan and Charlotte both indicated that they felt unwelcome by some of the more finicky angels in Heaven.  Those siblings of Lucifer’s might think that the children are easy targets, the way Michael did.  My aim is to make them understand that the kids are well protected.”  Chloe vows vehemently, “That what happened to Lucifer, being cast out and no one looking for him, will never, ever happen to our children.  We will find the child, and then we will be very, very vengeful,” Chloe threatens.

“Demons do vengeful,” Maze agrees, dipping her head sharply.  “What else you need to know?”

“Do angels have more, more other (nope, not gonna say vulnerable here)  areas I should target, besides those I would on a human?”  Chloe explains,  “If I shoot to kill, I target the torso or head on a person.  If I shoot to stop, I aim for the feet or shoulder.”

“Well, if you want to keep an angel grounded, you would aim for the wing joints in the shoulder area.  No wings on Michael any more, but you aimed for where he was already wounded,” Maze praises.   She continues sarcastically, “Good call, my Queen,” and winks to show that the sarcasm was directed at the title, not Chloe’s choice of target.

“Maze, you will continue to train Trixie, yes?”

“I swore to her the loyalty of my blades.” Maze pledges. 

Chloe declares, “We will instruct my daughters together, to be smarter than all this celestial craziness.”

“How, exactly, will demon forged steel affect Michael?” Chloe examines the karambit closely.

“Decker, Lucifer’s got the imp. We can pay Michael a surprise check in and do some reconnaissance.  I’ll even show you the clicker,”  Maze offers.

From the grin, she must want to brag about a torture device.  On Michael, perhaps that isn’t such a bad idea.

“Clicker, Maze?”

“Lucifer had an invisible fence installed around the birdie rehab.  Michael wears a demon steel collar connected wirelessly to the fence.  One check in, he tried the fear whammy thing on me by yapping too much.  Well, I taught him fear, I had bark prevention added to that collar.”  Maze brags,  “He doesn’t shut up, I shock him with something way more than the volts used on a dog.”

Chloe shakes her head.  “Maze, you are one badass demon.  I believe the ‘Queen’ here,” Chloe jerks a thumb towards herself, “ needs to understand more about how demon steel works.  Do you have time for an in person visit right now?”

“Just told you I did.”

“Right, sorry, I really need some action, instead of wondering if the fates have the Courthouse Square giant clock tower, hidden away in Lux, ticking away Lucifer’s time on Earth,”  Chloe grips.  “Ooops, been watching ‘Back to the Future’ a little too much.”

At Maze’s raised eyebrow in question, Chloe explains, “I was trying to understand time travel.”

“If its ‘timed’ action you want, I will race you to the boudoir for banged up birds, yer Highness,” Maze teases through her tooth filled grin.  “I’ll give you a head start,” as she puts her feet up onto the coffee table, feigning relaxation.

Excellent, if I travel separately from Maze, I can leave a trail for Lucifer to follow this time.  Just in case Maze is working with Michael again, or tricked by him somehow.  She doesn’t like to acknowledge it, but Maze has more swagger than strength compared to angels.  Lucifer just humors her.

Chapter Text

As the sun sets on another hot Los Angeles day at the former zoo, Chloe keeps her hand near her hip, ready to draw her weapon at the slightest provocation.

Outside Michael’s cave like hut, Mazikeen commands, “Pull the back of that thick wool shirt up, dewinged one.”

After he begrudgingly complies, she taps Michael’s back where the barbed fetters lay across it with the tip of the karambit,  “Look, Decker, the chains are demon forged.”

“They’ve sliced into his skin.” Chloe observes cooly, examining the angry pink cuts, their oozing blood mixing with the sweat trails down his back.

“With every move he makes.” Maze’s satisfaction with this little piece of revenge is clear.  “You are not carrying on against this cruel and unusual punishment?”

“Only considering ways to make it more painful,” Chloe admits, contemplatively.                                

“And Lucifer, carrying on against my knives near the imp.  And then, nauseatingly selfless, offering to buy Dan and Charlotte a house.”  Maze grins knowingly,   “D’you and Lucifer mojo swap again?  You finally got some,” Maze winks.

“Got some what?” Michael wonders.

Chloe glares at Maze.  The ‘mom’ death stare works, even on demons.

“Got a thirst for vengeance,” Maze misdirects  “like Lucifer does, making you wear winter gear in ever hot L.A.”

“Could you just get back to whatever brought you here?” Michael complains.  “I’ve to complete scrubbing the concrete walkways by certain times or the electricity from the invisible fence flows backwards into the demon steel.”

Maze cackles, “Worth the price of admission to see that.”

“Lucifer wants you uncomfortably hot, so you can anticipate your return to the heat of Hell.”   With relish in the punishment, the future Queen commands, “Put that heavy duty jacket back on and snap it to those insulated flannel lined work pants.”

Michael whines, “Detective?”

“Don’t you call me that. Don’t you ever call me that.  Or Leftenant.” Chloe snaps, pointing imperiously at the bleach streaked jacket.

“But those are your titles?  M’ not gonna address you by your first name.” Michael mock shudders as he puts on the jacket, bluffing in hopes of intimidating Chloe, “who knows what Lucifer would chop off?” 

“I’ll suggest your tongue, to start.” Chloe fires back.  That wince when you fake shuddered shows me you are feeling the consequences for your spitefulness.

“She who must not be named?” Michael needles.                                     

“Mazikeen, the clicker.” Chloe glares at the sky.  She’s shot this ‘angel’ once already, with no retribution from above.  Could she get away with it again?

“Sure, Decker, inspire me.  I’ve been translating what you say into Morse code for amusement.  Tap tap  tap tap tap, Michael.”  Maze rapid clicks the bark prevention device.

Chloe turns her sparking eyes on Michael. “You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a trial where Lucifer is your judge and warden.”

Michael’s heavy duty winter gear starts smoking from all the sparks in rapid succession.  He presses his right hand onto his left, as if to smother a flame or, like Lucifer, create a delay in which to formulate an answer that doesn’t reveal too much of the truth.

“Right, got it,” Michael drawls nasally.  “Don’t sass the Miracle,”

“Especially,” Maze says with pride, “when she’s wearing those sensible brown boots.”

Chloe huffs irritatedly, “Maze, do celestials learn at all?”

“Not generally, Decker.  You are the first person to teach one of them anything.”

“Keep translating, Maze. Our entire conversation about alcohol with cereal.”

Maze barks a laugh, “Certainly, my queen.” Click, click, click click click.

Chloe snaps her fingers, “That will do.  Michael, you may address me as ‘Your Highness,’ while bowing, so you remember who is in charge here.  And, that, as Queen of Hell, I, myself, can make your punishment so much worse.”

“You’ve no creativity at all.” Michael snarls.  Then wields the truth, trying to break her faith in herself,  “Took you years to figure out Lucifer was telling what passes for his truth.”

“I read fan fiction now, Michael, the most creative people in the world exploring how to torture supernatural fantasy characters.  It will be no trouble at all to hone your confinement into something even more distasteful.”  Chloe saves her knife in the boot threat for last,  “If all else fails, I will compound your torment with just a melancholy sigh in Lucifer’s ear.”

“Are you serious?” Michael whines nasally.

“Right down to my sensible brown boots,” Chloe retorts.

Michael flicks a glance to Maze, practicing her clicking by tap tap tapping a sharp fingernail on the button.

“Your Highness,” Michael dips his head at her, skanky white streaked hair flopping in front of his sweaty face.  A few grimy locks catch on the inflamed scar tissue.  He shakes his head rapidly, obviously trying to dislodge the irritating clump.

I hope that pains him everyday, just as Dan’s absence tormented my daughter.  I wonder if there is some chemical in Ella’s lab or under my kitchen sink that will make that scar sting worse.  I’ll bet Maze knows a liquid that can hurt angels.

“Oh, no, Mikey, that won’t do at all. Lets bend that back and reach for the ground.”  Chloe taunts as she commands,  “A nice, deep bow.”

Michael glares, Mazikeen punches the button as fast as she can chop with a knife.

“I know Morse code in many languages,” Maze brags.  “I’ve got all day for this.  I have got to get me one of these for Hell.”

Michael bows from the waist acknowledging his defeat, extending his hands towards the ground.  He shifts, lifting his heels off the ground, obviously the demon wire has caught him in sensitive places.

Chloe instructs, “If you can manage to acknowledge my presence with respect, or at least fear, I won’t send someone round to do PT with you in hopes you can be made to bend from the waist and touch the ground, understand?”

“Understood, your Highness.” Michael cranes his head around to make eye contact with Chloe out of the corner of his eye.

 The look in Michael’s eyes wasn’t fear, but Chloe decided that trepidation and wariness would be sufficient for this first lesson.  Complete with Michael having to squint against the sweat leaking into his eyes from the upside down position.

Chloe commands, “Good, up now, so I can, unfortunately, see your face during questioning.  I will be watching you.”  She delivers one more decisive salvo,  “Remember, your level of pain is at my whim, Michael.”

And somewhere in future Rory’s and Lucifer’s pain, I seem to have lost all objectiveness.  Its good to be the Queen, when you can make your not mortal enemies grovel.

Chapter Text

Lucifer, laying wrapped around Chloe’s hips as she nurses the baby for a 2am feeding, kissing Rory’s little toes at the end of the nursing pillow, purrs contentedly.  “This is my new second favorite position in the middle of the night.”

“What, awakened at o’dark hundred?” Chloe gripes, sleepy and amused.

“Yes, lying in OUR bed, my legs squished up against one of your gorgeous bare ones, your delectable rump tucked perpendicular into my groin, my chest against your other wonderfully bare leg.”  Lucifer’s absolute contentment radiates in his every syllable.  “Happy baby snacking away at the boob bar, no last call for her.” 

Chloe rolls her eyes, “Really, Lucifer.”  There’s no bite in her tone, just recognition and affection for his enthusiasm for her body.

“You know, Lucifer, you don’t have to get up every time we do.” Chloe suggests from her seated position on their bed.  “Just because you helped Trixie write her report on daddy rheas doesn’t mean you have to act like one.”

“Ah, but Chloe, who better to learn from, how to parent a daughter of yours, than Daniel?  Both his mistakes, not supporting you to the exclusion of all else, and his current dedication to devoted parenting.  The male rhea protects all the offspring of the female of his choice, no matter who sired the fledgling ,” he reminds her.  “Why should not Daniel and I be able to do the same?”

“If we can keep you on Earth, you really intend to be a hands on parent?”

“Why ever not, Detective?” Lucifer asks, kissing a baby toe between each word.  “I’m always interested in being the very opposite of how I was raised, by absentee par, rents.” The last bit is a bit garbled by Lucifer’s enormous yawn.

Chloe wiggles a hand free to stroke Lucifer’s longer midnight scruff. “I’m sorry we interrupt your sleep.”

“Don’t be sorry Chloe.  I, you, Rory,” for once, Lucifer stumbles over his words,  “another chance to be a happy family, every night. Worth every bit of lost sleep to have that.  Plus sleepy snuggling with you twice or three times in the same night, best middle of the night activity ever for me.”  Lucifer lifts his head into Chloe’s hand, while he kisses the top of Rory’s little foot.    “If I ever have to go back, this is one of the memories I will replay again and again.” 

“Oh, Lucifer, this is what will make you an awesome father, you never take any of the small sweet moments for granted.” Chloe is still trying to instill confidence in Lucifer about his parenting abilities.

“Of course not, Det, Chloe, I know the earth could be yanked out from under me at anytime, tumbling me back to Hell permanently,” Lucifer nuzzles her bare thigh, one hand roaming over her back, stoking her hair.  His other hand has stretched up to hold Rory securely on the pillow so the Detective has a free hand to play with his hair.

Chloe shakes her head, directing, “That has to stop.”

Lucifer freezes, immediately tense.  There had been very firm lectures from Chloe, post Rory tears, about distracting a nursing baby.  He delicately begins to ease away from Mom and daughter.  “Apologies, Detective.  I won’t intrude further.”

Chloe grabs his ear before he can slink away entirely, “No, Lucifer, that’s exactly what I am talking about.  Please stop assuming I want you to leave.  Come back here and relax.”

Tentatively, Lucifer eases back to where he was, entwined around Chloe but relax eludes him.

“Babe, we all need to stop assuming that the solution to, to every celestial challenge is for you to go back to Hell.  While I am on maternity leave, we are gonna figure this out, together as a team. We will research threats to your staying here on Earth with me.  Okay?” Chloe pauses.

Lucifer has wrapped himself tightly around her, ducking his head under her leg.  He nods enthusiastically enough to shake the bed.

“Babe?”

“You did choose me, still,” wonderment and amazement radiate in Lucifer’s every muffled syllable.  “Enough even to work on it, like a case.”

“Again and again.” Chloe affirms.

“Now ‘M’okay,” comes Lucifer’s muffled response.  “There’s no where else I’d rather be.”

Trying to lighten the mood, Chloe suggests, “Maybe the time travel problem is as simple as you acquiring a DeLorean or building a clock tower.”

Still under her leg, Lucifer plants kisses on her thigh.  Chuckling, he asks hopefully, “Would watching the movies be considered research?”

Baby Rory makes slurping noises.  Lucifer and Chloe exchange their ‘Is that a clue look?’

“We will need some popcorn, fancy British man,” Chloe teases, wanting to cherish the happy, uncomplicated times of her no when else she’d rather be.

Chapter Text

“Everyone prepared, with their threats to Michael?” Chloe checks in with her friends.  “Tribe, we are all prepared to needle him where he is, is weakest?”

Nope, not gonna say vulnerable here either.

Charlotte asks, “Do you think this will work better than just having Lucifer and Amenadiel..”

“Yes,” Linda cuts in.  “Michael is used to squabbling with his brothers.  We are an unknown to him.  Besides, Lucifer is too accustom to drawing out people’s desires easily to take the time to study for another’s weakness.  For the four of us, its an integral part of our careers.”

“Maze,” Chloe directs. “You get his attention.”

“Brought the clicker.”  A grinning Maze twirls her dagger shaped remote for all of them to see.

“Clicker?” Linda asks.

“Lucifer put an invisible fence collar on him.  Michael whined too much once during a check in. Afterwards, I had someone add bark prevention to the collar,” Maze waves the remote about enthusiastically, clearly proud of her ingenuity.

“Good,” Chloe, “You can shut him up anytime.  I hate that ‘sounds like I have a cold’ accent of his.  All nasally, and still he has an ‘I’m superior’ attitude I want to put holes in like a firing range target.”

“Are we sneaking up on him, Decker, or going in with guns blazing?” Maze, impressed by Chloe’s newfound sass, inquires about her strategy.

“Neither, we are walking down there calmly, like we own the place.”  Chloe continues methodically listing their options,  “If Micheal ignores us til we are in six feet of him, zap him til he pays attention to our approach.”

“And if he turns around before that?” Maze wants to see how far this newfound imperiousness of Chloe’s goes.

“Zap that lying two timer anyway,” Chloe snaps.  “Until you are satisfied he will pay attention.”

Maze grins, “Alright, Decker.  Later, we will toast that sassy attitude with some of Lucifer’s fancy alcohol you flimflammed him out of.  And used to convince him we were having tribe night, not ‘detectiving.’”

Charlotte and Linda chorus, “Tell us more.”

Maze continues approvingly, “Even better than stealing pudding, tricking Lucifer by seeming to let him talk you into sharing the top shelf stuff with the Tribe.  We will be toasting our success with it.”

“Good, lets be fast.  We left Eve with Charlie and alcohol,” Linda worries.

The demon leads them towards Michael, halting them silently when they can see him.

“What is he cleaning that enormous bird pooped covered you are here map with?” Linda whispers.

“Toothbrush,” Maze and Chloe chorus with great satisfaction.

As they walk towards Michael, he shouts without turning to look at them, “Park closed at dusk.  Don’t come back tomorrow.”

Chloe extends her hand, making tapping motions where Maze can see.  Maze grins gleefully and clicks ‘Not for us, sucker,’ in Morse code.

Michael whips around and blanches when he sees the four of them.

“Michael, we have come to add to the terms of surrender,”  Chloe announces.

“Not allowed,” Michael turns away from them.

Irritated already, Chloe gestures to Maze, who bangs away at the clicker, snickering.

“Doing it anyway.” Maze’s evil grin increases as she translates Chloe’s spoken words to Morse code on the clicker for Michael’s edification.

Maze schools Michael, both verbally and by zap zap zapping,  “Bow, wingless one, before your Queen.”

He looks to Chloe, who nods once slightly to confirm Maze’s command.

Wasting as few possible words on him as I can.  He won’t ignore me, though.

Michael slowly eases into a courtly bow.  Chloe leaves him bent over til she can see him shuddering from the pain of the demon steel barbs digging into sensitive and already damaged skin.

“Rise,” she commands quietly.

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?” he snarls.

“Because you are the one at our mercy now,” Linda reminds him.  “You know that we have the ability to make the punishments you suffer much, much worse.  Here, on Earth, at the swan pit, we might see if the injured swans recover more rapidly if Lucifer’s piano playing and singing are played over the enclosure’s speakers.  All day and night, you could enjoy your brother’s voice, happy and free to indulge any desire, whenever he wants.”  

“What a puny threat.” Michael attempts to sound dismissive, while revulsion plays across his sunburnt face, the area bordering the scar cracked to infected pink and peeling.  “Why should I care?”

“Because these injured swans will be tenderly cared for.  Best vets in the world brought in to address their wounds and see if they can fly once more,” Charlotte explains.  “You will be witness, over and over, to a rehabilitation that can never be yours.”

Michael stills, out of retorts.

“We might do that anyway,” Chloe threatens.  “Your choice how much of it you have to watch, based on how quickly you adapt to our expanded terms.”  Chloe’s gestures include the tribe.

“What is it, exactly, I have to do, or not do?” Michael, the judge, wants elucidation of their guidelines for his part of the updated terms of surrender.

“The children are off limits.” Chloe gestures to herself, Linda, Charlotte and Maze.

“That’s impossible.  Demons don’t have offspring that they care about.” Michael counters.

“She already cares about our children, so anything is possible.  Also included are any children of Dan’s or Ella’s, as well as Ella herself,” Chloe proceeds as if Michael’s comment was so insignificant it never happened.

No need to confirm Dan is back by mentioning him, or implying he is not able to protect himself.

Mazikeen snarls, “We will hold you responsible for anything adverse that might happen to the children any where near you.  Don’t care if you are at fault or not.”

“Speaking of adverse, Michael, what happened to the ‘what not to feed the birds’ exhibit?” Chloe probes into his destructive activity.

“Destroyed it.” Michael admits.

“Why?”

“Didn’t like it.  They didn’t even use real plants.  Just fake ones with a stupefying stench of oversweetened vanilla.  Smelled like a hothouse where the flowers are forced to bloom for some one’s evil whim,” Michael presses one hand against another.

Just like Lucifer with his cuffs, to distract the unwary before he partly answers a question that makes him uncomfortable.  Or, when he has confessed something emotional, but doesn’t want any one to catch onto it.  What is it he doesn’t want us to investigate?

One side glance at Linda tells Chloe that Lucifer’s shrink caught Michael’s bluff also.  Chloe winks at Linda, indicating they both have recognized a telling moment, even if they are unsure what the ‘tell’ indicates.

 Detective Decker pursues her lead, “Why did the exhibit make you so angry?”

“Scrappy, your car stealing alchemist,” Michael attempts to downplay Ella’s importance,  “didn’t like the rank odor.”

“Ella!” Chloe’s retort is laced with disbelief,  “asked you to do this?”

“No, none of the removal is on her,” Michael defends Ella.  “I just took care of it.”

Two play this shell game, distract the mark so they lose track of the ball.  Best to let Michael  think we didn’t notice how important Ella is to him.

Chloe tips her head towards Charlotte, hoping she will pick up on her cue.

“Michael, are you not curious about my presence in my physical body, on Earth?”

“Nope.” Michael attempts to look uninterested, but the shifting of his eyes in Charlotte’s direction tells another story.

“I’m here to protect my children from all threats.  There will be consequences if you manipulate or hurt them in any way.  Directly or indirectly,” Charlotte clarifies,  “such as any machinations to take their father away from my babies.”

What will Charlotte threaten him with?  She must have observed something significant, watching Michael with Dan from Heaven at Lucifer’s request.  He intervenes always for my safety, in ways I am not aware of.  I’m sure Lucifer wasn’t enthusiastic about requesting Dan’s assistance in supervising Michael, through Amenadiel yet.

“All descendants, past, present and future,” Charlotte elucidates. “Earth, Heaven Hell, other universes, no frightening the children in any time or place or using them as pawns.”

“I ‘frighten’ my siblings, supposedly superior ‘angels on high’, just being around them.  How am I to not scare your little tailless monkeys?”  Michael carps, “The fear mojo is always on.”

Linda suggests, “Learn some control, Michael, how to tame it til its needed.”

“Right, sure.” Michael’s agreement is all sarcasm.  “Not gonna tell me Lucifer can do it, so you can too?”

“No, we expect that you will, someday, want to interact with others more.  The first step is not spooking them.” Linda explains.

“Right, sure.”

“Michael, it is all up to you.” Linda counsels.  “Both Amenadiel and Lucifer regained their powers when we needed them.  You must have a purpose here too, that someone can help you discover.”

Dimly, Chloe thinks she hears Michael growl, “Don’t think Dad made that many miracles in this century, certainly not one for me.”

For the group to hear, Michael teases, “so you are all for one, and one for all.  No squabbles…”

“They are a fearsome team, these three,” Maze cuts in.   “No matter what quarrels they might have between them or with lovers and exes, their children come first. Its not like my family, or yours.”

“Unlike Heaven’s inhabitants, we know how to cooperate with each other for the good of all of us,” Charlotte states.

Chloe adds, “And more especially, collaborate for our children.  They come first.  We have been to Heaven and Hell and back for them.  If you do not cooperate, we don’t need Lucifer to make your sentence here even more Hell on Earth.”  Chloe gestures to Charlotte, who she hoped had detailed knowledge of some of Michael’s boogeymen from long hours watching him with Dan.

Charlotte picks up on her cue, “Michael, we can turn anything into a Hell loop on Earth.  Your greatest fears, over and over.  Your siblings’ rejection of you, not just from fear, but because suddenly you were no longer perfect.  Damaged goods, from your twin’s Fall.   Did you really belong in Heaven if you were not perfect?  God, only paying attention to you when you squabbled with Lucifer and Amenadiel.  Obviously, you alone are not sufficient motivation for your Father to interfere.”

He flinches at that one.  Ah, ha, Michael has Daddy issues too.  Obviously  a sore spot with him to pick apart as needed.  Much as Lucifer does not like to discuss his time in Heaven before the Fall, he may have to, so we have ammunition against Michael.

Charlotte continues, “Perhaps, some alone time.  You think rejection is bad, just wait for isolation.  Perhaps on an empty sphere,” Charlotte gestures to the sky, moon visible in the darkening sky,   “Just you and your thoughts, day after day.  No one to unload the fear unto.  Just an echoing feedback loop, no need for demon enhancements.” 

Boy, Charlotte’s good at this.  No wonder we lost so many cases in court when she defended criminals.  I’m glad she is on our side now.

“And you threaten me with all this, just to protect your children?” Michael is still disbelieving.

“Absolutely,” Chloe assures him.  “We want to be sure you understand that we have many options to punish any infraction of the updated rules.”

“Alright, alright.”  Michael grumbles,  “Its not like you will have any of the leeches stray here.”

Linda counsels, “Michael, even with time travel, no one knows the future.”

“Except us, Michael.”  Chloe snarls, “We guarantee, if you mess with the children, YOU will be the one to regret it.”

Chapter Text

While their ladies are off of to a Tribe night, back at Lux turned rhea roost, Dan exclaims, “Wait, Chloe actually took the expensive wine and whiskey you suggested for Tribe Night?”

“Yes, Daniel, I have finally convinced her to take advantage of the good things in life I can provide,” satisfaction rings through Lucifer’s every syllable.  He continues in a more rueful tone, “I did not know she would take advantage of me, leaving in my care Urchin, baby Gamine and you.”

And could you not sleep, as they do. Finally. 

“Ella is not at this Tribe night?” Dan persists.

“No, something about a bird playdate for a rescue chicken.” Lucifer shakes his head.  “I’m not even sure what that means.  Daniel, do you intend to solve that avian mystery by trying to pace a trench into my marble floors?”

“Dude, we have been hoodwinked.”

“Enough with the bird metaphors,” Lucifer objects sharply.  “Your offspring has already overdone them, choosing rheas for her animal study project.  Feathers everywhere, when the crib is supposed to be bare.”

“Chloe, who won’t drink when she is nursing, took enough liquor for a frat party, but Ella’s not there.”  Dan concludes,   “That party is celestial insiders only – Chloe, Charlotte, Linda, Maze, Eve,” Dan holds up his hand, digits splayed.

Lucifer strains not to roll his eyes as Daniel counts on his fingers, surprise getting to five.

“There’s not many places they could go.  Charlotte and I are still trying to stay out of the public eye.  At least until we figure more of this out.  No one wants her kids surprised or, or disappointed,” Dan frets over the not knowing how long he has with his daughter.

“What would the five of them be doing? And where?” Lucifer’s voice trails off as the intricate web of lights above them brighten, then darken in response to the descent of a truly horrifying idea.

“They went to confront Michael.  Without me.”  White wings pop open and Lucifer strides for the balcony.

“Wait, Lucifer, you don’t want to do that,” Dan chases after the agitated angel.

“Don’t I?” in regal, haughty tones of someone who has been royalty his entire existence.  Lucifer spins around, eyes glinting red if you know what to fear.

“Not unless you want to be sleeping on the couch if you are lucky,” the stalwart Dan points to the leather sofa.  “Chloe’s just gotten over being pissed about funding careers at the precinct for her.  You charge in there, like she can’t handle it,” Dan gestures with his hand rolling downhill.  Shaking his head, he concludes,  “It won’t go well for you.”

“Point taken,” Lucifer concedes, stalking his way back to the interior of the Penthouse, its electric power still flickering.  Probably a side effect from his glaring at the high end whiskey that can’t dull this problem.

Perhaps I should stop focusing on Daniel’s stupidity and worry about my own incompetence.

Dan persists,  “Dude, when you asked me to watch Michael while I was in Heaven, you said you’d set up several methods to keep track of him.”

Charlotte has been good for him.  He actually put two and two together for a useful idea, in addition to correctly counting five females, on his fingers, but still a win.

“Ah, yes, Daniel, excellent observation.”  After folding his wings back into the pocket dimension, Lucifer strides behind the bar, punching in the codes for the hidden drawer in the mini fridge.

After he dials a number, Lucifer asks, “Megeara, the folks you set up to monitor the bird rescue, can you have them transfer the nest and security cameras to the penthouse tellys at Lux?”

As the men watch the action at the zoo, Dan asks, “Lucifer, one, okay many, things about Rory’s story, that you deserted her, bothered me, as a Detective.”

“Yes, Daniel,” Lucifer does his best not to let his impatience show in his tone.

 If I humor him, will he shut up, will I win points with Chloe, will he bore himself enough to kip a catnap in the lion’s den?  His return certainly exhausted his offspring, after my lasagna and decadent cream filled chocolate Torta Novecento, the Urchin fell asleep, face planted on the research for her bird report while it was still dusk.

“If Rory time jumped for the first time at Chloe’s well, passing,” Dan makes a face like he ate sour pudding, “and came straight to 2021, when did Michael have a chance to put her in the Hell loops?”

Lucifer starts pacing at the first mention of Chloe’s death.

“Lucifer, I know this is uncomfortable for you,” Daniel sympathizes.

“Yes, Daniel, so why do we have to think about it?” The Devil stalks sulkily back and forth in the trench the former detective started.  He fidgets with the remote, punching the buttons with venom to enlarge the scenes with Chloe and Michael.

“You were a consultant long enough to know that what makes witnesses edgy is where the clues are.” Daniel admonishes.

“Right,” Lucifer huffs.

Now, I’m ready to roll my eyes at myself.  How desperate am I, to be getting advice from Daniel?  And considering following his drivel.  I did say I would ‘pay any price.’

Dan suggests, “We should try and explore this line of investigation on our own.  I don’t think you want Chloe to have to contemplate the aftermath her own death.”

“No, of course not.  Carry on, Detective Espinosa,” Lucifer gestures expansively to the man, who thrown to the celestial lions like the original Daniel, keeps his decency  and commitment to others.

As they watch their ladies dictate to Michael, Dan reviews future events with Lucifer.  “Lucifer, when in Rory’s time travel did Michael have a chance to spew all that nonsense?”

“What ever do you mean, Dan?” Lucifer struggles to keep his waning patience from coloring his tone.

“Rory wouldn’t have believed Michael after she met you.  At what point did he trick her?” Dan persists.

“I’ve no idea, Daniel.”  Lucifer, who spent millennia unable to determine anything about his own fate, wonders listlessly, “Does it matter?”

The former detective counters, “It would be another clue, to discover what exactly that bastard,” Dan slams his fist into his palm, “did to further destroy our lives.”

For once, someone’s anger is directed at the correct twin.  That alone is sufficient for me to at least humor Daniel in this.

“Well, then, Daniel, it looks like the bracelet bros with have to do some covert sleuthing of their own, without our ladies’ knowledge.”   Lucifer winks conspiratorially.

The men grin at each other, looking forward to another escapade together, with the added fun of trying to conceal it from Chloe for all the right reasons.

Dan points to the screen, “Lucifer, why is all that concrete, rebar and broken up plastic where that poison plant exhibit was supposed to be?  What are those tiny colorful bits,” Dan squints.  “Some kind of flowers?”

“Michael demolished it, for unknown reasons.  Shredded the silk flowers, poured all the fake floral fragrances down the drain.  I hired people to put the display back together, but then the bird rescue took in a vast number birds from that hoarding situation.” Lucifer’s tone turns wry, with the realization that he might rule in Hell, but the souls on Earth have enough free will to ignore his dictates,  “The facility administrator drafted all the workers from rebuilding to rehabilitation.”

Hearing Charlotte’s ‘intimidate the witness’ voice, both focus on the aviary monitor when she suggests some alone time for Michael, should he not follow the new rules about the children’s safety.

“What’s going on here?” Dan wonders, pointing towards Michael.

“Ah, judging by his reaction,” Lucifer exhales slowly, “my deceitful twin seems to have remembered my threats.”

“I don’t want to know, do I?” Dan mock shudders.

“No, Daniel, I don’t believe you do.  Although, if you wish to torment that rat, you might mention the number ‘thousand.’ Casually, for fun.”

“Got it.” Dan grins back.

Unsurprisingly, Lucifer changes topics away from the ones that upset him, “That reminds me, Daniel, I would like to upgrade your bracelet.”

“With whaaat, exactly?” Dan asks, somewhat suspicious of the Devil playing a trick on him.

Lucifer fidgets with his cuffs. “My bracelet receives notifications if my reprobate twin tries to escape his imprisonment.  I would like to upgrade the bracelet you wear to do the same.”

“You used the bracelet I made for you to track him,” Daniel jerks his thumb at Michael’s cowed image on the screen,  “the person who orchestrated my death?” Dan asks, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head.

And now I wish I could read people better, minus mojoing them.  Can’t tell from his question if he is pleased or furious.

“Yes,” Lucifer straightens, leaning slightly away from Dan, withdrawing from another rejection.

“That’s diabolical karma revenge, Lucifer.  How do we update my bracelet?” Dan displays a Devilish grin of his own, pulling up his sleeve so they can access the bracelet.

Chapter Text

As she nurses Rory in the bedroom, Chloe listens to Trixie read out loud the newest job offer email.  She can hear Lucifer’s sulky tones as he entertains Daniel and Charlotte in the piano area of the Penthouse, but not the conversation itself. 

My, but Lucifer has been keeping track of me since I interviewed Michael, without letting him know where I was.  Its cute, and I suppose I deserve it, but its starting to grate on me.  I have promised not to go near Michael again without Lucifer along, all four of us had to.  Better find a way to keep Lucifer busy so he doesn’t dwell so much on Michael and all the ways we could be separated.

“Monkey,” she whispers as Rory nods off, “you are so much help.  I don’t need that job, but I would like some fruit and muffins.  Go tell Lucifer what toppings you want.”

Trixie comes bouncing out of the Penthouse bedroom.

“Lucifer, Mommy says you’d better fire up the stand mixer.”  Trixie wrinkles her nose,  “Baby Rory ate and ate and burped up messy and ate some more.”

“What does your mother want, child?”

“A fruit smoothie and lemon blueberry muffins with chocolate icing for mine,” Trixie recites confidently.

“Excuse me, Charlotte, Daniel, Chef Lucifer must make an appearance.”  He continues with great wonderment, “Luci!Daddy must make muffins and smoothies.  I might, with the Urchin’s assistance, actually parent usefully.”

Trixie rattles on, “Daddy, you should apply for one of the jobs people keep offering Mommy.  She got emailed another one just now.  They sound like great jobs, even if Maze snorts every time Mommy wonders how she got on yet another headhunter’s list.”

Charlotte gasps, as Chloe descends the marble stairs.

Trixie reassures her,  “Don’t worry, Maze says these aren’t real head hunters, but hunters of talent.  Even if Lucifer left golden breadcrumbs for them.”

“Lucifer?” Chloe scolds, pitch rising at the end.  Trixie, recognizing the upset parent tone, creeps backwards up the stairs, retreating to where her sister naps.

“What do golden breadcrumbs mean even?” Dan puzzles.

“I may have stacked the employment deck, for the Detective.” Lucifer fiddles with his cuffs.

“Lucifer,” Chloe reprimands,  “what happened to full disclosure?”

“Darling, I did attempt to tell you, but Beatrice was in great distress over my re appearance without her father.”

“What did you do?” Dan demands.

“Its more what I couldn’t do.  Came back without you or a plan to have you return to the Urchin.  I was completely inadequate when her sister needed me to accomplish something as simple as reheating a bottle.” Lucifer admits, not looking anyone in the eye.

“Oh, is that what Trix was upset about, at the Penthouse?” Dan struggles to put the pieces together.

“Partly, also, Rory had been fussy and whimpering for quite some time.  Your daughter is very protective of her sister.”  Lucifer sighs,  “Didn’t understand that being a father doesn’t make me a ‘Dan’ level daddy.”

Failed abysmally as parent and step parent, that’s what he is thinking.  I might be sympathetic, but I won’t be tricked or distracted from the issue of ‘golden breadcrumbs’ to be sure I could get a job.

“Lucifer, why did you bribe people to offer me jobs?  Without my consent?” Chloe deliberately invokes a hot button topic of her over protective partner.

 “Detective, I couldn’t provide for you and Rory openly.  Was I to desert you entirely?”  Slightly defensive, Lucifer continues, trying to explain the job sitch to Chloe,  “I thought to provide as many career choices as possible for you in the very short amount of time I had.”

“But, Lucifer, then I haven’t qualified for the positions on my own merit,” Chloe objects.

“Detective, for which position that you have been offered do you think you are unqualified?”  Lucifer continues hotly,  “And how would anyone think you incapable of any career you choose to pursue?”

He reassures her, “Certainly the one you have, research Leftenant to link new cases to old ones at the precinct, you are eminently qualified for.  You actually find that boring paperwork interesting.”

He rants on, “All you do is write and study, how could you not become a renowned  author of true crime novels, writer of detective manuals, cold case researcher at large.  If you tired of the politics at LAPD, given your desire for justice for victims,  innocence project investigator seemed an extension of that aspect.  Plenty of research there, both to prove the innocence of the wrongly accused and find the guilty party.”  Lucifer stops lecturing to draw breath.

Charlotte chimes in, “Those innocence project people are tenacious, even by my standards.  The innocence project helps the wrongly convicted prove they did not commit the crime that has them incarcerated.  Its detective work at the most complicated level.  Then comes the long and detailed challenge of getting the exonerated person freed by a system not designed to admit mistakes, much less correct them.”

Speaking of corrections, he did say choices for me, not that he was trying to dictate to me. You’d think as a detective I would listen more closely.

Chloe sighs, and before she does more than open her mouth, her excitable partner restarts his reassurances of his confidence in her abilities.

Lucifer divulges to Chloe, “Speaking of correcting mistakes, your peacemaking skills are a large part of the reason the battle between Heaven and Hell is in a less active phase.  Certainly those skills are useful for interstate cold case liaison, such as you were offered last week.”

Dan interrupts, “Dude, are all those positions available?”

“Yes, do you want one? She doesn’t.”  Lucifer’s hurt at Chloe’s rejection is obvious.  “I did not make them open only to ‘infinitely gorgeous blonds with sea green eyes and figure that never stops.’ Even the acting career opportunity didn’t specify appearance, although someone must have partially figured out my intent was directed towards the Decker ladies as darling Penelope scooped that one up.”

Chloe assembles the pieces of Lucifer’s devotion, “I thought the studio gave a fantastic deal, unprompted, for Trixie and I to appear in Mom’s new Althea flick.”

“Yes, I made it clear the director could pay back the favor I granted to him by facilitating your return to the film industry, if you desired it,” Lucifer responds, looking away, hurt and retreating from Chloe’s rejection.

He needs so much reassurance that I can be swift to forgive, unlike his family.  The surest way to convince him is by being close enough to touch.  Who knows how much time together we have this ‘vacation’ anyway?

“Lucifer, stop.”  Chloe walks towards him,  “I didn’t understand.  I judged you by the actions of others, who don’t recognize or appreciate my abilities.  I’m sorry, okay?” Chloe extends open hands to him.

Ever quick to forgive family, Lucifer takes her hands in his, responding to the appeal in her sea green eyes.

“Which of these job opportunities interest you, Daniel? Charlotte?” he asks over Chloe’s head.  He winks at Trixie, peeking from the top of the stairs, so she knows the crisis has past and he doesn’t begrudge her hiding from the conflict between adults.

“Innocence project,” Charlotte advocates for herself.  “Help people out of a punishment they don’t deserve to a new start.”  Then she wishes breathlessly,  “Like the one I want with my kids.”

“Done,” responds Lucifer.  “I will make the necessary arrangements as soon as you ‘come out’ to the rest of the world.”

“Daniel?”

Dan, shakes his head, frowning, “I don’t want you paying my way in the world.”

Why is Lucifer counting?  People only do that when they are trying to summon up their patience, oh my.  If I squeeze his hand, will Lucifer know I appreciate his efforts with Dan?

Lucifer counters Dan’s objection, “I’d be compensating you for work that needs done, never giving up on what looks to be a hopeless case.  Which by the way, you are actually good at.  I spent 5 mil proving it.”

Dan objects, “I don’t want to be in your debt.”

“In my debt, Daniel?” Lucifer shakes his head.  “There’s no repayment I, who absolutely has more money than either God or Amenadiel, could make for what you are doing for my daughter.”

“For Rory?”  Dan’s confusion is clear.

“Yes, you Daniel Espinoza, are teaching the originator of all Daddy issues how to be a halfway decent father.  And the halfway is all on the student,” Lucifer gesturers to himself.  “Daniel, you are coping with three generations of celestial craziness and all I have for you in return is money.  And somehow, you want the opportunity to earn that money by actually working for it as well.”  Lucifer concludes his lecture,  “You really have the poor end of that bargain.”

Chloe asks, “Lucifer, is the whole ‘as above, so below’ thing true?”  She wraps Lucifer’s arm around her, extending a hand to Trixie.  Chloe side arm hugs her daughter, kissing the top of her head.

“Yes, Detective.”  Lucifer answers, much less ranting now that Chloe is relaxed in his embrace, interpreting his over the top good intentions.

Chloe explains to her sometimes slow on the uptake ex, “Then, Dan, setting free the innocent on Earth helps set free those unreasonably punished in Hell.”

Lucifer grins as the light dawns on Dan’s face.

Charlotte’s phone rings.  When she looks at the display, she exclaims, “I have to take this.”   She replies to her caller, “Yes, Linda, I have time now to come to your house and figure out the best way to explain my reappearance to my kids.”

She listens, then grins hugely, pointing to Dan and Trixie.

“Yes, I believe I can bring baby sitters with me.”

Trixie claps her hands excitedly and the three scramble for the elevator.

“Lucifer, what ever shall we do now?” Chloe smiles up at him and bats her eyes, trying to be flirty.

Confused by her teasing smile after their spat, Lucifer answers, “Wash the breast pump cone?”

Lovely, he knows that cleaning up is a way to my forgiveness.  I already forgave, but apparently need to go back to acting school and take coquette lessons.  Again and again, we have to get thru the awkwardness caused by separation and reach deep for the incredible between us.

Chapter Text

“Lucifer, would you make fruit smoothies and lemon blueberry muffins I have been craving?” Chloe offers, “I will change the sheets while you cook.”

“Certainly, darling,” Lucifer replies.

My, he sounds uncertain, even sent away for something so simple.  All the better, to surprise him with the beach themed sheets and fire orange teddie.  I hope he likes the hint of ‘Hot Tub.’

As Chloe rapidly rolls up the nursing pillows, burp clothes, baby clothes in the top sheet, she hears Lucifer curse, after the thud that signals he dropped the stoneware muffin tin on his foot.  She grins, someone is a little jittery, besides her. 

Now, where to quick hide the evidence.  I’ll just stash it, softly, in the room with bassinette and baby.  Sleep well, dear one.  Mommy and Daddy need more than a minute here.

The race is on, can she shift from Detective Investigator Mom to Devil’s sexy consort in the time it takes a motivated King of Hell to bake muffins and blenderize organic yogurt and farm fresh berries together?

Sheets are changed from stinky baby burp to exotic beach themed, check.  Romantic electric candle flickering, check. Practical Mom clothes exchanged for slightly sheer Hot Tub orange lingerie, check.

Chloe realizes the benefits of being partners in stressful situations as she hears the beep of the oven indicating the muffins are done, she and Lucifer are in sync for a tantalizing moment as usual.

Better be on the same page for more than a moment though.  We deserve a lot of time to enjoy partners, with benefits.  With a less imminent threat of Lucifer having to return to Hell.  Did kinda put a damper on ‘being together.’

A teddie clad Chloe is in the bathroom, trying not to look in the mirror.

Maybe I can convince Lucifer that muffins and milkshakes by candlelight are romantic.  In some universe.

Chloe hurries out of the bathroom, only to see Lucifer bounding up the steps two at a time.  When he catches sight of her in the newly purchased lingerie, his foot lands hard on the top one, body rocking ungracefully.  Still, he keeps his balance enough to safeguard muffins and milkshakes.

“Gorgeous,” Lucifer croaks, swallowing hard.

“You are still my silver tongued Devil,” Chloe praises, grinning at his awkwardness.

“Yes, I’m always yours, Chloe,” Lucifer vows.  Always the truth teller, he adds,   “As long as you will have me and its allowed.”

“Forever, babe, we just have to figure out how to keep you on this plane.”

“With you wearing that,” SIGH, “incredible outfit, I’ll be your kept Devil on any surface you desire.”  Lucifer glances towards the bed, wraggling his eyebrows in invitation.

Chloe snorts, then tries to turn her reaction to something more delicate.

“No, darling. You laugh like an Albanian field wench too,” Lucifer jokes.

Why does he lean towards me, but not complete the action with a hug and a kiss?  How much more indication of consent does he need than a sheer orange teddie on me?

“Silly D,dear, you are worth it.” Chloe gives Lucifer the hug and kiss he desires, but is still uncertain he deserves.

There he is, my hot partner. All muscle and trim body.  While I’m bloated and leaking at random times.  Muffin and milkshake will have to wait.

“Let’s get you out of this fancy suit, love.  So you’ll be comfortable under the covers.”

“Under?”

“Wait and see.”  Chloe takes the muffins and milkshakes from him, placing them on the nightstand.

“Ah, an adventure.  Lead on, Detective.” Lucifer bows slightly, arm extended.

An adventure, indeed.  Try to figure out how to dim lights, get under the covers, so you don’t see new Mom bloat and be sexy all at the same time.  As long as he keeps massaging those shoulders.  I’d forgotten that full boobs are so heavy.

Chloe starts unbuttoning Lucifer’s shirt before he can remove his jacket.  She spreads her fingers under the open shirt on his ribs.  He groans as her palms flatten out onto his chest. 

My poor touch deprived baby.  So much time in Hell, cut off from any kindness or pleasure.  And believing he will never return to Earth.

Chloe slides her hands further around his ribs, massaging just above his belt line with the same rhythm Lucifer is using on her shoulders.

As his hot breath whispers over her ear, Chloe shudders.

“Cold?” comes Lucifer’s amused question, with just a touch of concern.

She snuggles further into him, hands wrapping around his back to massage just above the waistband of his trousers.

“Lucifer likes,” in even deeper tones than his question.

“Chloe likes less clothes on her man,” she suggests in that husky tone reserved for her partner.

He chuckles, “As my Queen desires.”

Chloe spins swiftly away from Lucifer, swaying those hips on her way to the bed.

Still got the view from the rear, if haste from the Devil is any indication.

She grins as cufflinks and buttons snap off fabric and clatter to the marble floor behind her.  Chloe snaps off the bedside light, so only the light is provided by the gently flickering candle.  As Chloe pulls back the covers to scoot in, she hears frantic fumbling.  The sounds of Lucifer trying to remove pants and shoes at the same time he strides toward her give her the secret giggles. 

If I make this fun, and a bit of a romp, he’ll never guess.

Chloe giggles and holds the silken black sheet in front of her as a shield.  Lucifer scoops her up, sheet and all.  Holding her above him, he rains kisses onto her face, neck and shoulders.  The bullet on the necklace swings out and bops him on the nose.  He laughs, “Still trying to penetrate me, are you?”

Chloe snickers back, “You seem to like it.”

She is suddenly let down from her position at the end of his arms and smashed against him. 

“Chloe, Chloe, I missed you so,” he admits, gravely and desperate.  “There’s little laughter in Hell, and no cheer to it.”

“Lucifer, together, as a team, we will figure it out,” Chloe vows.  “So you don’t have to go back.”

“It is my, as you humans say, fate,”  Lucifer responds sadly, resigned. Words muffled because his head is buried in her golden hair at the back of her neck.

“And its my fate to be your miracle, and keep you with me, here with our daughter.  I’ll do the boring research,” Chloe vows,  “time travel, prophecies, snarky twin tricks, how to forgive yourself.  You know well how to forgive those you love.”

“Well, I’m not going to forgive this idiotic sheet separating us,” Lucifer complains extravagantly, fighting to unwrap Chloe from it while she is sitting on the sheet, trapping it between them.

Chloe drops a kiss on his hand, struggling to remove the sheet from her shoulder.  He stops attacking the sheet and holds still so she can lick and nip at his hand.  She encourages his other hand, around the sheet and under her orange teddy,  Mollified by the contact, Lucifer flattens his hand against her bare back. 

Chloe squirms underneath the Devil’s touch.  “Mmm, your hands are always so warm.”

“Always hot for you, Detective.”  His voice deepens, “I find fire orange anything on you very attractive.  A Hot Tub fire orange teddy is the ultimate inspiration.”

“Inspiring as this?” Chloe slides her wet tongue up the outside of his finger.

Lucifer groans, the vibration starting at Chloe’s ear and flowing through her core, making her toes twitch.  She shudders again, best nights of her life.  But what makes it the best night for Lucifer?  That is the question.  Perhaps its in the discovery, no its in her kiss.  Sweet kisses, long kisses, tongue tangling kisses.  Kiss on his finger, kiss on his palm, kiss on his wrist.  Ah, there’s what he likes.  The anticipation and the romantic tit for tat.  Her affection, freely given.

She lingers there, with kisses, listening to his breathing grow harsher with every touch of her lips to his skin.  Chloe can feel her body relax into his.  More than usual, the Devil shifts seeking that skin to skin contact along their bodies.  His head dips, kissing around her ear.  The hand at her mouth gradually turns, fingers splayed across her face.  His other hand glides up and down her back, under the teddy, something between a caress and a massage.  Enjoying her power over him, Chloe drags fingertips over his slightly overgrown Dad beard.  She grins, she can make the Devil shiver.

“Are you cold?” she breathes huskily over his ear, trying to remind him of more romantic times.

“Starting to thaw,” Lucifer buries his face in her hair.

A touch uncomfortable with the depth of desperation in his voice, Chloe joshes gently, “I’ll have to keep snuggling you, to warm you up.”

“Lucifer likes.”

Normal words, for Lucifer, but not the usual jaunty, suggestive tone.  As if he doesn’t believe I can forgive him for my misunderstanding his purpose.  Oh, that’s exactly it.  His family took literal eons to forgive him for their own mistakes.  How do I convince him I intend to work through issues, not, what’s the phrase he yells at the sky, cast out forever.    Words won’t do it, everyone, me included, lies to Lucifer.  He desires my touch, my attention, my passions.

“Yes, but what do you like best?  What did you imagine, while you were in H, while you were away?”  She sucks on the tip of his manicured pinkie.  “Did you imagine this or this?” She takes his ring finger deep into her mouth.  When he responds with a deep groan, Chloe then runs her tongue from palm to tip of his middle finger, very slowly.  “Perhaps that,” she asks, eyes fluttering.  He shakes his head, looking at her eagerly.  “Another then,” she suggests and nips at his forefinger, scraping her teeth along the side.  Chloe tips her head, obviously seeking an answer.

“Nothing I imagined was as incredible as what you do now.  Chhhloe, its your love that’s the best, not what we do in bed.  Although,” he rumbles in much deeper tones, “you needn’t stop that thing with your tongue and my thumb.”

Chloe chuckles, having a rhyming Devil beg you is heady thing.  The results of her quiz is also heady, if you count the head of his cock twitching against her thigh, obviously enthused about the possibility of being the next part of his body she runs tests on to see what kisses he likes best.

Lucifer reciprocates by drawing his tongue over the shell of her ear.  “What do you like best, De,arling?”

“I’m not sure yet.” Chloe attempts to coquette, “Perhaps you should continue your investigation.”

“Lucifer likes,” he assures her on a sigh, breathing hot and warm in her ear.

Fire orange teddy is a success.  Lucifer’s not exactly speechless, but he is repeating himself.

Chloe brings both hands up to his face, drawing him towards her.  As foreheads meet in their special kiss, Chloe can feel some of the tension seep out of her partner.

When they separate, she giggles and pushes him backwards.  He lands on the bed, eyes glittering, reaching up towards her.  Chloe smiles back at him, his enthusiasm for bed play pushing away the lingering sulphur aftertaste of his despair. 

She can focus her whole attention on the incredible between them, now that she is not trying to reassure herself the spat she caused would divide them.  Chloe trails light fingers down from his shoulders, just to watch him rise up to her touch.  Lucifer slides his palms up her bare arms, his thumb caressing the crook of her elbow.  She shivers, he shudders.  Chloe shifts from her position seated next to him, and swings one leg over his waist.  She settles on his slim waist, rolling her head back.  He gasps, the ends of her hair have fluttered down to graze his cock.  Lucifer raises one hand to Chloe’s throat, having learned that she will stay in that position while he ghosts gentle fingertips over that gorgeous neck.  She shifts her head to one side, thinking to give him better access, also dragging her still long and glorious hair across his sensitive groin. 

Lucifer looks up into Chloe’s sparking eyes as he groans, this is definitely worth the price of a house call by the exclusive Hollywood hair stylists and sky high mark up on all of their products.  Chloe squirms again as he fingers the correct spot on her neck and just like the piano she does respond to his deep and dark vibrations.  Ohh, she likes that, her panties that separate them are now dampening the section of his stomach just below his belly button.

This negligee is going to be the end of him.  The panties divide them, the tail end of the peignoir is making frenemies with his twitching cock.  And truly, he’d rather have the Detective’s hair float over him.  The lace on the teddy is scratching his tip, and not always in a pleasant way.  Perhaps he has again become vulnerable around the Detective.  Never mind, he can slide his hands up under the negligee and lift it away.  Chloe approves of this and shifts so Lucifer can remove the garment completely.  He flings it off the bed to Chloe’s giggles.  She leans forward and kisses his chest.  “You can take off the rest, if you like.”

“Ooh, Lucifer likes.  Very much.” His eyes roam over every inch of skin revealed as he draws the panties away.

“Less chatter, more letting those musical fingers play, oooh, my rump has felt so flat from all the sitting.” Chloe lays down fully on top of him.

“Lucifer knows you need some tuning,” he teases, smugly, talented piano playing fingers massaging her delectable rear.

“I what now?” Chloe asks, the tiny sharpness in her tone muffled as her indignation was not enough to have her lifting her head off Lucifer’s chest.

“Some, how do the kids say it, TCL.” Lucifer suggests.

As usual, his partner believes the best of him, “Tender Care, Loving?” She shifts her head to look him in the eyes, to convey her belief in his goodness.

“L, love youo, Chloe,” Lucifer stammers, her name his one certain song.

Chloe wriggles backwards, so her moist center connects with his tip.

“D,darling.” His voice cracks.

“You are not sounding very in tune, Lucifer.” Chloe grins smugly.

“I’ll sing anything you desire,” his voice drops a register, “as long as you don’t move.”

“Don’t? move?” Chloe draws out the vowels, a twinkle in her eye.

Lucifer’s cock jumps in response to her husky reply and the soft question in the warmth of her gaze. 

“Perhaps, a little, slowly,” Lucifer directs, hopefully.

“Backwards?” Chloe slides slowly back along his length.  “Or forwards,” she drags herself along his cock, just skimming over him.

“I’m not sure.  Lucifer wonders slyly, “Can you ask again, including the demonstration?”

“Silly.” Chloe rejoins cheerfully, easing sloowly backwards again.  When she stops at the base of his cock it pulses again.  “Mmm,”  his thighs jerk in response to her pleasure vocalized.  Chloe can see the wonder on his face that anyone would ponder what to do to bring the Devil pleasure.  That’s hot too, that she can be the first to see him for who he is and assist him with with.  Um, well, Lucifer is desperately panting underneath her, maybe she should use her currently limited powers of concentration to reward him for his restraint.  Her fingers find his gently, tracing them.  He shifts under her, pleasure streaming from anywhere she touches to his cock, soaked in her juices, throbbing in time with her caresses.

Chloe draws his hand up to her mouth, licking then sucking the top of his pinkie.  “Perhaps now I will be able to tell what you desire,” Chloe winks.

“Question me anytime, Detective, any body part you want.”  Which one he wants her to experiment on is perfectly clear in the way his other hand pushes down on her hip, the better to have her pressed firmly against his cock.  She glides forward, then takes ring finger in her mouth, sliding down on it and backwards over his cock at the same time.  He tenses, clearly preparing to flip them around.  Chloe runs her finger along his lips, as if to zip them shut.

“Nah uhn, I’m asking the questions here.” Blue eyes sparkle.

“Detective Minx, as you wish, always.” His brown eyes flicker with the fire she feeds.

Chloe licks middle finger from palm to tip as she again slides forward, accompanied by Lucifer’s deep groan.  She nips then at his forefinger, practicing her Kegals on his cock as it twitches in time to the scrap of her teeth.

“Sit back a little, darling,” Lucifer coaxes,  “so I can use my thumb.”

Chloe tips backward, exposing her clit.  His thumb rubs against her as his cock throbs underneath her rhythmically.  She sucks hard on his fingers, he caresses the spot under her ear. The sensations combine and Chloe cums, fluttering over him.  When she collapses on top of him, her partner wraps his arms around her, shifting his legs flush with hers.  He tips his head to the crown of hers, breathing in deeply several times.

“What smells so good, Lucifer?” Chloe asks dreamily, as she catches her breath.

“The scent of pleasured Detective, my darling.  I’ve satisfied many a desire, but yours was the most thrilling for me.  Granted, I am the king of desire.”

“But not modesty,” Chloe giggles, the slight movement of her soaked cunt against his tip causing his cock to jump.

As she lays across his chest recovering, the head of Lucifer’s cock is fluttering against her entrance and his knees bend, trying not to thrust into her.  “Shhhh,” she directs, putting a hand on his knee.  Once he stills, Chloe lines him up and squirms her way down.  He is open mouth and panting beneath her, heavy lidded eyes intensely focused on her.

“With me, this time, okay,” she entreats, in the husky, only for him tone.

“In.cred.ible,” Lucifer’s tone drops deeper with every syllable.  He continues to whisper sweet nothings in her ear as she rocks above him.  When he starts to rise up and rock into her, she sinks down.  His cock slides over the correct spot in her and the beginning of her second orgasm triggers his first.  Each spurt lessens the lingering tension of separation, mental and physical, past and potential,.

Mid coital recovery, Lucifer is lazily stroking through Chloe’s hair as she lays snuggled aside of him.   “Mmm?” from Lucifer as he looks down to see her hand drifts from one freckle to another on his chest.  “Connecting the dots,” Chloe responds with a giggle.

“Ah, carry on, Detective,” Lucifer closes his eyes to enjoy the moment of peace.

“Whaa?” Chloe feels Lucifer jerk, turning his head instantly towards the sound coming from his closet, now all sharp edges, ready for battle with whatever is wailing outside their room.

Chapter Text

Chloe lays a calming hand gently on the chest, reminding him softly, “Its Rory, hungry and probably wet.”  She scrambles away to get a squalling Rory.  Chloe grabs cotton underwear out of the drawer and stumbles into it as she heads for the walk in closet where the bassinette resides.

When she returns with the now wailing Rory, Chloe praises, “You’ve gotten everything we need – changing pad, new diaper, wipes, nursing pillow.”

“Yes, had to do something while I held my breath til your return,” Lucifer whispers, eyeing his own fidgeting with the box of wipes as there’s no cufflinks on his robe.

Here’s a first, I’m reduced to stumbling through another’s verse, the lesser known lyrics to a song, instead of finding my own words for my first love.  I’ll have to provide Ms. Wyndham with some opportunities of her choosing.  Perhaps she would appreciate one of her songs as mood music for a TV episode.

“My love will never die,” Chloe recites in response.  “You might disappear, but you are never forgotten, Lucifer.”  Throughout the speedy diaper change, they don’t talk, but let their constant touching of each other express what they can’t articulate.  Especially with their daughter’s increase in volume to indicate her growing hunger.

Still silent, they climb onto the bed and Lucifer envelopes them with those white wings once again to provide warmth for his family.  As she nurses Rory calmer, Chloe can feel Lucifer relaxing with the proof he can provide emotional and practical support for his family.

“You have settled into parenthood quite well, Lucifer, in spite of your protests about sticky fingers,” Chloe kisses his bicep to support her words of praise.  He returns the affection by rubbing his face slowly against the crown of her head.  His feathers fluff slightly against her skin in their own caress. 

As she rubs her face along his contour feathers, Lucifer inhales sharply, then holds it.  He is very still, as well.

“You could bring them out, other times, if you wanted,” Chloe suggests carefully, again rubbing her face across the feathers.  “For stimulating adult activities.”

“Thank you, Detective,” Lucifer replies in formal tones, “I’m still adjusting to having them cosseted again.  That much ‘stimulation’ might truly wreck me.”

Chloe promptly shifts her head away from his wing, “Well, I knew my flirting is awkward, but I didn’t intend for it to be a downer.”  She leans over, adjusting the nursing pillow then stroking Rory’s arm.

Unable to stand the silence, Lucifer confesses, “There’s been nothing of a, an affectionate nature for the wings since before the Fall, unless you count Maze cutting them off.”

“The wings are virgin territory?”  Chloe blurts, then hangs her head again.

Lucifer huffs with humor at himself, “I begin to understand why you object to my innuendoing whilst working.  Its very vexing, this shift from pleasuring to deducing.  Haven’t felt this disoriented since I came up in the 1950’s and all the hot women were wearing snug jeans.  No one wore them like Marilyn, though.  Except you, my love.”

“Good save,” Chloe comments dryly.  “But truly, no one has, you didn’t?”

“Hated both sets,” Lucifer fumes.  “The white fluffy ones currently so enamored of you would take away a person’s consent,” he sulks.   “All parts of the Devil terrify humans, had to hide that whilst on Earth.”

“But you’ve kissed Eve with the Devil face,” Chloe objects. “After the bar fight where you got skewered by a pool stick and were so angry with me, I came to the Penthouse to try and patch things up with you.   I left when saw Eve kissing you.  You were in Devil form, but I left because I was embarrassed Eve could accept easily what I struggled with.”

“Is that what that was?  There was so much more sensation with that kiss than anything before with Eve.  In that moment, I thought, I believed that someone else made me vulnerable, that perhaps I was supposed to be the Devil Eve wanted.”

When Chloe sniffles, Lucifer peers around to see a tear rolling down her face.

“Bollocks.  Darling, here now, I will leave you and Rory to it,” Lucifer scrambles away from them, clearly ready to flee bed and room.

“Lucifer, don’t leave again just because something you did upsets me, or to protect me.” Chloe objects, just catching his fingertips with hers.  She continues sadly, “We both do that too often.  I am sad about how often we are separated because of our own misconceptions.”  She jokes wetly,  “Its ridiculous to be star crossed lovers when you actually made the stars.”

Lucifer smiles at her in the soft, unbelieving way he has and slides his hand into hers.  He climbs back onto the bed, snuggling behind her.

And now, how to distract her. Too many feels here.  One thing we always do well together is solve the case.  But what’s open at the moment, to speculate about? 

The Devil clears his throat and begins Operation Divert the Detective from her dismay,  “Has Ms. Lopez recovered from seeing Charlotte as a ghost?”

“Lucifer, you know that Ella brought up the topic of ghosts with Carol, right?”

“Yes, and that rotter Corbett joked in return, asking her how many rooms the inherited mansion had in her 'Ghosts LA’ fan fic,” Lucifer’s eyes flicker red at anyone disparaging his friend.

“Lucifer, I think he meant it as a compliment.   Better than just ‘I’m done here.’ as a reply to her start at a big reveal.” Chloe whispers, “Like I did.”

“Do not feel guilty, darling,” Lucifer hastily reassures.

NO guilt, no guilt, mustn’t be any guilt for her.  How do I make it my fault?

Lucifer blurts, “It was wrong of me to assume you could instantly accept something so far out of your experience.  I suppose we must also, for now, give Corbett the benefit of the doubt.”

“What could we do,” Chloe wonders, “to give them a second chance?”

“Encourage her to visit the bird rescue more,” Lucifer responds sarcastically, “any one will look like a solid catch compared to my worthless twin.”

Chloe chuckles, “We know she likes her bad boys, but …”

“Best not to think on it, Detective,” he mock shudders, there is some truth to his action.

“Eeecup,” from baby Rory.

“Quick, Lucifer, the bigger burp cloth!”

Chapter Text

Upon his arrival outside the bird rescue and rehabilitation facility, Lucifer pulls up the tracking app on his phone to determine Michael’s exact location.  He can sense his twin, but why not be sure that the devices are working correctly.

Per the Detective’s advice, Lucifer strides through the bird rescue towards his twin’s quarters.  He had wanted to fly in, but Chloe had recommended against his desire to rub Michael’s nose in his defeat.  As he walked, Lucifer reflected on the advice laden conversation with the Detective.

“You are there to parley, Lucifer, and gather information.  Remember, he did request this interview, through Ella, saying he wanted to come clean about a prior misdeed by contacting his ‘community service employer,’ you,” Chloe pats the lapels of Lucifer’s pristine suit affectionately, “although she doesn’t know that.    You’ve seen me start with basic, non confrontational questions first, the better to lure people to confiding in me.  You, Mr. Not Jedi, will be able to discern if Michael is lying.” Chloe grins reassuringly.

“And if he is, or wastes my time?” Lucifer starts his brooding at having to interact with his twin.

Chloe grins, knowingly, “Then go full Devil mode on him.  Or blind him with those pretty white wings.  Dealer’s choice.”

And she bloody winked at me, as if either were choices I wanted.  Thinking of things unwanted, here’s Michael.

“Miguelito, Miss Lopez indicated you wished to speak with me,” Lucifer tries his Detective’s tactic of starting with a neutral fact with which everyone should agree.

“Right, Scraps indicated that in order to move forward, I had to right the wrongs I had committed,” Michael admits as he shuffles from one foot to another.

“Very well.  There must be plenty from which to choose.” Lucifer sweeps his hand across his body majestically as invitation for Michael to continue, haughty royalty condescending to a lesser subject.

“Remember I said I planted that aerosol poison near the Throne.”  Michael examines his wriggling toe through the hole in his swan poop encrusted boots.

“Yes,” Lucifer barely refrains from snarling his answer.  The Detective has counseled that an patient, agreeable tone will elicit more details than one full of anger, rage or threats.

Michael presses good hand against the curled up one, straightening it out.  “I, er, never removed it.  Don’t know why you weren’t affected, but Amenadiel… “ Michael gestures towards the heavens.

“You absolute rat.  I’m going to pray to Amen’diel right now, informing him.”   Lucifer prays to his older brother, one eye cracked open to monitor Michael’s actions.

As Lucifer communicates with the eldest, Michael backs away from his increasingly red eyed twin.

“Into to your PIT,” Lucifer points to the hut, arm straight, standing tall, the better to intimidate the hunched over Michael.

The defeated angel limps into his current living quarters, the expanded custodian closet.

Lucifer waves a hand to lock the hut doors and launches toward Heaven to help Amenadiel remove the poison without debilitating all the angels.

Upon his return to the bird sanctuary, Lucifer once again waves a hand at the hut.

After the locks click open, Michael eases out slowly, scanning the area.  He leaves the door open and stands in the threshold, still blinking against the bright noon time California sun.

“The poison has been eliminated, Michael,” Lucifer informs his brother crisply.  “Do you have other confessions?”

“Scraps said that once I confessed and the wrong was righted, it would remove a burden from me.”  Michael sounds like he is reciting memorized lines.

“And?” Lucifer wants to lead Michael to divulge more information.

“I, did she not mean one of my punishments?” Michael pulls up the sleeve of the coveralls, showing his oozing barbed wire cuts, then glances behind him at the toothbrush hanging alongside the foaming pail of concrete cleaner.  He shifts his entreating gaze to Lucifer.

There’s a sight I thought I’d never see.  Michael wondering if I will grant him a favor.

“No, Michael, she meant the burden of your guilt.  Which, obviously, you didn’t feel any or you would have reported this sooner.” Lucifer snarls.

“Sa, Lucifer, sorry.” Michael holds his hands up in the air in an attitude of surrender.  “Didn’t know what the uneasy feeling was.”  In a whisper, “there’s so damn many of them.”

I am in no way going to encourage Michael to ‘explore’ his feelings with me. Ick.

“Ah, however, in the spirit of wanting to encourage you to volunteer information about your past transgressions,”  Lucifer steers the conversation away from pesky emotions. “I have discussed with the team appropriate responses.” 

“Dis, discussed with team?  Does everyone know, then?”

“Whilst I am gratified to see the look of horror on your face, Michael, no not everyone.  There’s no explaining it to Miss Lopez without a big reveal for which none of us seem quite ready.”  Lucifer shakes his head at the foolishness of protection through ignorance, again.

Michael lets out one long breath of relief.

Lucifer continues, “Also, you are showing some modicum of intelligence, following Miss Lopez’s instructions, even if it is in your own blundering manner.  A suitable reward was negotiated.”

“Reward?”

“This,” Lucifer holds up a demon chain, sans barbed wire points.  “You may change into this less cutting shock collar for the body.”

“That’s all?” Michael deflates.

“I can leave with it.” Lucifer spins on his heel, more than ready to leave Michael in the more painful collar.

“No, no, I’ll take it.” Michael fast shuffles after Lucifer.

Lucifer steps back quickly, “Out of the one you are wearing first.”  He gestures Michael to change in the shadow of the supply closet turned prison coop.  The maintenance area has been off limits to visitors and staff since Michael was locked in the cave, but why take chances.  Also, the less clearly he sees his twin’s naked body, the better.  Bleach, I need bleach stat for that image.

After Michael shucks his heavy coverall, the thundersnow crackle of battle ready angel wings manifesting in this plane can be heard.  That harsh sound created when falling snow is slashed by the lightning heat freezes Michael in his place.  He covertly peeks, yep, the sound mirrors the coldness of his twin’s stance, the lightning contained in Lucifer’s eyes.

“Remember, do you?”

“Hard to forget.  The last thing I heard before my right side was skewered.”

Lucifer waits his brother out.

Michael sniffs, “I thought the ozone smell was my blood oozing out, but apparently its you, defiant, like lightning in winter.” 

“Remember, like an unusual rumble of thunder in snowy clouds, my success may have been a long time coming, but the storm changed all, washing away your limited triumph.”  The Devil’s resonating tones echo through Michael’s body, much as the thunder of winter lightning vibrates the earth.

“Alright, I get it.  This last time, I lost, you won.”

“Do you get it, brother mine, consummate liar and inveterate betrayer? Do you?” Lucifer’s defensive ice blade feathers are on glittering display.    

“I yielded.”

“And now?”

“Won’t threaten you, or yours.  Won’t foment rumors.  Definitely won’t, can’t, assume your identity.”

A familiar turn of phrase, but where, when and to whom?  IN Hell when I found out that Michael was masquerading as me is when I used that phrase last to Amenadiel.  Is this a twin thing coming back with Micheal and I on the same plane or has Amenadiel been chattering where he shouldn’t?  Either way, its time to remind my dickhead twin I’m the one with power and access now.

“Do not forget ever, brother mine, just as the thundersnow combines icy winter clouds and Stygian inferno, I am now the one with the ability to travel to Heaven and Hell, deciding justice and punishments.”

“We neither of us learned mercy from the ‘rents, did we?”

At this truth from Michael,  the white wings tinged icicle purple flare fully, raised high in attack readiness.  In spite of this, Lucifer waves a hand to disengage the barbed shock collar.  It flies through the air, seeking its Master’s outstretched hand.

“Better, I learned decency from the humans.”  Lucifer continues, in dark Devil threat tones,  “I already knew how to keep my word.”

As Michael slides into the new shock collar, Lucifer warns, “Remember, at the first sign of any malicious act on your part, your ‘reward’ will be the wrapping of this old collar around your lying body so tightly that every single newly sharpened rusted barbed point sinks just below your skin.”  To draw his twin’s attention to the threat in his words, Lucifer shakes the demon steel device at his brother.

Lucifer hurls the barbed collar just past Michael’s right side so closely that the wind of its passing disrupts his unruly locks.  The collar whizzes towards the interior side of the entry door.  The metal barbs snag on the uneven splinters of the open wood door.  As a red eyed Lucifer glares at it, the links of the demon steel heat and start smoking, melding the chain onto the surface of the door.  Still glowing with the flames of Hell, rusted barbed points poke out of the charred wood.

“Remember, Michael, every time you go in or out that door just what I have the power to do to you,”  the Fallen Angel’s red eyes flicker with the fires of Hell.   “If you need more of a reminder than that, mirrors can be installed,”   In reverberating tones of the Devil in command, Lucifer threatens,  “You will be able to see the mark I left on your face and hear the flapping of wings at the same time.”

Michael shudders, cringing slightly.

“I see you understand me then.  Remember, in spite of your illusions and slander mongering to the contrary, I don’t lie.”  Lucifer flicks the great white wings from weapons to feathers and launches from ground to sky in the blink of an eye.  The Detective had said nothing about the method of his exit.

Chapter Text

“Charlie and Rory must have really worn each other out,” Chloe smiles, tipping her head at the high end camera baby monitor.  “Its wonderful, what a play date in the sunshine can accomplish.  They’ve been asleep 2 hours straight without a peep.”

Linda glances at the baby cam.  “I’m going to check Charlie’s bedroom, to be sure.”

Chloe adds, “Of course, I’ll just take notes on which of these psychology books explain about the effects of breadcrumbing and intermittent reinforcement.  For research, for Lucifer,”  she suggests.

“To use to counsel the damned out of their guilt,” Linda suggests as she pushes away from the table.

“Absolutely,” Chloe replies, nodding and smiling agreement.

Never knew acting class skills could be so useful as to fool a shrink.

Once Linda disappears down the hall, the false cheer drops from Chloe’s face.

I wonder if Lucifer can counsel himself out of the guilt of only being worth intermittent, if at all, rewards.  No wonder he goes so over the top with gifts, that expensive doll for Trixie and all those gifts wrapped in golden paper for future Rory. 

When she hears someone walking up to the front door, Chloe scrambles to answer it before the doorbell wakes the children.  Outside the door is a flower delivery person, with a beribboned basket containing a pink flamingo.  Chloe signs for it and brings it inside.

“What is it?” Linda asks, slightly suspicious.

“A gift to Rory, from Lucifer.” Chloe continues to read the attached card.

“Oh, no.”  Chloe and Linda share a look of consternation.

“The card says, “Daddy thought of you on his trip.” Linda reads over Chloe’s shoulder.

“He was at the bird rescue, interviewing Michael, so this makes sense,” Chloe explains.  “Near the zoo, there is a billboard for the cruise terminal advertising their gift shop, Last Chance Souvenirs and Gifts.”

Linda looks down at the books and notes scattered over the table,  “You took extensive notes on intermittent rewards?”

“Yep.  This breadcrumb thing, it would really mess someone who had an uncommunicative parent, wouldn’t it?”

“Chloe, you wouldn’t use this against Lucifer, would you?” Linda worries.

“Lucifer, no.” Chloe shakes her head.

“Then whom?”

Chloe shifts her head toward the hallway towards where the children are still sleeping, sending dark looks towards Linda through narrowed eyes.

“OH, him.  That’s still unethical, Chloe.”

Chloe shrugs and tips her head at the therapist.

Linda purses her lips, and returns the shrug.

The doorbell rings again.  Linda answers it this time and brings the gift basket with the blue ribbon into the house.  It contains a giant cardinal, with tuft on the top of its head and red, glowing eyes.

Chloe rushes over, and squeezes it.  The bird squawks and the head vibrates.  She holds onto Linda’s shoulder and laughs.

“We were getting too serious, anyway.  Trust Lucifer to lighten the mood, even when he is not here,” Chloe chuckles affectionately.

“Lucifer must be finished with interviewing Michael, and celebrating.”  Linda switches back to psychologist mode.   “Does he ever visit Michael at the same time, two visits in a row?”

“NO, I want Michael kept off balance,” a vehement Chloe insists.  “What better way than to never know when his ‘community service supervisor’ will arrive.”

“Oh, that’s a real change for you, Chloe,” says the shrink.  “You provide stability and structure for everyone, generally.”

“For Michael, I am providing instability and uncertainty.” At her friend’s doubtful look, Chloe pleads, “Linda, what other weapons do we have?  He’s a freakin’ evil doing ANGEL.  Whose superpower is sensing and amplifying fear.  He’s willing to use a child’s illness to upset his parents,” Chloe gestures at Linda to emphasize her point.  Then she continues to hammer it home,  “Pose as Lucifer to hurt me, he connived to have Dan murdered and tortured my baby in the future, separating Lucifer and I in the present.”

“Don’t you think Lucifer is on guard against his tricks?”

“Lucifer?, who forgives family so easily,” Chloe is incredulous at her friend’s naivete.  Ever the Detective, she lists her evidence,  “Forgave his mum for all her plots against me, forgave his Dad, forgave Amenadiel.  To say nothing of what he forgave me and Rory for doing to him.”

“I see your point,” Linda agrees.  Dr. Martin surmises,  “You want to wage a psychological campaign against Michael, to protect us from his manipulations by keeping him off balance.”

“Yes.”  Chloe decides to turn the tables on the psychologist pause for their patient to figure something out for themselves.  Linda is not the only one who knows that people chatter a confession into the silence.  And whose career depends on her ability to stay silent and wait for people to fill the silence with their loose tongues.

“We can talk our way out of it, if we need to.” Linda debates their options, if caught.

“Yes.  Done subtly, Lucifer won’t notice.  Maze won’t expect it of us, no one would.”

“Less said, the better.”

“Yep.”

“Chloe, it could backfire.” Linda worries.

“I can’t unring the fire bell, now can I?” Chloe counters, hands on hips, defending her idea.

“No, Chloe you can’t.  You can choose not to act,” Linda counsels.

“The way I choose not to fire the gun,          most of the time.”  Badass Detective attitude is useful for Chloe when dealing with celestial craziness.

“Frightening, but yes, okay.” Linda responds, voice calm but eyes wide.

The women exchange glances full of consternation when they hear a van stop in front of Linda’s house.  Linda peers out her front window.

“Oh good yet another delivery.  The ultimate in outdoor toddler toys,” Linda’s tone becomes that of a radio advertiser, hawking their wares. “A caterpillar tunnel, bubble mowers and something that’s a cross between very colorful wind chimes and a Xylophone.”

Chloe chuckles at Linda’s testy tone, both relieved they haven’t been found out instantly (blasted angelic hearing) and exasperated at yet more gifts and packages.  So like Lucifer to inspire, with just one action, feelings at opposite ends from each other for those who know him best.

When Linda returns from signing for the delivery, Chloe grumbles, “Linda, none of these books tell me how I am supposed to keep Trixie from getting her hopes up, about Dan being able to stay.”

“Or your hopes either, about Lucifer being able to stay?” Linda digs deeper than Chloe would like.

Chloe tosses another tome onto the discard pile, “Nope, not in these books.”

“You might look to real world examples, Chloe,” Linda suggests pragmatically.

“Like what?”

“I was thinking that Lucifer’s trips are like deployments, to enemy territory, for a spy,” Linda suggests.   “There’s no communication, you are worried about his safety and mental health.”

“Ummph, all true, but what do I do?” Chloe grips.

Linda and Chloe hear the now familiar sound of a van pulling up in the driveway.  They both rush to the door at the sound of a tailgate lift.  The new driver has a truck full of extravagantly wrapped boxes with gigantic foil bows, some gold, some red, others chocolate.  A pink tricycle is lifted from the back of the van next, followed by a blue one.

“Oh, no,” the moms chorus, again.  Chloe rolls her eyes, while Linda purses her lips, what do you do with such overflowing generosity.

“It’s the entire van, ladies,” the delivery guy warns.  “Want it in the house, or here?”

“On the driveway, as usual, is fine,” Linda instructs with the surety of experience.

Chloe looks an enquiry at Linda.

“It saves time.  The guy I hired to take the gifts to the storage units charges less if he doesn’t have to cart boxes through doorways and across the lawn.”

“Is he looking for more work?” Chloe asks, adding,  “Its not everyone who can be trusted.”

“He is a cousin of Patrick’s.”

With that bit of reassurance, Chloe and Linda go back into the house.

Linda admits, “I’ve had to look for ways to explain Amenadiel’s absence to Charlie.  And something Charlie could repeat to adults that won’t draw too much attention.  The pool of babysitters is going to be very limited once he understands.”

“I didn’t help you, as much as I could.” Chloe admits. 

Too steeped in my own misery and Trixie’s while Lucifer was gone.

She vows,  “I’ll be a better tribe member from now on.”

Hearing another big vehicle pull up, the women go to the doorway.  On the street, a  minivan parks behind Chloe’s cruiser.  Both of them gape when Lucifer steps out of the family oriented vehicle, which is painted the signature red of the soles of the exquisite Louboutins he is sporting.

At their astonishment, Lucifer asks uncertainly, “This is what good parents drive, is it not?”

Chloe rushes across the lawn to him and wraps her arms around him tightly.  “Of course it is, you big dork.”

He brightens the way he always does when Chloe touches him.  Eyes gleaming, expression bright and eager for fun, body canted towards her, still surprised by her affection.

I really should concentrate on the case, but here he is in all his glory, ready for the fun and adventure missing in my life for so long.  Gotta do more to encourage the bouncy partner in both of us.

“This is real, isn’t it, us being a happy family?” he bends down to press his forehead against hers.

Lets just both absorb and relish all this tenderness that the world doesn’t often show us.  Whilst I figure out how to pack up my research without him realizing I intend to weaponize Linda’s psychology theories to protect all of us from Michael.

Afterwards, Lucifer relaxes further when Chloe smiles up at him, “You really do want to be a parent,” she asserts, pointing behind him to the minivan.

“Yes, of course, darling.”  With great concern in his voice, Lucifer beseeches,   trepidation clear, “What ever gave you the idea I didn’t wish to be a parent?”

“You were enthusiastic when I showed you the results of the pregnancy test, but things got so weird after that,” Chloe rolls her eyes, “even by our standards.”  With remembered pain in her voice, she reproaches,  “Then you left again.”

“No, no more leaving.  At least not unprepared   I’ve already transferred money and property into your name and in trust for the Urchin and Gamine.  What else would you need, in my my absence?”

Chloe jokes sourly, “Maybe we should just buy a house, near Linda’s.  We could stock it with all the toys from today.”  She points to the present filled driveway.

When Lucifer focuses on all the gifts stacked in the driveway, he admits “Perhaps I overdid, maybe acted a little rashly with the gift giving?”

Doctor Linda probes, “Why?”

“To celebrate, I suppose, escaping once again the Hell loop of interviewing Michael, even for a short time?” 

Lucifer must trust us both, he is actually looking us in the eye while making this admissions, not fiddling with his cuffs.  I hate that we have to return to Michael repeatedly, listening for discrepancies in his recitations of his awful deeds.  Each session is harder on Lucifer than the last.  What other crimes might we find that Michael orchestrated?

“Do you think Amenadiel will recover completely, from the poison?” Linda wonders anxiously.  

“He is improving already, Doctor,” Lucifer reassures.  “I checked on him after I left Michael.”

Linda wonders, “Why do you think the poison didn’t work on you, Lucifer, when you sat on the Throne?”

Chloe jokes, “He never sits still so he didn’t inhale the poison long enough to become unfocused.”

“How clever, Detective, your notable instincts solve the case once again.  Just like you noticed something was off with Amenadiel right after you gave birth.” Lucifer praises.

“Brown boots and boring middle name,” Chloe agrees wryly. “Yep, always sensible, that’s me.”

Lucifer disagrees, vowing, “Always incredible, Detective.”  And hands her a gift box, bowing in that courtly way he has.

Chloe explores the wrapping paper and the sea green bow. 

“Carefully, love, its not breakable, but it is delicate,” Lucifer warns.

As he holds the package, Chloe lifts off the top of the box, handing it to Linda.  Pulling away the tissue paper, Chloe gently lifts the beige paperback with red letters out of the box.

Linda reads out, “Beeton’s Christmas Annual, A Study in Scarlet.”

“Ohh,” Chloe gasps, “The first Sherlock Holmes story published.  Lucifer, what edition is this?”

“The first one, of course, inscribed by A.C.”  his incredulous tone making Chloe realize that he is amazed she doesn’t know he would always acquire the best for her.

Chloe pushes the book and box towards Linda.

“Did you not like… OHmmph,  you do like it then,” Lucifer realizes as Chloe hugs him tight.

Chapter Text

“Answer the question,” the Detective demands,  “with every last detail, Michael, how did you trick Rory into the Hell loops?” Over the ‘predator on the loose’  warning chattering of caged birds, Chloe commands, “Let him have enough air to speak, Lucifer!”

“Detective,” objects Lucifer, still strangling Michael against the crumbling cave wall of his quarters at the bird sanctuary, “why does it matter how he bamboozled Rory?  Who cares?” Lucifer growls.

“I CARE,” Chloe shouts back at him.

“Why?” Lucifer protests, eyes flickering red.

“Because this is the most important case of our lives, Lucifer.” Chloe declares.  “We need to discover every last detail so we know better how to help Rory of the future recover from what Michael put her through.”  Blue eyes imploring, She whispers “to help her remember her actual, happy childhood, with you.”

Lucifer drops Michael like a dead, oozing insect and stalks to his customary place, two steps diagonal from Chloe’s bootheel, his regular spot as her ‘civilian’ consultant.  From this spot, he has learned, he can protect the Detective whilst she grills suspects methodically.  With an added bonus of being able to flash red Devil eyes at  recalcitrant interviewees without subjecting Chloe to the manifestation of his anger.

Now unconfined, Michael shakes his head hard enough that his dark curls, liberally streaked with white strands, swish with the movement.  Dust and pebbles create a brown cloud around his head.  Chloe notes with some satisfaction that he’s gone past lanky to wiry thinness, snarky self assuredness replaced with the strain of desperation, reminiscent of the food insecure. 

With eyes of Stygian dark, broken by flickering flames, Lucifer growls at his brother, “Answer her questions fully, Michael, or we will return to my methods of interrogation.  We can discover, if even without wings, if the spot on an angel’s back that connects realms at wing to collar bone is still our Achilles’ heel.”  To be sure his tormentor is clear on how the discovery would happen, Lucifer yanks the habitat protection rails out of the ground and twists the metal as if it were dough.

Chloe takes a deep breath to reset, “How did you lure Rory into the Hell loops?”

“Told her she could see exactly how her father deserted her, even if she was too young to remember.”

Lucifer yanks serrated rebar out of the crumbling concrete and snaps one guard rail post out of the ground.  The Devil drags the rebar, slowly, over the end of the post, honing it to a slicing point.  At Chloe’s sharp side eye glare, Lucifer stops with the noisy sharpening.  He keeps the metal items menacingly at the ready, sharp pointed improvised scythe sized scalpels clenched in his fisted hands.

“And how did you arrange the illusion for that?  The demons can’t portray Lucifer.” Chloe takes the opportunity to show Michael she has learned some basics about Hell.

During the pause for Michael’s answer, Lucifer slides rebar over metal guard rail.  His angelic twin cringes at the discordant slow grind, the menacing sound the total opposite of Heaven’s melodious harmonies.

Michael watches his foot scuff the pebbles, crumbles from the cave wall Lucifer ground his back against.  “I, um, we do, did look alike, you know.  I impersonated Lucifer here,” Michael gestures at his twin.  “Said I was ‘trapped in my own kingdom now with the guilt I felt.  I hoped by confessing all to her that I could get out of Hell.’”

“You impersonated Lucifer in a Hell loop with Rory to make her hate her father,” Chloe concludes.  There is a whoosh behind her and the ominous crack heralding a sudden change of pressure to which Chloe pays little mind.  Lucifer is at her back.

Michael cringes, trying to ooze into the cave wall to escape from a now spike winged Lucifer, whose red eyes flicker menacingly.  Those bat wings flare up and out, a predator preparing for flight towards its prey.  Wisely the birds in the aviary have stopped chirping, cawing and flapping in hopes they will not be noticed by the carnivorous Pterodactylus which has suddenly materialized in their midst.

“How did you both guide Rory to the Hell loop, and then appear in it?” the Detective (future Queen of Hell) continues her questioning, not ruffled by the Devil’s dramatic display.

“Cain has been many things in his lifetime.  He was easy to manipulate in Hell.  Knew some things about Lucifer.  Used them to guide her to the Hell loops, helped me relay some accurate details about you and your other child.”

Chloe is devastated into silence that her blind trust in Cain has created another disaster.  Not just blind trust, but willfully rejecting Lucifer’s concerns.

“Rory, she trusted me.  For a child of homicide detectives, she was awfully gullible.”  Self deprecating, Michael adds, “As if there was more reason to trust me than to fear me.  She never caught on that the same scenes repeated over and over ‘cause I couldn’t get the demons to understand anything else.”

“Which demon stood in for the Detective, or for the Urchin?” Lucifer demands, retribution erupting in the flames of his red eyes.

“Oh, none, I’d no idea Her Highness was so important at that point.”  Michael bows slightly to Chloe.  Neither Lucifer or Chloe can tell if he is sincere or sarcastic with the act of seeming respect.

Like his twin, oblivious to human social clues, Michael continues,  “Or the parasite.”

“Detective, nooow can I beat the snot out of him for being disrespectful?” the unworldly growling of the Devil accompanies Lucifer’s change to supersized form.

“No, Lucifer, that’s not how to encourage truthful confessions.”  The strain of keeping her patience with the posturing of both twins is evident in the narrowing of Chloe’s eyes and crisp tone.  And should she prevent Lucifer from giving his brother a pounding, her judgement is questionable at best.  Dan the gaslighter, Cain the Machiavellian murderer, willfully not believing Lucifer for years.

“Detective, he has confessed to fomenting the disagreements in Heaven that led to the Rebellion, he impersonated me on Earth with you, and tricked Rory into believing I deserted her.  What other piece of my life could he have tampered with, that we need more confessions?”

Chloe eyes widen, the way they do when Lucifer’s outlandish suggestions are actually the simplest answer, “Michael, did you visit other parts of Hell when Lucifer left for his vacations, aside from your time with my daughter?”

He nods, concentrating on his scuffed workboots.

“And what else did you do in Hell?   Don’t make me ask a thousand questions to draw a statement out of you.”  Chloe deliberately reminds Michael of Lucifer’s threats of lingchi.  “When you explored more of Hell than the Loop you lured Rory into?”

“Kind of agitated the demons.”  Michael once again flattens his semi paralyzed hand against the stronger one, the motion that reminds Chloe so much of Lucifer, deflecting by fussing with his cuffs.  “Most recently might have pretended to reminisce about the benefits of possessing a body topside.” 

“YOU were responsible for Dromos and Squee’s surfacing?” an indignant Lucifer strides towards Michael, then strides back and forth in front of his twin, laser focused on staying between him and the Detective.

“Err, that was their choice?” pitch of his voice rising, Michael tries once more to ooze into the rock wall behind him.

“After you incited an insurrection.”  Lucifer details the results of his twin’s scheming,  “Michael, as a result of your knavery, the demons came topside and killed humans.  Granted, some were not great humans, but Dad’s directive was clear.  Its their blood on your hands.”

“And you’ve no blood on yours, I suppose,” Michael retaliates.

Chloe refutes hotly, “Lucifer never ‘tempted’ anyone to hurt another or themselves.”  More calmly, “He always looked for another way.”  She puts a hand out to her now stock still partner.  Motionless is never a good sign where Lucifer is concerned.  Hoping to jolt him out of his tendency to blame himself, Chloe whispers to her partner, “One more crack about you and I’m going to forget my part in ‘good cop, bad Devil’ as an interrogation technique.”  The Detective vows,  “I’ll go straight to avengeful Queen.”

Lucifer looks at her hand resting calmly on his ravaged leathery arm, and shakes his head, moving to stand behind her again.  He readily folds leathery appendages into the pocket dimension and morphs from oversized Devil to overtall civilian partner.

“We are finished here, for today,” Chloe decides.  Lucifer nods, winging an arm at her as escorts did in days of old.

Michael taunts, “Just going to leave, like Father dismissed us when we didn’t meet his standards.”

Lucifer spins around with enough speed that everyone can hear the crackle of wings in their pocket dimension, even when they don’t appear on the earthly plane.  “What do you want, Michael?  Some kind of acknowledgement that we appreciate your divulging the transgressions you committed to sabotage my life and reputation.”

Michael just stands there, waiting, hopeless.

“Fine, alright.”  Lucifer snaps, “We appreciate your detailing some of the many ways you’ve wreaked havoc on my life and reputation.”  After a great sigh, “I suppose you could be actually trying to make amends.”

“What a ringing endorsement.” Michael snarks.  “Donn’t know if yer reluctant lukewarm acknowledgment is better or worse than Daaad’s indifference.

Lucifer is unsure if Michael’s slurring is a sign of disrespect for God, the universe in general, Lucifer himself, or perhaps his twin loathes himself.

“Michael, the switch from unconditional surrender by you to parole, or in this case, tolerance, doesn’t happen overnight.  I don’t lie.”  Lucifer straightens up even taller, assuming his King of Hell persona, looks his twin straight in the eyes and     grinds out,  “I admit there is the minutest possibility you are trying to make amends.”

Squinting at Lucifer’s fingers, held a bare millimeter apart, Michael gives his one shoulder shrug, “’Suppose that’s better than ‘Mum’s’ lovebombing when she thought she could get something out of you.”

“What a ringing endorsement.” Lucifer mocks, deliberately parroting Michael’s phrasing back at him.  The Devil turns his attention away from family annoyances  and towards his partner, truly the better (best) view.

“Alright, Detective, Michael and I agree on something.  Neither of us actually trust the other one or, frankly, want to.  Detective, you are correct as usual and we are finished here.  For today,” Lucifer glares at Michael.

Chapter Text

“Detective, the gamine won’t fall asleep.  She’s full as a tick, been changed twice, burped once.  She has been in bassinette, crib and the bed.  Nothing satisfies her, her face is still all crinkled in distress.   If it could, my voice would be hoarse from all the lullabies sung since her sister finally fell asleep.  Whatever am I doing wrong?” Lucifer looks despairingly at the whimpering baby on the bed.

“Lets try changing her into Trixie’s old footie pajamas.” Chloe lays the faded pajamas on the bed next to Rory.

“But this set she is wearing now is new.” Lucifer whinges.

“Exactly, maybe there’s a seam poking her, or she doesn’t like the new clothes smell.”

“A rough seam, Detective, I will have you know that…”

Chloe lets Lucifer rant on, unsnapping the new clothes.  As she is trying to ease Rory’s arm out of the sleeve, Chloe hears the tell tale gurgle.  There’s no time to do anything but flip her daughter towards her, so she can see Rory’s face for any other distress.

The baby is momentarily relieved by the reduced pressure in her stomach, but the volume and intensity of Lucifer’s complaints increases.  The impassioned, disapproving diatribe distracts Chloe and distresses the baby.

When Rory whimpers again, Chloe snaps, “Lucifer, you, your robe, my lingerie and the bed are not important here.  Hush this instant so I can hear Rory.”

Properly chastised, Lucifer stills, focusing on the baby under Chloe’s hands worriedly.

Chloe’s head comes up as she listens to something outside the room.

“Its not just Rory.  Trixie is having a nightmare.”  Chloe grabs her robe and puts it on over the baby yuck spattered on her.

“Detective?” Lucifer begs (and not the fun way) as Chloe runs out of their bedroom.

“Try and get her cleaned up, Lucifer, if you can.”  Lucifer winces at the doubt in Chloe’s parting remark.

He addresses his next comment to the unhappy baby,  “Well, we must get the mess at least off of you.  Your mother is most clear on that topic and in which order clean up should occur. Baby first, then wardrobe and bedding.”

As Rory waves her now dry and clean fists, Lucifer look askance at the bed with a  teetering pile of linens, top level with his rib cage.

“Now that you are clean-ER, baby gremlin, what’s next?” Lucifer asks.  “In addition to the bedding linens, I think we have gone through every towel in the ensuite to clean and dry you.”

Rory snuffles, unimpressed by the efforts to wipe her clean or the quantity of towels to get there.

“Ah, well the baby books and past experience with you suggest skin to skin contact will soothe the remaining upset.”  Lucifer carefully picks Rory up and sets her against his shoulder.

“I’ll just put a robe on over us, so you stay warm.”  Lucifer is not sure if he is reassuring his daughter or himself about his parenting choices.

As Lucifer walks Rory up and down the length of the bedroom, he catches sight of himself in the full length mirror.

He laughs ruefully, “Darling, even if you didn’t have angelic aptitudes, you have plenty of power.  Here’s the formerly! sharp dressed, devil may care, king of the one night stand, sporting Dad fuzzy pants and robe in his own bedroom.  And, never forget, this with you, is infinitely more important than any flimsy interaction with the glitterati I formerly let in here.”

Rory hiccups gurggily once, still unimpressed.

“Now, none of that,” Lucifer cautions.   “No burps with benefits when you will be spitting up right onto the Devil.  Although, I suppose it would be less to clean up after when I am in only robe and eww, sleep pants.  Last time you expelled onto me unexpectedly, you spewed onto jacket, pocket square, waistcoat, shirt, pants and shoes.  I still don’t know how you aimed it, but in taking off the Louboutins, I managed to step in the yuck, designer socks and all.”  At  Rory’s more cheerful sounding burble, Lucifer agrees,  “Well, it made your sister laugh too, anyway.  She is still not quite returned to the exuberant Urchin I first met.”

Lucifer hangs his head and whispers over his daughter’s back, “Experienced too much of the evil in the world, she did, from knowing me.  Your mother tells me that is not entirely my fault.  ‘You shouldn’t take responsibility for things you can’t control,’ is the exact quote.  Perhaps that means I should control more?”

Rory’s face scrunches up again and she whines her disapproval.

Lucifer cocks his head, listening to the drama outside the bedroom, “You still hear your sister’s distress don’t you?  Blasted angelic hearing.  At least our ears aren’t pointy.  And not much we can do but be there, although that wasn’t enough when I did it, in the Silver City.  I never was enough.”

Rory bubbles at Lucifer, blinking big blue eyes at him.

“Perhaps now, here on Earth, I can be enough.  The books recommend to be there, even if you don’t have useful solution.”

Rory burbles again, accompanied by cooing noises.

“Can’t do what my parents did, and flee or ignore the upset.  Off we go then, Rory, darling,” Lucifer sighs,  “to bravely go where no angel has gone before and stick around for family drama.”  He shakes his head,  “We really should refrain from binging the space operas Miss Lopez recommends.”

His daughter flails her little arms, grabbing at her point of her wrist bone, right where cufflinks would be.

“Right you are my dear, safer than binging Miss Lopez’s other favorite ‘Ghosts.’  Even I might have difficulty song and dancing around the truth of that one.  No more delay, off to face your sister’s demons.”

With the bonus of escaping the mirror that clearly shows how inadequate a parent I am when I am not at the Detective’s bootheel.

Lucifer carries Rory, still snuggled under the robe, into the living room, headed for Trixie’s quarters.  As he gets just past the piano, Trixie runs right at him.  “I want Daddy,” Trixie wails into Lucifer’s robe, wiping her dripping face on his sleeve as she snuffles.

Lucifer, bewildered by the continuous overlapping damp child crises assaulting him, tries to brighten the mood with an inappropriate jest, “This is more bodily fluids than I pictured.  Are we sure this much leakage is really true of children in general, or just yours Detective?”

Chloe snarls, “Too real, isn’t it?”  She continues her tirade, “You asked if this, homey life with all of us together, is real.  Its not just gift giving and chocolate cake.  Welcome to 1am ‘real’ as it gets parenting.”

Focused on the Detective during her rant, Lucifer sees himself reflected in the balcony glass sliders, functioning as a mirror.

No escape from the proof I am not worth her time, Detective, Urchin or Gamine.  The mirror, or in this case the glass, shows the truth, no matter how much I might try to evade it.  Where might I acquire the ‘real’ thing?  The only father role model I might consider would be…

“Of course, Detective.  The real thing.”  At the Lightbringer’s sudden realization, bulbs in the intricate chandelier above their heads begin to twinkle softly.

As Chloe joins them, Lucifer slides Rory into her hands and gently transfers Trixie’s trembling grasp to her mother.  He turns away from them and swiftly strides out of the room, determination to be elsewhere clear in his rigid frame.

Opening the slider, he shrugs out giant white wings, launching above the fake fluorescents into the dark silent stratosphere.

Chapter Text

Trapped in place by upset daughters, Chloe hears, over their snuffles, the slider to the balcony open and the swoosh of wings at takeoff.

“Great, just great,” Chloe grouses.  “He got that ‘I’m not worthy look on his face’ and just winged it out of here and left me with two wailing daughters.  So eager to get away he went barefoot.  Typical.  Story of my life.”

Just as Chloe wonders if the night could contain any more celestial drama, the elevator dings and a determined demon runs into the Penthouse, knives twirling.

“Who vanquished Lucifer?  Why are the small humans wailing away?” Maze demands, bloodlust clear in her eyes, as the emptiness of the last beat of the great wings can be felt more than heard.

Chloe sighs, great, another agitated celestial in the o’dark hundred hours, reupsetting daughters.

Surprisingly, Trixie turns to Eve almost immediately.  “Those men came back, in a dream I had.  And they knew terrible things about me.”

“Terrible things, like where we hid?” a concerned Eve asks.

Trixie buries her head in the first Mom’s shoulder.  Eve hugs her back and nods to Chloe that she’s got this.

After convincing Maze that there is no enemy to vanquish in the Penthouse, Chloe passes Rory to Eve.

With both daughters comforted, Chloe draws Maze to the other side of the bar. 

“Maze,” Chloe yell whispers, “He just keeps leaving, you know.”

“Lucifer comes back to you, every time.  He might flee the yucky emotional stuff, but he does return for another round.  Neither of his parents stuck it through rough times,” Maze counsels.

“To his understanding,” Chloe muses,  “the entire time in Hell, neither parent checked in on him.”

“For millennia,” Maze confirms.  “Only very recently, for Lucifer’s long life, did he find out that ‘Mum’ convinced his Dad not to kill him, but banish him.”

“To Hell,” Chloe laments.   “Where Amenadiel kept shoving him for ages.”

“Angels can hold grudges for generations,” Maze advises. 

“But Lucifer forgave me.” Chloe shrugs, “And you.”

“And his mother, and Amenadiel,” Maze rolls her eyes.  “Devil remember, the winning side did just a little projection.”

“Projection, Maze.” Chloe regards her demon friend with clear amazement.

“Yeah, Linda’s a bad influence.”

Chloe grins, Maze at least is settled down from her previous bloodlust.

And I’m settled down too.  Maze reminded me that Lucifer comes back, again and again.

A squawk from Rory draws Chloe and Maze’s attention.  Now calm enough to not re upset her children, Chloe rescues Eve from a whimpering baby.

3 burp clothes, half a tissue box and 25 long minutes later, Chloe hears wings on the balcony just as demon and daughters settle on Trixie’s bed for the cartoon version of Beauty and the Beast.

“Are you decent, darling?  I brought what the urchin said she needed.”

From pariah to powerhouse.  There’s not many beings the Devil addresses with a placating tone and who can convince demons to cease with the destruction.  How many times has Lucifer’s wall of alcohol been restored?

Chloe hears 2 pairs of male footsteps stopping  and then Lucifer’s complaints,  “Really, Daniel, do you not think its enough my daughter regurgitated everything she’d eaten ever onto herself, the Detective, clothes, bedding and myself and then your daughter used my silk robe as a handkerchief in which to dry her tears and blow her nose.  Must you spew the contents of the Paddock all over my Italian leather couch?”

“Daddy,” Trixie comes running out of the bedroom.

Lucifer yells, “Stop! Child you will slip in the, bollocks you already have.”

Chloe, fretful Rory in her arms, comes around the piano to see Lucifer, bare feet centered in Dan’s mess, kneeling in the muck to catch Trixie before her head connects with the hard marble floor.

When his legs go one way and Trixie the other, white wings fan out to stabilize Lucifer and his burden.  The edge of one wing smacks into the couch causing the mess on it to fly up into the air.  Just as Ketchup is attracted to white clothes, so mustard yellow vomit lands on white feathers.  Much of the mess would have landed on Trixie, but angel wings were having none of that and shielded her from the chunky smelly liquid.

Rory starts bubbling, instead of wailing.  Behind her, however, Maze shrieks with laughter.

“Oh, no Luce,” Eve is the only one slightly sympathetic to Lucifer’s plight.  “I’ll find clean towels.”  She rushes to the guest bathroom, muffling her giggles.

Lucifer grins in revenge as Chloe plops Rory, clad only in her diaper, into Maze’s hands.  “What no, Decker, no.”

“Yes, Mazikeen, yes, you hold Rory unless you want to clean up after Dan.” Chloe laughs, because what else can you do at 2am, surrounded by upset children, exes, and various non lethal bodily fluids that scare the denizens of the Underworld.

“Dan’s the one barfing here,” Maze counters,  “why is he not cleaning up?”

Dan looks very green, “I’ll only start round two if I do.”

“Daniel, honestly, I warned you Amenadiel did not fly at full speed the way you demanded I should tonight.” Lucifer grumbles petulantly.

Chloe scolds as she leads Dan away from the couch, “Dan, you can’t even manage roller coasters, why would you?”

Trixie restarts making watery noises, carefully wiping her face with her arm.

She hiccups, “This is what happened in the nightmare.  Everyone argued and those men invaded the Penthouse and we hide in the closet.”

“Shush, child.  I’m agitating your father because I’ve no clue how to get you out of this pickle safely,” Lucifer admits to the snuffling burden in his arms.

I’m buying time so no one will realize how inadequate a parent figure I am. 

“My antics never did much work in Heaven, trying to distract the ‘rents from their disagreements with my inadequate attempts at humor.  Being the court jester works here sometimes, with fresh audiences,” Lucifer emphasizes his successes.   Then, his determination to be honest gets the better of him, “Don’t know why I continue try and wisecrack my way out of tense moments when it works so very rarely with the people who are most familiar with me.”

“Lucifer, you are doing spectacularly,” Chloe praises, hoping to refute his ‘I’m not worthy’ attitude.  “Trixie is fine, in spite of running in socks on the marble floor,” Chloe admonishes her daughter.

“Sorry, Mommy.  Sorry Daddy.  Sorry Dadifer,” Trixie hiccups in embarrassment, hiding wet face in Lucifer’s suit.

Lucifer snuggles Trixie tighter, “Calmly, Urchin, calmly.”

Chloe and Eve clean up the area around Lucifer and Trixie.  Eve teases, laughing,   “I never expected when I followed Maze, who had her knives out, racing  up here from Lux’s dance floor that instead of attackers we would find wailing children in your Penthouse, Luce.”

“Yes, even in a life eternal the Detective always brings surprises.  A domesticated Devil.”  Lucifer manages to be wry and hold up his burden proudly at the same time.

“Alright, Lucifer, you can put Trixie on the floor now.  IT is dry.” Chloe rolls her eyes,  “Feet first please,” as the Devil grins at an upside down pre teen who now has a watery smile.

Lucifer puts Trixie on her feet, but doesn’t release her.

“Urchin, no, Beatrice, I never thought I’d be worthy enough to be even half a Dad.  I , I, yie, yie.”

Chloe and Eve put still damp hands on Lucifer, providing encouragement.  Dan puts a hand on Trixie’s back.

“Beatrice, I do love you too.” Lucifer says rapidly, breathless at the end.

Sidehugging Lucifer, Eve says, “Luce, I never thanked you for helping Abel escape his Hell loop.  You made at least one of my wishes for my children come true.”

At Lucifer’s start of guilt, Chloe realizes she must change the subject to something positive right away.

Chloe observes,  “Wow, Lucifer, even before you knew you were supposed to be counseling souls out of Hell you did it anyway.”

“What do you mean, Detective?”

Chloe presents her evidence, “Abel, yur mum, Lee, Charlotte, Dan.”

Still jumpy with overflowing emotions, Lucifer hands Trixie over to Dan.

“Lucifer, are you upset I called you that mashed up name?” Trixie asks from the security of her Dad’s arms.

“No, Urchin, of course not.  Here is your mother now, to?” he looks to Chloe, having no idea with the aftermath of a crying spell should be.

“To wash your face with cold water.  It helps take down the swelling in your eyes.  Come on, Monkey, lets go to the bathroom.”  And she takes her daughter’s hand.

“Where do these nicknames for children come from?” Lucifer has had enough of emotions.  “Pumpkin, actually a vegetable, Wednesday a day of the week, Shelley for Sheldon, Half Pint for that pioneer girl Laura Ingalls, Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz.  Is monkey some kind of reference to your supposed ancestry?  What are parents thinking?  I don’t call Aurora ‘Egg’.”

Dan pipes up, “Much better than some of the angel names.  H. O. A. E. L.,” Dan shakes his head in disbelief,  “Lucifer, did your Dad foresee how neighborhood HOAs would be as judgmental and into enforcing outdated rules as your sister.  J. K. A. R. E. N. el is as prejudiced from privileged as ‘Karens’ are now.”

Trixie snuffles, “Daddy, what’s all that mean?  Are angels going to come take you again?”

Lucifer stiffens, looking and listening for siblings, then shakes his head at Dan.

“Is that what the nightmare was about, Monkey?” Dan asks.

“No, a little.” Stretching, Trixie buries her head in Lucifer’s arm.

“Monkey, would it help to tell us what else the nightmare was about?” Dan asks gently.

Trixie shakes her head vehemently, “No NO Daddy.”  Chloe makes shooing motions where Dan can’t see.

Dan looks hurt, but nods anyway.  “I’ll just go and get cleaned up.  Is there a spare toothbrush in the bathroom?"

“Yes, Daniel, of course.  Please bin it after you use it,”  Lucifer shudders.

“Whatever.  Who knew the Devil was fastidious,” Dan laughs.

Chapter Text

Chloe and Eve take the towels used to clean up after Dan and the children to the laundry room while he brushes his teeth and gargles in a guest bathroom.  Leaving Trixie and Rory alone with just Lucifer and Maze.

Maze instantly dumps Rory into Lucifer’s hands and kneels to Trixie.

“Small human, am I practicing with my knives on someone?” Demon Maze tries to keep the anger out of her voice, lest Trixie think the rage is directed at her.  “You have had my blood oath for a long time.  Did some idiot hurt you?  Or scare you?”

Trixie shakes her head. 

Lucifer takes a try, using his newly learned ‘don’t upset the baby voice’, “Did something in your room disturb you child?”

Trixie shakes her head and snuffles.

“Were you that upset, over the failure of some of those convoluted contraptions creating chain reaction set ups?  The one with the falling marbles and dominos set in a pattern of knocking each other down for their creator’s goal.”  Lucifer continues, wondering if yet again he is at fault,  “Or my overblown drama king reaction to them?”  Lucifer is certain he is at fault.

“No, Lucifer, its okay you didn’t like the Rube Goldberg toy set.  There was a lot of things that fell and splatted.  Mommy said that was a tigger for you.”  Even though she is upset enough to lisp words, Trixie reassures Lucifer,  “Daddy will keep those toys for me.”

Lucifer takes another guess, “Was it the dangers of space, as shown in those sci fi films?”  He adds as reassurance, “You know I would come for you, any where in the universe and beyond?  The conditions of space hold no danger or barrier to me.”

“What if I was bad?” Trixie asks in a small voice.

“Bad?” Lucifer echoes, incredulous.   Maze snorts, “What’s bad got to do?”

“I met someone,” Trixie admits, “at your wedding with Eve.  The dark haired goth adjacent girl.”

Lucifer looks down at still calm Rory.  “Oh?”

“She said she was trying to get to know her father, who she’d hated because he left her before she was born.  She asked was I afraid I’d learn to hate my Daddy for leaving me.  Even though he was brave, not like her father.”

Lucifer winces. 

“How did she know I hated Daddy, I never, ever told anyone, like she did, because he left me?  Not like her Dad, that she didn’t know why.  But because he still left me even though he was a hero to everyone else.  I can’t stop being angry and afraid that Daddy will leave again.  She said she lived his desertion over and over, like it happened a gamillion times.”

Luckily, Trixie is confessing to the floor and misses Lucifer’s eyes flashing red.  Rory’s happy burbling settles Lucifer enough to realize Trixie needs his reassurance and comfort.

“Urchin, you know I hated my whole family for a very long time.”

Trixie nods.

“Its its not a good way to exist.  Also,  moving forward, its better for a person, not dwelling backwards into the pain.  At least, that’s what your mother tells me,” Lucifer adds briskly.   “I thought after Daniel’s death the police department provided you a therapist?”

“Can Maze show me knife skills on that tattle tale?  I don’t like him. One of the other kids said something that was supposed to be private to him, and the next thing we know, CPS put him in foster care. He can’t even contact his family now,” Trixie frets.  “They think we are stupid and can’t text each other.”

“Mazikeen will put holes in this miscreant just for assuming you are stupid,” Lucifer growls as Maze twirls her knives.

“That ‘counselor’ will very much regret that sin.”  Maze’s edged tone matches the slice of super sharp demon steel through the air.

“We are doing our best, Urchin, to be sure that your Daddy can stay.  You have my oath on that,” Lucifer vows.

Trixie worms her way between Rory and Lucifer, into the shelter of his arms.

“I know,” she snuffles.

“Now, none of that.  Quite enough fluids today.” But the scold has no power when Lucifer leans down to kiss the top of Trixie’s head.

Behind Chloe and Eve, Dan tromps into the room, face darkening as Lucifer seems to be providing comfort to his daughter Dan couldn’t.  Conversation ceases as everyone registers Dan’s anger.  The adults share measuring glances, while determining how not to escalate the tension in front of Trixie.

Trixie squiggles back out and dashes back to her father, enveloping him in a tight hug.  Problem solved for Team Trixie.

“Alright, Monkey, lets find a favorite bedtime story and see about getting some sleep,” Dan suggests, yawning.

“You aren’t leaving?” Trixie looks up at her Dad hopefully.

No secrets from the Detective here. She saw me wince when Trixie said ‘leaving’.  Just as I see her misery and fear that I will have to depart once more.  A match in misery we are.  And Daniel too, I suppose.  Even I can see through the ‘game face’ he has put on for his daughter.  Cue the distraction.

“No, Monkey. We will sort things out in the morning.”  Dan turns Trixie in the direction of her room, but glances back inquiringly at Chloe, who nods when her daughter is not looking.  Eve grins in understanding, but Lucifer and Maze exchange baffled glances about the unspoken communication.

Dan puts his daughter to bed while Chloe nurses Rory, putting the peacefully sleeping baby in her bassinette afterwards.

Chapter Text

When Dan comes out of Trixie’s bedroom, Lucifer, Chloe, Maze and Eve await him. 

Chloe updates her ex, “Eve has agreed to watch and listen at Trixie’s door while we determine our next move.  We will need to be far enough away from Trixie that she cannot hear us and there is no monitor in her room, the way we have one for Rory.”

Dan faces Eve, “There’s no one I’d trust more.”

Eve grins at Mazikeen and Lucifer, “Told you that look Dan and Chloe exchanged was a ‘lets have this discussion without the children.’”

Maze gives her love a thumbs up and Eve smiles, waves and departs to guard Trixie’s sleep.

“What was it, that caused Trixie’s nightmare?” Dan questions demandingly.

“Not at liberty to say, Daniel,” Lucifer replies, worried that if Dan knows what Trixie’s nightmare was about, he would feel guilty in some way.  Dan has already been to Hell once, feeling guilty over Trixie.  Who knows if he could talk himself out of Hell a second time.  I’ll just lead Dan in another direction.  He can be mad at me again.  Its my destiny, a target for people to hate. Why should this be different than any other Tuesday?

Lucifer continues, “I mustn’t break the child’s confidences.”

“Who is Maze twirling her knives for then?” Dan asks pointedly.

“Various deserving targets.” Lucifer and Maze growl in chorus.  Maze’s spinning knives twinkle with red flickers, reflections of Lucifer’s temper.

“Lucifer,” Chloe reprimands, as Dan cringes.

“I suggest you pull the child out of the LAPD counseling.”  Lucifer explains in that biting calm tone that promises his revenge, “That charlatan broke their word to one of the other children.”

“Trixie would tell us if the nightmare was about that,” Chloe asserts.

Dan nods agreement and grinds out, “Lucifer, find a loophole.  Keep the confidence, but give us a target.”

“Fine, alright.”  Lucifer grimaces as he discovers there are no cuffs on the silk short sleeved pajama top.  The things he does for love, modest sleepwear in his own Penthouse.  “Like every other disaster in my existence, my dickheaded twin is ultimately responsible for the Urchin’s distress.”

“Can Michael fear mojo from a distance?” Dan asks.   Warily he continues “I didn’t know you all could do that.”

“We can’t, Daniel,” Lucifer reassures.   “He had an unknowing intermediary.”    He glances at Chloe, tilting his head towards where Rory sleeps.  Chloe reaches for his hand, squeezing hard.  On further inspection, Lucifer can see that her eyes are brimming with unshed tears. 

“And will this ‘intermediary’ be cautioned against Michael’s lies and threats?” Dan demands.

Lucifer and Chloe have no answer, too caught up in their own misery of not protecting their daughter.

“We can still go after the source,” Maze snarls, her lips curled to show sharp teeth.  Her attempt at comforting Lucifer is suggesting retribution and revenge.

“Yes, Maze, excellent idea,” Lucifer pops up, ready for action.  Battle and Michael  bashing are much more in his wheelhouse than comforting crying children.

Dan nods his enthusiastic agreement, turning for the elevator door.

“Who is going to watch the children in the middle of the night?”  Chloe reminds the other three of their current responsibilities.  “Linda and Amenadiel, if he is even there, with Charlie?  Can you guarantee that Amenadiel will not be lured away by some celestial crisis?  Or that this is not some trick by Michael to draw us away abruptly?”  Chloe lists some of her fears.

“Eve can help Linda.  Michael is impotent anyway.” Lucifer scoffs and turns towards the bedroom.   “I’ll just change and we can be on our way,” he decrees.

“Are we so sure of his debilitation?  How long has he felt the thirst for revenge?  And how much is our hunger for revenge leading to rash acts?”    Chloe grabs Lucifer’s arm to keep him from leaving before she can finish her lecture.  “You kept your powers after Maze ccc, cut your wings off, didn’t you?  Still plenty of other siblings who might think to challenge Amenadiel and win if you are out of the equation because you are engaged with Michael.  Is Amenadiel even fully recovered from the poison Michael left on the throne?  Who is to say there isn’t more poison elsewhere in Heaven?”

Maze, demon impatient, “Now Decker.  What’s the purpose of all this yapping anyway?  Lets go,o,o.”

Chapter Text

Maze, demon impatient, “Now Decker.  What’s the purpose of all this yapping anyway?  Lets go,o,o.”

“Tactics, Mazikeen,” Chloe reprimands.   “Don’t you think Eve and Linda deserve a better backup plan than attempting an improvised run and hide, with helpless, upset children in tow?”

“My queen.” Maze stands tall, full attention on Chloe, waiting for edicts and orders.

“Continue the lessons with Trixie, please.”

Maze nods, arching an eyebrow as if to say, “Try to stop me.”

“I know you have been teaching her how to track and how not to leave a trail,” Chloe confirms, nodding in approval.  “Can you reverse engineer that?”

“My queen?”

“Could you teach her how to leave a trail only we can follow? Symbols on the wall, hand gestures to cameras, keywords to clueless clerks, chalk drawings on the sidewalk, things like that.”

“I will ever have her back, her enemies are my enemies,” Maze vows, making the throat slash motion that ends her and Trixie’s elaborate dance of devotion.

Chloe replies, “The enemy we fight is ignorance and miscommunication.”

Lucifer looks up, misery on his face.

“Lucifer, you are very quiet.”  The Detective asks her partner, “Do you think all of the advance preparation is fruitless?”

Lucifer muses, “Angels don’t consider contingencies generally.  They were bred to obey, to bring to fruition God’s ineffable plans.  If questioned, start with ‘Be not afraid.’  If that doesn’t work, then be the strongest entity in the room and defeat your enemy.  There are no instructions for ‘you might Fall’ or ‘another angel might be your adversary.’  Even after I did it.”

He inclines his head to Chloe, “With celestials, there are no strategy and tactics involved. Your notable instincts could win the day.”  Lucifer bows, “As you command, so It Shall Be Done.”

The walls vibrate, lights dim and the clap of thunder in winter reverberates throughout the Penthouse enough to make the bottles on the glass shelves shiver as if the earth quaked just enough to make even experienced Californians look for cover.

Dan ducks under the piano at the shudder of the universe responding to the decree of God Emeritus and retired? King of Hell.

After the shaking stops, Dan yells, “Dude, warn a guy or have a shot of top shelf whiskey ready to go.”

“Just a shot Daniel?” Lucifer grins, amused, holding up the shot glass he snatched out of the air after it fell off the shelf, gently held between finger and thumb.

Dan shakes his head, “Yes, tankard size,” he grumbles climbing out from under the piano.

“So be it. Take your pick, Daniel. ” The Devil’s expansive gesture towards the shelf in his oversized bar that displays every kind of drinking vessel sets the wild hunt chandelier above them to swaying slightly.  Lucifer grins when Dan crouches as if to slide under the piano again, shaking a fist at the Devil just the same.

“Sorry, old chap, you are just too much fun of a target,” Lucifer teases, grinning at Dan’s continued susceptibility to his fears during the Devil’s show of power.

Chapter Text

“Yes, Lucifer, you get a shower now and clean off all of the child sticky while I nurse Rory again.”  Chloe yawns, “Then we can all get a quick nap before dawn.”  Chloe shifts to baby talk tones,   “All our middle of the night real family shenanigans have my baby hunnngurrreeey,  don’t they sweetheart?”

“With pleasure, Detective.”  Lucifer flees for the ensuite bathroom.

Chloe laughs, “Never thought you’d run the other direction while I was baring my boobs.”

Lucifer spins back around, like a dog on point.

Chloe grins and drops her top completely so Lucifer gets an eyeful of both boobs.

“I need to wait, don’t I?”  Lucifer shuts his eyes,  “Baby needs first.”

“Yes, and you like it,” Chloe asserts.

“Yes,” he nods, “and I like it.”

“Lucifer?”

“Darling?”

“This way, we will both be clean and damp,”  Chloe gives him one of those awkward winks he has grown to adore.

“Lucifer likes.  G’night Gremlin, sleep tight.”  Now Lucifer does tiptoe back to Chloe, to kiss the baby in her arms.  And, very gently, both those Detective boobs, so full and sexy.  He drags his feet backwards, towards the ensuite once again.

With a full tummy, Rory falls asleep, content, right as Chloe hears the water stop running.

Can I plunk Rory in the bassinette and stalk Lucifer in the ensuite?  Before he puts product in his hair and hides those glorious curls.

Chloe grins at her daughter, who sleeps through the transfer from being held to the bassinette.  After rushing to her own closet, Chloe pulls the mandarin colored bikini out of its hiding spot under the boring brown boot box, shimmeys into it and covers with a huge white fluffy robe.

Gotta keep him guessing.  This will be different, both of us squeaky clean fresh and still an hourish til dawn.  Who needs sleep, anyway?

Chloe taps on the ensuite door.  “You decent, darling?”

“Not quite, Detective,” comes Lucifer’s raspy voice.  “I may have imagined you here in this shower, before me, whilst the fresh smell of your shampoo lingered in the air.”  Lucifer confesses ruefully,  “There seems to be a rather insistent tent pole under my towel.”

“Excellent.”  Voice now husky, Chloe teases, “Care for adult only company?”

“Yours, alone!? Detective.  Always.” Lucifer grins devilishly, contented with the thought of Detective all to himself after this crazy very wee hours of the morning of crying children and over excited exes.

Chloe sashays into the bathroom, going straight to Lucifer and gently easing the open bottle of hair gel out of his hands.  “You won’t need that tonight.”

“But darling.”

“No, I want you comfortable with all your forms.”  Chloe giggles, “Devil, angel, curly.”

“Hardly the same thing, Detective,”  Lucifer huffs for show.

“You fuss about each with the same vigor, darling,” Chloe smirks.

Lucifer pouts until Chloe stretches up to kiss him.

She whispers to him, “What if we equal this up some, and I return to the shower and get a little bit wet.”

“I’ll have you more than a ‘little’ wet, Chloe,” Lucifer replies, deep and dark and raspy.

“Some how, I don’t doubt you will.  Your gift is a surprise, so close your eyes,” Chloe sings out cheerfully.

Lucifer sighs, again. “Only for you, darling.  When can I open them?”

“Only when I tell you.  NO peeking.” Chloe grins, shaking a finger at him teasingly.

“Fine,” as Lucifer slaps his hand over his eyes, putting on a long suffering act.

Chloe turns on the shower, taps the memory button for her chosen flow and temperature, and hangs the white fluffy robe on its hook.  After she opens the shower door, Chloe sings out “Ready or not, here I go.”

She can feel Lucifer’s focus totally on her rear, in her famous mandarin bikini, ready to step into the cascading water.

“Oh,” he squeaks.

Over her shoulder, she grins triumphantly at him.

“I’ll join you and, and admire your gift up close?” Lucifer suggests, hopefully.

“No, darling, I intend to free the curls with one small step towards the hot tub,” Chloe giggles.

“The curls are all yours, Chloe, as is all of me,” Lucifer gives his oath, Devil toned declaration ringing through the universe.

“At the risk of inflating your already over inflated ego, all of you is pretty large,” Chloe winks saucily as her gaze snags on the tented towel.

“You are the one pretty, Detective.” Lucifer reassures,  “IN or out of the hot tub.”

The words are right, but

“Are you disappointed?” Chloe frets, “I didn’t think it was written anywhere, that bikinis were only for the hot tub.”

“What, no Chloe, never.  I, my brain is still trying to comprehend ‘gift’ for me.  Its not a regular thing for the Devil.”

Really have to make sure I give Lucifer all the delights of a relationship and family.  But boy, he doesn’t shut up.

“As usual, you are a constant surprise and mystery to me, which is more precious to an immortal than you can know.  I’d always, and often, imagined the bikini in the hot tub.  You are certainly welcome to wear this fetching outfit anywhere you desire,” the Devil declares.   His voice deepens, “The view in the shower of wet Detective in sunrise red Hot Tub bikini, well, Lucifer likes.”

Chloe shuts off the water and sashays out of the shower.  She tugs on the front of Lucifer’s towel, “Time for adult bedroom activities, partner.”

“Darling, as much as I want to engage in that particular activity with you, don’t new mothers need their sleep?  It is almost dawn and we have been awake for much of the night.”

“Yes, and?” Chloe caresses the line of Lucifer’s jaw.     

He sinks into her touch, “Detective, are you certain?”  At first, Chloe is confused, as she can feel his length jutting against her.

“Right,”  Chloe rolls her eyes.  Back to self sacrifice he goes.  What’s the quickest way to battle this one?  And he teases me about ‘selfless to a nauseating degree.’  Did we switch mojos again? I need to make it seem that he is doing me the favor.

“I’m too keyed up to fall asleep easily Lucifer.   I promise I’ll nap with Rory tomorrow, Dan can take Trixie after breakfast.”

“And I may nap too?  A family activity, yes?”  Lucifer looks hopefully at Chloe.

“Yes, Lucifer.  Are we wearing you out?” Chloe half jokes.

“I want to be at my best and enjoy every precious second with you.”

Chloe shuts her eyes at the overt tenderness from the former devilish playboy, skittish about feelings.  She opens her eyes, looks directly into Lucifer’s so there’s no doubt of the truth of her response, “I’m charmed, my love, by your turn of phrase in that deep tone, communicating your deeper feelings.”

“Chloe.”

He says my name in wonder, as if it’s the only hope he has in the world.  The only thing to do now is to kiss him.  Til the Devil begs with my name.

She starts by slowly tracing his lips with her fingertip.  His eyes half close with the bliss of it, her intimate touch.  When her other hand slides over his stubble, a purring groan fills the space between them.  Lucifer brings his hands to tangle in her hair.  “Damp,” he sighs, “beautiful.”

Chloe grins and stretches up against him to reach his curls.  “Damp,” she teases smugly, “attractive to all, but mine alone those curls.”

“Ever and only yours, Detective,” he vows.

He pulls her up against him, so those dratted curls are more easily accessible to her clever fingers.  Chloe is in agreement with this move, but conveniently the towel is not and slips to the floor unheeded.

Chloe wraps her legs around Lucifer’s waist, rubbing damp bikini bottom against his ever hardening cock.  He groans deeply and trails his lips over the straps of the bikini top.

“I’m the luckiest Devil on Earth.  Hot Tub bikini clad woman in my arms.  What does she desire?” he teases.

“You missed a spot, Lucifer.  In the back, right where the strap meets the.  Oooh, okay, just keep trying to reach that spot.”

Even when he misses, he gets it right, just like rearranging cases.

“You keep rubbing that spot with that d,damp ‘kini.  My head never had it so go,ood.”

Chloe squirms, Lucifer shifts, but that spot evades his lips.

“Bed,” she demands.  “You can reach the spot on my back if I spin around and still keep this going.”  She shifts her groin side to side against his hardening cock to demonstrate.

“Right, yes, bed.” Lucifer looks up from Chloe’s back.  “What direction is that?”

“Thru the door, silly, thru the thankfully open door.”

Lucifer carries Chloe to the big bed and sits at the edge with her on his lap.  She spins around, pulling her hair out of the way so Lucifer has clear access to the golden tangerine strap.  He groans, moving lips down the strap, licking underneath of it.  Chloe matches his actions by drawing fingertips slowly down his cock.

“Gorgeous Detective rump squirming against my groin.  Damp tangerine bikini rubbing my cock while your fingers dolce all the right notes on it.  Many of my much repeated fantasies so, oh much better in real life,” Lucifer mummers into skin over her shoulder blade.

“I’d tell you to just shut up, but all the flattery in those deep and desperate tones, oh my.”  Chloe turns so Lucifer can see her roll her eyes.

“There’s my beautiful partner.”  Lucifer sighs in contentment with Chloe’s head lolling on his shoulder.

“You have a silver tongue, my handsome Devil.”  She strokes the otherside of his cock.  “Wanna see if you can impress my other shoulder.” Chloe shifts to provide him clear access.

Lucifer starts nibbling carefully at the other strap.

“Will you bite through that strap?”  Chloe tone is high pitched and bordering on desperate.

“No, no, Detective.  I value this little slip of sunrise red silky torture.”

Chloe giggles, “Silly Lucifer.”

In retaliation response, Lucifer brings a hand to her breast and caresses it while sucking on Chloe’s shoulder on the opposite side.

She stops talking and thinking in favor of squirming in his lap.  Chloe squiggles off the bikini bottoms.  When she puts her hands to undo the top, Lucifer nudge kisses her hands away.

“What do you desire?” Chloe teases huskily.

“To have you ride me whilst wearing this fetching slip of material.”  Lucifer falls back onto the bed, pulling Chloe backwards alongside him.

She rolls over on top of him, as if doing pushups into the mattress.  His eyes darken at the sight before him.  “Detective boobs in Hot Tub bikini in my bed, what a brilliant beginning to the day.”  He caresses her back with gentle fingertips, hoping to provide a rhythm for her.  Chloe arches into his touch, her wet cunt rubbing against his jumping for joy cock.

He smiles at the glint of mischief in her eyes.  One hand drops to grab the sheets, hoping to anchor himself so Chloe can play as long as she likes. 

She plays slow. Lucifer grabs a pillow and shoves it behind his head.  “The better to watch you my dear,” he answers her inquiring look.

“Did you not wish to participate and move things along?”  Chloe wiggles her entrance on the head of his cock.

“With pleasure, Det, Chlooe.”  Lucifer lines them up and she descends onto him.

“Beautiful,” he groans.

Chloe starts rocking up and down.

After a bit, Lucifer puts his hands on her hips, slowing her movement.

“Darling, there should never be frowning during this activity.  Tell me what’s amiss?”

She shakes her head.  “Can’t rock full boobs like this.”

“Of course, darling, we will stop now.” Now Lucifer wears the uncomfortable face.

“No, Lucifer, its not time to stop, its time for inventive.”  She shifts to propping herself on her elbows above him, so her breasts rest on his chest.

“Oooh, I like this invention.” 

And the Devil smiles again, bright as the sun.

She practices a gentle Kegel in response.

When she relaxes, he grunts and lifts his hips a little, driving further into her.

“Again?” Chloe sounds a little desperate.

“Again an’a gain.”  He proves it by repeating the motion. 

“Yes, yes,” Chloe chants into the seam between Lucifer’s neck and chest.  She shifts to put more weight on her left side, freeing her right hand.  Finding the spot behind his ear, she sinks her hand into his black curls, tugging lightly.  At his of pleasure, she begins scraping her nails lightly down to the edge of base of his neck.  His hips rise again and rocks Chloe into her orgasm.  The fluttering on his cock triggers his release.  “’ncredible,” as he wraps his arms around her.

“Yikes, don’t squish me, Lucifer.  The boobs don’t compress right now.”

“Apologies, Det, darling” Lucifer jerks his hands away from Chloe.

“Just rest them on my lower back a minute, til we settle,” she directs.

“Ahh, better, inventive cuddling.  Don’t leave me, darling.”

“Not leaving, babe, just rearranging,” Chloe reassures her insecure partner.  “We’ll rest now, okay.”

Drowsily, Chloe snuggles into Lucifer’s side as he snores.  She struggles to stay awake and enjoy the peaceful interlude.  Given her career, an infant and the celestial craziness chasing him, Chloe realizes she must become more like her partner.  Lucifer solves and prevents many mundane boring problems with money, charm and interest in those who work with him and for him.  What situation will impact their lives next – parents, siblings, exes, or some new threat wanting to weaponize her Miracle status?

“Stop detectiving, darling.  Sleeep now.  You always outsmart your opponent,” Lucifer reminds her.  “I will ever have your back, no matter what plane either of us are on.”

Chloe reaches back to caress Lucifer’s face once more.  “Love you,” and she snuggles in deeper, determinedly closing her eyes.  Comforted, Chloe falls asleep wrapped up in Lucifer’s arms.

Chapter Text

“Lucifer,” Dan storms into the Penthouse several days after Trixie’s nightmare.  “Your twin is,”

“Don’t start with me, Dou Daniel,” Lucifer’s voice is darkly intense for all the lack of volume and venom.  “You sound like the ‘rents at their most manipulative, trying to make me feel responsible for Michael’s sowing suspicion and fear amongst the Host.  Also, keep your voice down, the gamine is still not settling to sleep easily after her recent last call upset.  That’s the second time Chloe has had to start the lullaby mobile.  Like father, like daughter, apparently.  I played ‘Creep’ endlessly whilst the Detective was in Rome.  The constant barrage of ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ is teaching me to wonder how even my well compensated Lux staff survived ‘I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo’, on a Loop.”

“Maybe you should fear,” Dan retorts, but with much less volume, having suffered Chloe’s wrath after waking a sleeping baby.  “Michael is spending a lot of time in Ella’s willing company.”

“Mazikeen has already torn me a new one for ‘letting’ Ella visit Michael.  I will not dictate Miss Lopez’s movements, or whom she sees,” Lucifer declares hotly.

“Ellen is good people.  Don’t want to see her hurt by the floppy… formerly feathered coward,” Maze seethes, but quietly.  Even the demon finds protective momma Chloe more than she wants to battle.  And the imp’s wailing makes Maze feel that she is helpless, locked in a Hell loop not of her choosing.

“Its also the Det, Chloe’s wish, to leave Michael intact.”  Lucifer hangs onto his shredded patience.  “As much as I am ready to just be finished with him.”

“Why are you suddenly so adamant about ending Michael?” Chloe asks as she descends the Italian marble stairs as the lullaby plays a third time.

“Because it begins to feel like a Hell loop, Detective.  Stuck in the Penthouse, trips to Heaven, visiting my evil twin.  Round and round, set up over and over like that Rube Goldberg torture device for hapless dominos with which your oldest offspring is currently obsessed.  Dominos, marbles, toy trucks, scrabble tiles, and hourglass timer to measure the Fall and see how long utter destruction takes.”  Lucifer concludes, his ranting,  “All too familiar rendition of returning to Hell, because the pattern is just set that way.

“Stuck in the Penthouse, too much ignoring the proliferation of paperwork, not enjoying the company?” Chloe hisses, lack of sleep catching up to her.

“No, Det, Chloe, of course not.”  Lucifer takes a step forward, then two back at Chloe’s glare.

“Chlo, let it go.” Dan tries to explain,  “It’s a Hell thing.”

“You are watching too much ‘Ghosts’ Dan.”  Chloe snaps at Dan for quoting TV fantasy for parallels to their celestial situation.  “As if two words like ‘Ghost thing’ is enough information for the person NOT in the know.”

They are not going to tag team me into not being pissed that Rory, Trixie and I are not enough to make Lucifer content during his quarantine.  There’s plenty of other people coming and going in the Penthouse – Dan for one, Charlotte, Linda, Amenadiel, Maze and Eve.

“Yeah, feel sorry for the real ones, stuck where they died.”  Dan sighs.  “Can’t say I ever want to enter the precinct again, or have anything to do with ping pong,” Dan shakes his head and explains to Chloe,  “The real ghosts, not having met him, they hide from Lucifer, afraid of being sent to Hell.”

Chloe, caught off guard by continuing celestial craziness, challenges, “Dead souls stuck on Earth is actually true?”

Dejected, looking at Chloe’s feet, a subdued Lucifer explains, “Yes, Detective.  I ignore them, scurrying away from me like most do when they discover my true nature.  If I acknowledged their presence, I’d be ratting Azreal out.”  Lucifer sighs, “Even if she could have visited me and didn’t, I still couldn’t betray her.”

Just as he didn’t betray me, when he discovered my perfidy. Maybe I’d better cut him a break here, so we don’t wind up on a ‘respite.’ The Brit version of ‘We were on a break.’  Guess I’ve watched too much ‘Ghosts’ too during our immurement.  At least they always make up by the end of the episode, instead of the seasons of ‘will they won’t they’ like Friends.

Chloe walks to Lucifer and takes the hand he was shot in, protecting her.  The same bandaged one she covered as he played piano, as she lied, acted, bamboozled him.

“Don’t, please, pretend to care.” Lucifer mummers, inaudible except to her.

She leans up and whispers in his ear, “I do care, I just didn’t consider you would feel trapped or why.”  Chloe slides in front of him, drawing his arms around her waist.  As usual, an invitation to touch her is irresistible to Lucifer.  She feels him, warm at her back.  His body gradually adjusts to have the most contact possible with her.  Chloe marvels that his movements towards her never push her off balance.  He just sort of melts into the space surrounding her, unsure of her acceptance after any differences between them.  She shrugs, so she is more securely nestled in Lucifer’s arms and steps backwards, fitting herself firmly to him.  Hoping he interprets her motions as acceptance.

His family has a lot to answer for, Michael especially, tormenting Lucifer by waging psychological warfare on our daughter.

To the group at large, Chloe grouses, “Michael has a lot to pay for.”

“We could just kill him, Decker, and put him out of our misery,” Maze contends.

“NO” Chloe commands, tears in her eyes but stone faced.

“Detective,” Lucifer protests.

“Chloe, ee” from Dan

“Decker” growls Maze.

Plaintive Lucifer, frustrated Dan, furious Maze.  Which one do I reason with first?  To persuade them to refrain from something that I sometimes desperately desire.

Maze stomps off towards the elevator.

“Mazikeen,” in no nonsense, queenly command tones.  Never mind reason.

Maze spins around sharply, glaring at Chloe.

“Michael has confessed to many crimes.  What if there are more?” Chloe reasons, then lures Maze by asking,  “And we need to interrogate him about those?”

“Interrogate?” Maze raises an eyebrow.

“Yep, painfully even.”  Chloe grins at her one time roommate,  “Don’t lose that clicker for the collar for Michael’s invisible fence.”

Maze thumps a fist to her chest, “My queen.”

Calmer with Chloe in his arms, Lucifer rumbles a suggestion, “Daniel, Maze, perhaps a video review of the conditions of Michael’s incarceration will serve for now?   You can access the zoo control center from the prohibition tunnels.”  A regal Lucifer nods slightly,  “As you recommended, Daniel, I based the facility on a jail’s control center, lots of cameras to track the inmates and the ability to remotely lockdown the prisoner.”   He adds condescendingly, gesturing regally, “If some other punishment or restriction should be added, you may suggest it.”

Dan side eyes Lucifer, “I may suggest it, may I? To Mister Flout the procedures, everyone else’s safety be damned.  You are not King here, Lucifer, at least not of me.”  Realizing who he has just yelled at, Dan starts backing away.

“No, Daniel, you are within bounds.  You were correct that my lack of following protocol ofttimes endangers the Detective and leads to,” Lucifer sighs, “deaths of innocents.  I was King and sole ruler of a fractious land many eons.  Having cautionary counselors is novel to me,” he steps away from Chloe to bow to her.

Maze cuts in, “Yeah, alright.  Enough already.  Poor neglected King.  Will you do what we say or not?”

In response to Lucifer’s tensing beside her, Chloe suggests,  “Maze, go find something to advise him about for Michael’s punishment.  Dan can help recommend other security measures, especially when Ella is there.”

As they contemplate Chloe’s suggestion, the fading strains of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star can be heard clearly in the Penthouse.

Dan snaps his fingers, “Maze, we can create a playlist for Michael, just for Ella’s visits.”  Dan grins as toothily as the demon ever could.

The demon looks disgusted.  “Music, what kind of torture for Micheal is there in some random songs?”

“Oh, nothing random.  Try ‘I would walk 1000 miles,’ any song about wings or flying,” Dan spitballs.    Enthused about his idea, Dan lays out the advantages of his suggestion, “Torture and warning, all wrapped together in one giant ball of musical misery for Michael.”

Lucifer suggests excitedly, “House of a Thousand Guitars” one of the best by the Boss.  A reminder of the punishments promised for Michael that are my reward.  I should give you more credit, Daniel, you are deeper than you appear.  There are even songs about a thousand cuts, Mazikeen.”

“My king,” everyone turns to focus on Maze who is rarely overtly respectful of Lucifer.  “We should record you covering a few of these ‘reminder’ songs.”  The demon arches a questioning brow at Chloe.

The Detective nods, “Yes, Mazikeen, those are exactly the kind of tactics we need to keep Michael unbalanced.  Linda’s idea, employed.  Take Dan down to the tunnels into the jailbird surveillance room and plot other ways to not too subtly strike the right cautionary chord.  We will have the truth out of him yet about the time travel paradoxes and protect Ella.”

Dan gestures to Maze to lead the way to the elevator for the ride to the monitoring stations hidden in the Prohibition tunnels.

After the elevator doors swoosh shut, “Detective, how can we be sure that Michael isn’t well, pulling our chain in regards to their being no time paradigm whatsoever?”  Loosened from the Detective, Lucifer’s hands are plucking problems out of thin air.   “Rory obviously was distressed enough to time travel just to to, kill me.”

“Lucifer, there are plenty of reasons for a grieving child to over react.”  Chloe grins, “And, no offense, but angels are mighty flighty under stress.”  She flaps her hands back at Lucifer.

“Ha, ha, Detective.”

“Really, Lucifer, many times, you had a greatly overblown reaction to the case and how it connected to you.  Do you not think Rory, your daughter, might have an intense response under family stress too?” Chloe tries to reason with her agitated partner.

“And what about her telling us my vocation, counselor of Hell and counselor of souls, instead of chief torturer and punisher?” The Devil begs his Miracle for reassurance that his days of reluctant punishment king are finished for sure.

“Lucifer,” Chloe takes his wildly gesturing hands in hers, he always does calm down at her touch, “I think we would have discovered your new profession, even without Rory’s telling us.”

“Detective?” Lucifer wants to follow her direction.

“Lucifer, there’s Charlotte, Kunmi, Lee and Dan, even before your formal attempts at counseling people out of their guilt and Hell.   Chloe reminds him, “You like helping living people to a new start with your favors, don’t you?”

“I don’t follow, Detective.”

Wow, he struggles with hope.  How long will it take to get him out of this Loop, that he has suffered for longer than there have been people on Earth?  Perhaps I need to change my strategy and be ready to battle his feeling of unworthiness.

“Being free of guilt and out of Hell is the ultimate new start, don’t you think?  On Earth, your favors often result in new beginnings for the people you meet. Patrick, Javier, Ty. You helped me to a new start too, from precinct pariah to Lieutenant.”

Lucifer straightens up, adjusts his lapels to lay perfectly, truly proud of himself for helping Chloe to succeed at her calling.

“Its amazing, the development people can have with the right opportunities.”  Chloe further encourages,  “Look at me, started as semi naked actress but still found my true vocation as Detective.”

“Oh, yes, I see now my clever Detective.”  Lucifer’s voice deepens, “Can I see more, of this famous semi naked actress?”  He reassures Chloe and himself,  “Maze will keep Dan well occupied downstairs.”  At his partner’s skeptical arched brow, he continues,  “With the correct bribe, of course.”  Lucifer’s voice deepens and slows,  “Everything for you, my darling.” 

Chloe sways on the way to standing right in front of Lucifer, “There’s the other piece of myself you helped me to find.  The not hot sensible brown boots and wearing only your shirt can both be part of who I am.”

“Sensible brown boots are sexy when YOU wear them, Detective.”

“You’ll have be pretty inventive to pull that off, Lucifer.”

“Is that a challenge, my darling?”  Lucifer rubs his hands together in anticipation.

“Yep, sure sounded like one to me.”

“I’ll get the boots, Chloe, you have a seat on the piano bench,” as he gestures her towards his beloved piano.

“What?”

“I’ve never been a boot salesman.  I will need lots of practice, putting the boots on your feet and then taking them off.”

Chloe snorts laughing.

“Shh, you will wake her.”  Lucifer tips his head towards their bedroom sheltering the bassinette.

“Better grab the monitor and shut both doors, Lucifer.”

He winks, “As my Queen commands.”

Chloe admires his backside as he walks away from her, tapping at the phone rapidly, from the hissing and huffing, obviously engaged in negotiations to bribe Maze.

The Penthouse once again fills the sounds of an incredible love.

Chapter Text

“Lucifer, what does Michael eat, generally?”

I kept the Douche and the demon away from the Penthouse so I could continue to enjoy the sight of Chloe relaxing in my shirt after our interlude.  Rory was so exhausted that she simply nursed and went right back to sleep after just one lullaby from me.  But still, we are interrupted, by paperwork perpetrated for my dysfunctional family.

“Eat, Detective?” Lucifer had been sipping, but now gulps out of his whiskey tumbler, so much for after glow.  Really, now that he has the Detective in his bed (fine, this time piano bench), he must teach her how to make the relaxed feeling last.  NO discussions of brothers or bills or cases whilst wearing silk robes or his dress shirts.

“Yes, I’m looking at the receipts for the bird rescue.  Your premature unfurling sent papers flying all over the Penthouse.”  Chloe gloats gleefully, “There are feathers even in the interior of the piano.”

“A first, you may be assured, Detective.  No one else has sent feathers flying in such a way that the Penthouse resembled the interior of a snow globe,” with a wry tone, Lucifer shakes his head at himself. As Chloe continues to examine the papers, he asks,  “What did you find on the receipts of interest to you, Detective?"

“There’s a lot of high end food trucks supplying meals to the rescue workers.  Ice cream trucks, Funnel Cake Courier, Cupcake Car, Snack Ship.”  Chloe munches on her Devilish lemon blueberry whole grain muffin.

“Not to worry, Detective.  Michael’s diet is very restricted,” Lucifer reassures, swishing his black robe around him.  “The human myth of Tantalus has some truth to it.” 

“That’s the one where the Greek gods punish Tantalus for serving them his son he killed as a meal for them.”  Chloe shakes her head and puts down her muffin.

“Yes, afterwards Tantalus was punished in Hades by standing in fresh water under a fruit tree, never able to drink the water or eat the fruit,” Lucifer confirms.

“Michael might see and smell the desserts,” he continues, “but everyone there believes him diabetic, endangered by eating dessert.  Maze and I quite enjoyed the Hell loops in which the guilty punished themselves for denying those dependent on them by tantalizing themselves in their Loop.  That was old days, of course, but when Mazikeen suggested it for Michael, well, may I say the temptation was too great for Old Scratch.”  He smiles mischievously, turning on the charm so Chloe will know he is committed to moving forward.

Chloe grins back.  “As part of my preparation for the meeting with Jkarenel and Hoael, I am reviewing the conditions of Michael’s incarceration.  Why then, are the expenses so high for Michael’s food?”

“Ah, I reward handsomely Patrick’s family for delivering specialty meals to Michael.” Lucifer explained nonchalantly.

Perhaps I will omit that his family has served me for centuries now, a piece of celestial craziness the Detective need not ‘process’ this minute.

“Lucifer, its thousands of dollars for these ‘specialty meals’?” Chloe’s sharp ‘Mom found the mess’ tone has Lucifer explaining rapidly.

“Is it not enough, I thought I had kept up with the cost of living increases?” Lucifer sighs. “Michael’s dinners come from Payback Penitentiary, as lukewarm two day old leftovers.  Breakkie consists of either store brand instant oatmeal or instant cream of wheat.   Five 20 sided dice are used to determine how long he is served one or the other.”  With great satisfaction, Lucifer details,  “Most deliciously, once he had to eat instant plain oatmeal for 93 days in a row, then 7 days of unadorned cream of wheat, then back to lukewarm instant oatmeal for 100 days.”

“Lukewarm?”

“Oh, yes Detective, breakfast comes in flimsy little paper packets, stamped ‘Payback Penitentiary Prisoner Food’, and the water to Michael’s cell is a lukewarm 33 degrees, that’s 93 Fahrenheit.”

The Detective does relish the details.  I knew I’d succeed at this communication part of a monogamous relationship and still avoid disclosing deeper feelings.

The Devil continues listing the particulars of Michael’s torment.  “Lunch is a room temperature sandwich, processed chicken or tuna with wilted lettuce and store brand expired applesauce.  Also carefully labeled as ‘Payback Penitentiary Prisoner Food’.”

Chloe interrupts the Devil’s bluster, “Lucifer, I think you are reciting a lot of true details without the full disclosure we agreed on, as partners.”

She watches serenely as Lucifer paces, fiddles with his cuffs, then refills his whiskey.  Suddenly, the glass and bottle are slammed down on the bar, just short of shattering.

“Det, Chloe, I couldn’t tolerate it.  That Michael would enjoy chocolate or lemon bars or pudding.  When the Urchin suffered the loss of her father and Daniel agonized over the separation from his child.”  Lucifer continues, snarling,  “How could I allow Michael, the person who orchestrated Daniel’s death, to enjoy any of the culinary benefits of being on Earth?”

“For anyone else, I would wonder if you were trying to achieve justice or revenge.”

“And for Michael?”  Lucifer leaves his question open ended, the better to determine how Chloe feels.

“I wonder now if I care,” Chloe muses.  “Or if justice and revenge can be disengaged in this circumstance.  There is so, so much he needs to pay for.”  Brushing muffin crumbs off his dress shirt with undo force, Chloe stops as Lucifer’s eyes flash red. 

“His tricking you tops my endless list,” Lucifer growls.

“I did figure it out, fairly quickly,” Chloe reassures, “and deceived the trickster.”

“Of course you did, my clever Detective.  But then, he fooled us all of us, through torturing Rory, and you, you,” Lucifer chokes up.  “You were being so brave that we would be separated.  Why should Michael enjoy the fruits of the earth whilst you suffered?”

“Awww, babe, that’s so sweet.  Twisted a little, but sweet,” Chloe is adjusting to the extravagant passions of celestials.

“Devil’s not sweet.” Lucifer objects, his register still all resonating Devil, complete with flickering red eyes.

*   *   *   *  *   *   *  *

“Might not be sweet, but the Devil sure is hot.  You sure don’t want to be my cream pie?”  Chloe’s sudden husky tone changes the mood in the Penthouse from agitated and angry to seduction and sexy.

“What kind of crème do you prefer, Detective?” Lucifer inquires, eyes bright with interest and anticipation.

Whatever it is, I will place a recurring order for it.  Boston cream pie, eclairs, lemon meringue pie.  Should I be topping the blueberry muffins with vanilla drizzle?

“Whiskey flavored, your top shelf whiskey,”  Chloe informs him as she saunters to him, hips swaying.  When she arrives, Chloe draws her fingertip slowly down the whiskey bottle.   “It tastes incredible in the topping you provide.”

Lucifer hastily gulps his most recent swig of whiskey, not looking at where he puts the bottle.

“You, you can taste that?” he asks, laser focused on his partner.

“Yup,” Chloe nods slightly, a her secretive smile inviting him to investigate. “And I’m feeling just a touch peckish for a decadent topping after my healthy muffin.”

Lucifer groans, “And you’ve done it again.  Gone from detectiving to pleasuring in a split second, boggling my poor self.”

Chloe glances down, “Don’t think every part of you is baffled by the change in topic, darling.”

“Nay, and I’m going to let that part of me do all the thinking currently.  Its where all the blood went.  All I need, I have here with you,” Lucifer pledges.

Still, Chloe needs reassurance that Lucifer won’t flee his feelings since he admitted feeling trapped in the Penthouse,  “You truly don’t miss all those glamorous  people, trooping in and out of here?  Adventurous sex with a different partner every night and day.”

“YOU are my only partner,” Lucifer pledges.  “And sex with all those different people, it was like the creation of the stars.  One short big bang of glory and nothing else.”  Lucifer looks straight into Chloe’s eyes.  “This with you is taking the time to enjoy the afterglow of the stars’ creation, a light to follow out of the dark of Hell.”

“Oh my, you have a way with long winded compliments,” putting her hands to his scruff, Chloe smiles affectionately at Lucifer.

“Not the only thing long with regard to you, darling,” he moans into her neck.

“Shall I investigate the length of your compliment?”  Chloe wiggles her hips against it.

Lucifer breathes slowly through his nose, responding tightly, “You may investigate any part of my person at any time.”

“Now, we have time, don’t we?” Chloe whispers.

“Bribing Maze is no issue,” Lucifer assures.

His partner bits her lip, “No going to Hell or Vegas?”

Shaking his head, Lucifer thinks to tease, “No going to Rome or evidence closets.”

“Yuck.  One of my first projects when I return as Lieutenant will be to find the funding to remodel that part of the precinct and erase all trace of that mistake,” Chloe declares vehemently.

“Ah, shall I erase Vegas then?”

Chloe snorts, “Now, how would you do that?”

“Everything is possible when the Devil desires, Detective.  At least on Earth, enough big bills and favors solve any tiny problems,” Lucifer concludes, not bragging, just stating a fact.

“Yes, well, precinct renovations are not easily found in the tiny LAPD budget as much as I might ‘desire’ them.” Chloe grips.

“You renovated me from one night stand playboy trying to escape his misery to faithful family man happy at home,” Lucifer contends.

“Yes, well, no more ‘miserable existence’ for either of us,” Chloe declares.  “Here in the Penthouse, alone, let the love flow like top shelf whiskey.”

“Back to that are we.  We’ve discovered your kink, darling,” Lucifer declares with great enthusiasm.

“Shall we conduct some actual investigation of this phenomenon?” Chloe murmurs, winking awkwardly.

“This case I think I can focus on without constant reminders.” Lucifer chuckles at his own joke.

 Chloe slides her hands into Lucifer’s robe and grins up at him.  “I think you should be reminded constantly.” She tugs him down for a kiss, only licking at his lips.

“Like this reminder,” Lucifer mumbles around her tongue.

“Shush now.”

“MmM hmm.”  He bends into the kiss, to provide easier access to Chloe.  His hands slide down his dress shirt that she is wearing.  All the way down to curve at the bottom of the shirt, where the Detective’s legs are wonderfully naked.  With his fingertips, he traces the edge of the bottom of the shirt.

Lucifer shifts his hands under her rear, boosting her up.

“What now?” Chloe mumbles around Lucifer’s neck.

“Bedroom?”

“Yup.”

Laying on her side, Chloe licks at the hip Lucifer’s not lying on.  Her hair trails over his jumping cock.  Lucifer tries for smooth strokes of her legs, but his hands clench at each touch of her tongue.

Groaning, he lays flat on his back, pulling her along so her breath can still whisper along his groin.

With his hands on her hips, Lucifer encourages her to swing her legs over his shoulders.  

“Don’t flip us over, Lucifer,” Chloe warns, settling full boobs carefully down onto Lucifer.

“Eh, why would I do that, when I have you right where you like it?  On top and in charge,” Lucifer grins.

Chloe snorts, “Okay, might have known you’d pick up on that.  Don’t like being on the bottom in this position.  Feel squished.  Sure you are alright, flat on your back?  The wings don’t get crushed in the pocket dimension?”

Lucifer looks at her dumbfounded.  “O’course not, Detect, Chloe.”  Lucifer huffs, “No one’s ever inquired about my comfort during sex, or really anytime.”

She still treats me like I’m vulnerable, and isn’t that the true miracle.

“Well, I’m the one asking the questions here,” Chloe tries to lighten his mood.

“We are not done yet, Detective.  But we are talking too much when there are much more desirable to be doing with our tongues,” Lucifer chuckles.

Chloe takes the hint and licks the tip of his cock.

His hips rocket off the bed.

“Do that again,” he implores with a shocked whisper.

Chloe looks at him intently, and repeats the action.

Yes, vulnerable again to her, no celestial objects needed.  Remember she is still mortal and fragile, Morningstar.  Break the wall gymnastics are not on the table.  Even though we are both eating.

“Most delicious,” Lucifer grunts as he licks at her inner thigh.

He kisses the right place, suddenly her hand slides under his thigh and her fingers dig in.  The pressure makes him shudder, “Chloe.”

She slides her wet mouth further down his hard cock.

“Chloe.”

“MmmMm,” she teases, knowing the vibration drives him wild.

“Chlooe.”

This might be over quickly.  Well, still something new.  Devil’s never done quantity over quality before.  Usually combine both.

He quickly sucks on his finger, then gently slides it into Chloe.  She squeezes around it.  To encourage a repeat of the delight, his tongue draws circles on her.  She sucks harder and stars explode for both of them.

Breathing hard, Chloe shifts off Lucifer, collapsing onto the bed.  Afterwards, she spins around so they are face to face.

“Best rest up,” she directs, “before our flight.”

His hand rests on her thigh, reassuring both of them with the connection.  Lucifer looks inquiringly at her, “Alright, darling?”

“Not normal, but incredible.”

“Again and again.”

And the reminders of happier times were sleepily traded back and forth, proof that they had seen hard times together, and as partners worked thru and reunited.

Lucifer sighed, content to fall asleep to Albanian field wench snoring.

Chapter Text

As they fly to the island where they are supposed to meet Hoael and Jkarenel, Chloe comments on whales and dolphins below them excitedly.

She exclaims, “Lucifer, you have outflown the seagulls in our efforts to surprise your misguided siblings on that bird sanctuary island.  How would Kinley’s men have contacted Michael without our knowing about it the way Jkarenel and Hoael said?”

Lucifer growls, “I intend to discover that and much more Detective.  I can put an end to Michael’s scheming once and for all.”  Lucifer chuckles,  “Amenadiel brought the Flaming Sword.”

Chloe nods agreement against Lucifer’s chest. 

The delight of swift flying takes over for her, and Chloe points below them, “Look, Lucifer, those huge whales just leap out of the water.  I’ve never seen them in the wild before, out in the open ocean.  And those amazing dolphins are keeping up with them.  I did not know that whales and dolphins traveled together.”

Chloe can hear the smile in his voice when he replies, “Yes, dear, much more fun to play with them than all these dratted seagulls trying to keep up with me.” Lucifer wonders,  “Do you know this island where we are supposed to find Kinley’s henchmen at all?”

“Oh, yes.  LAPD trains officers on an old fire boat there.  It was a very exciting week.  I had such fun learning about the hoses.  Did you know water from the Leslie Shay there can reach up to 300 feet from the boat?” Chloe brags, pointing to the boat tied to the dock in the distance, at the end of the pier.

“Hold tight, darling,” Lucifer cautions.  “We will be descending to land shortly and vanquish Kinley’s cohorts that Hoael and Jkarenel told Amenadiel about.  Then off to off Michael.”  The dark threat in Lucifer’s tone has the seabirds peeling away.

Lucifer and Amenadiel land where Hoael and Jkarenel instructed, the inland border of the swamp that stretches from sandy beach to grassland pine tree scrub.

As they touch down, great clouds of deep blood red powder envelope them.  “Tective, what’s happening to m…” and Lucifer collapses towards the ground.  Chloe does her best to prevent Lucifer from free falling and crashing hard into the sharp edged seashells bordering the path.

Maze quickly stepsides Amenadiel’s plummet to the stony path.  “Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” the demon quips, grinning.

“Maze, where did this powder come from?” Chloe wonders as she unsuccessfully attempts to brush it off Lucifer’s feathers.

Maze examines the clearing and suddenly jumps up at a trail cam strapped to a tree at about seven feet up.  She pops open the case and shows Chloe an intricate, now twisted and empty metal circlet containing red powder residue.

Chloe shakes her head, “That iron bracelet has the same design as the poison vial Kinley gave me.”

“Great,” Maze gripes. “Two drugged angels, heavier than guilt.”

“We need to wash this powder off them, Maze.” Chloe directs, adding, “There is no known antidote so we have to rinse the poison off of them.”

“How are we going to do that, Decker?  Ocean is a looong way off, even if we can see it over this swamp.  And they are heavier than elephant,” Maze lists the difficulties impeding Chloe’s plan.

“We saw the Leslie Shay, a fireboat,  while Lucifer was flying towards the island.”

“So?”

“Get them to the wooden bridge, over the swampy area near the shore,” Chloe points in that direction.  “Water from the fireboat should reach there.  I will hose them down and the seawater and poison will drain down the gaps in the pier.”

Maze grabs Lucifer under the shoulders, prepared to drag him across the seashell strewn path.

“Maze!  Bring the other wagon to him.”  Chloe pointed to the solar powered glorified golf cart imperiously. 

“You are no fun, Decker.  He would have been complaining about rips in the suit fer days.”

Shaking her head at the peevishness of demons, Chloe climbs into her wagon and puts peddle to metal.

As she pulls away, Chloe hears Maze?! yell cautionary advice, “Keep those demon steel capped bullets loaded in that Smith and Wesson boot revolver Decker.  This day keeps getting weirder.”

Having worked as a team many times, Chloe has the hoses on the Leslie Shay in position right as Maze pulls up in the wagon loaded with the two angels, one white wing spread protectively across a grey one.

As she lifts the firehose preparing to hose down Lucifer and Amenadiel laying on bridge, Chloe yells back at Maze in warning, “Lucifer Morningstar meet Leslie Shay.”

Chapter Text

As the thug shoves them into Michael’s quarters, he teases the angel, “I’ve had enough of the sciency lectures.  You can listen to her endless non stop chattering.”

Michael feels the fear and shame with it rolling off a suddenly subdued Ella.

He whispers to her, “I like your natters.  Learn a lot about the birds and the bees.”  Micheal winks at her when she grins just a little.

The thug slams a fist on the table, interrupting their moment.

“So you know what is going to happen to you next, if you don’t tell us where the abominations escaped to,” Michael and Ella’s captors threatened them as they slammed the rusty cage door shut.  Ella looks in alarm at the staticky speaker their kidnapper had pointed to in Michael’s now locked quarters.

He leans against the wall, watching as she examines the walls, hands over her mouth.

“What are you searching for?” he asks.

Ella taps her ear. 

“There’s nothing to worry about.  The underground walls are so”

“SHHHtt,” Ella overrides Michael’s attempts to reassure her or discuss where the children went.

The Angel of Fear freezes up as the petite scientist paces right up to where he lounges against the wall, no terror of him coming off her.

Her hand comes up to his curls and tugs gently until he lowers his ear towards her mouth. 

“We might be being recorded.  Don’t say anything about…”

Michael loses the ability even comprehend Ella’s instructions, as her warm breath wafts onto his ear.

He nods slightly, whatever she may have asked or suggested, the answer is yes.

Their ‘moment’ breaks when the speaker crackles, “We will make your second demise swift and mostly painless if you tell us where the kids are hiding.”

“Go to Hell,” Dan responds defiantly.  “The Devil’ll be waiting for you,” he threatens.

Thunk, they hear the unmistakable sound of fist hitting face and Dan’s grunt of pain.

Ella implores, “Miguelito, we must do something to help Dan and save the kids.”

“We do, yes,” Michael nods, then mutters in a barely decipherable undertone,  “Don’t want the Furies and their demon disciple thinking I was culpable in this one.  Never mind my twin’s reaction.”

Having heard parts of Michael’s gripe, Ella muses, “Sometimes, you make as little sense as Lucifer.”  She cocks her head,  “Like when ‘los hermanos’ don’t want me to discover some underhanded activity they are participating in.”

Micheal flinches, these modern women that Lucifer has picked as friends are too sharp for comfort.  Between his graying curly hair, stringy body looking totally different than Lucifer’s and completely opposite personality, how is Ella sensing enough to compare the twins to her brothers – los hermanos indeed.  And how to distract her from this line of thought?  As if on cue, they hear another solid hit and Dan’s grunt at the impact.

“Scrappy, there is a way to summon the guardian of the mews, but you won’t like it.” Michael whispers in response to her imploring look at him.

“Miguelito, I can’t listen to Dan being beaten and just cower here.  What is it we have to do?” she whispers back.

Michael sighs, “The cage bars are coming loose from the concrete they are imbedded into.  Wriggle one out and hit me with it to try and break the chain for the invisible fence.”

“Dude, if I hit the chain hard enough to break it, that will be majorly painful for you,” Ella objects.

“Yeah, Scrappy, I’m aware.  Micheal explains, “The invisible fence doesn’t just shock me, it signals my wardens if I try to escape, or in this case, destroy my shackles.”

Ella frowns, “Like an ankle monitor bracelet for convicts on home arrest?”

“A souped up one, but yes.  Try to cut into it, or in this case, smash it, and the enemy of our captors will be notified.” Michael is sure its best to be as vague as possible here, its not the time for big reveals while Ella is still in danger.

“How,” Ella begins to ask for details, but there’s a solid thwack, followed by Dan groaning.

“Still wo,on’t.” Dan’s voice fades from lack of breath at the end but defiant tone is clear.

Ella rushes to the metal bars.

“Third one from the left,” Michael instructs.  He sighs soundlessly at the irony of imitating Chloe’s idea.  The Sword of God, dependent on mortal women, Lucifer’s friends no less, to protect the defenseless.  Wait, is that Dan and the children, Ella, or Michael himself?

Ella whisper yells back to him, “What’s our plan, really?”

Michael grumbles, “For me to be the marble in a life sized replica of one of the child’s Rube Goldberg set ups you described, m’dear.  Just careening between immovable hard objects, hoping not to be utterly destroyed.”  Under his breath, Michael continues, “More importantly, protecting you from the celestial wake of destruction.”

She yanks on the bar, pulling it loose instantly.  Okay, modern women are definitely both more intrepid and assertive. Nothing defenseless about her.

She rushes back to Michael.  “Oh, no, where do I, do I hit you?”  Ella bits her lip.

“Right side’s been screwed up a very long time.”  Michael microshrugs with the acceptance of someone with an intractable injury,  “What’s one more blow there?”

He turns so his right side faces her and eyes the metal bar in her hands warily.  Her work in the rehab and just now yanking the bar from its mooring has proved she is stronger than she looks.  To demonstrate that he is ready for the blow, Michael grips the door frame and nods.

“Miguelito, I don’t know if I can do th…”  Ella is interrupted by Dan’s hoarse howl of pain.

She swings the metal bar with a whoosh, connecting with Michael’s waist on his right side with a solid whump.

“Oww, what’s happening to me?” he grunts disbelievingly with little air.  His hands slide down the door frame, curling his body around where Ella hit him.   He looks surprised and offended by the pain.  “Is that a supernatural cage bar?  Or Hell forged steel, that that dratted demon planted here?”

Chapter Text

Slowing down as they near their target, Lucifer and Amenadiel glide over the reconstruction site of the ‘don’t feed the birds this’ display at the former zoo.   One  area is still littered with beams, rebar and boulders, all the detritus of destruction done during dusk.

In response to Amenadiel’s pointing at the mess, Maze shouts in his ear, “Michael gave Decker some ‘folderol’ about ‘Miss Lopez’ and her not liking the flowery scents as a reason to destroy the exhibit.  Lucifer is still trying to figure how that fits into some ‘nefarious scheme’ of Michael’s.”

Amenadiel huffs amusedly at Maze’s imitation of Lucifer’s accent and lofty wording.

“It is a confusing situation,” Amenadiel concurs in his ponderous way.  “Michael left alone the solar panels that power the electric fence.  You’d think he would destroy those, so he could escape.”

“Featherbrained, all of you, especially when the wings are gone,”  Maze concludes sarcastically.

As they begin descending, Chloe signals to Maze, “Finished recon.  Divide and conquer.”

Grinning evilly, Maze extends her hand, as if holding a remote and imitates pushing the same button rapidly.

Chloe responds with a thumbs up.  She relates to Lucifer, “Maze has the clicker and an itchy trigger finger on it.  She and Amenadiel will take Michael.  We should find Hoael and Jkarenel and determine why they didn’t show up at the island.”

As they near the middle of the zoo, Amenadiel peels off towards Michael’s quarters, while Lucifer flies Chloe towards the entrance where Jkarenel said to meet after they visited the island.

Jkarenel vents to Lucifer and Chloe.  The entitled angel’s obnoxious wing flapping, extravagant gestures and bombastic tone capture Lucifer’s attention fully.  Chloe, however, ignores the bluster and notes her surroundings carefully for exits, weapons and transportation. 

Exits – Lucifer is always careful to stay in the open. I have to remember up is an option.  Weapons – standard gun with regular bullets in holster, Smith and Wesson loaded with bullets comprised of a demon created mix of lead and Hell forged steel hidden in sensible brown boot.  Transportation – sensible brown boots, another solar powered glorified golf cart.  Or, if we want to go faster, giant white wings.

Its Chloe who hears the slice of weaponized wing behind them.  She crouches, trying to tug Lucifer down.  He doesn’t follow, but blocks the blow directed towards her.  Hoael’s sharp feathers connect with Lucifer’s shoulder, cutting open his jacket and shirt where Cain stabbed him with a demon blade.  At her partner’s grimace of distress, Chloe pulls her backup pistol out of her boot.  She fires at his attacker’s outstretched wing where it connects with the shoulder joint, as she and Maze had practiced.  The results are more spectacular then she or Maze could have imagined.  The wing becomes transparent, flickering between this dimension and to wherever angel wings disappear.  Shrieking in pain and terror, Hoael tries unsuccessfully to draw in the wing.

The shrieks of the thunderstruck angel have overridden the sounds of Lucifer’s trousers shredding as he swiftly hulked out to total Devil mode.  The seams of Lucifer’s fitted suit jacket have burst open, unable to contain the expanded breadth of his shoulders.   Sharp spines have shredded the arms of his jacket because the dragon wings exploded out of Lucifer’s back abruptly.  As they manifested, the spines scraped along the back of his jacket sleeves. 

Lucifer, burning red, sharp talons extended, shoves the panicking angel, sending Hoael flying backwards over the buggy and smashing into the concrete wall, bouncing back into the vehicle.  As with Michael, the concrete crumbles but the wall remains.  Jkarenel cowardly flaps off in a flurry, abandoning her ally by shifting out of this dimension.

Lucifer strides over to the pitted wall, yanking the remaining angel up by the robes and shoving her against the wall.  “WHAT did you desire?” he roars, Sulphur on his breath, eyes flashing the crimson of the forge, tapping into Devil power to draw out an angel’s intentions.

Chloe watches avidly, wide eyed and drawn in by Lucifer’s show of force.

Certainly, the Devil is my desire.  All that power, pursuing justice, punishing those who wronged others.  Such in inconvenient time and place to be hot for the Devil.      Focus on the case, Decker.

“Tto capture and destroy Nephelium ‘bbbominations, thereby sssending you back to Hell.” Hoael stutters defiantly.

“Where are the children?” Chloe demands, feet planted, boot revolver aimed at Hoael’s shoulder exactly across from the bullet hole in her back.  Desire frustrated flowed to determined fury at the one who threatens her children.  The Detective notes no exit wound, meaning the bullet is imbedded in the angel’s body.

More afraid of Chloe than Lucifer, the angel whimpers her reply, “N,near Michael’s…”

The speakers crackle to life, drowning out Hoael’s dithering with the thunk of heavy object impacting flesh.   Grunts of pain can be heard. 

“Dan!” Chloe spins a 360, trying to determine where her ex is.

Over the speakers comes a taunting voice, “Come out come out little girl.  You can have Daddy back, just bring the”

The rest of the threat is lost to Lucifer’s deafening otherworldly roar.  The kind that vibrates through your bones and you cringe in case it echoes, hoping not to feel the reverberations.  Light bulbs burst, the cotton candy machine starts whirring and the solar cart roof crackles, mini lightning and thunder flickering across it like St. Elmo’s fire on a boat.

The cart lurches backwards, beeping madly, proving that solar panels will still work with cracks down the middle of them.

Over the racket of Devil turned on machinery and sizzling electrics, Chloe yells, “They must be broadcasting from the communication center near Michael’s cell.”

Lucifer flings Hoael back into the cart, dragging Devil sharp talons as a scythe across the mud colored feathers of the non flickering wing, effectively slicing feathers in half and rendering them useless as weapons or transportation.  He glares at the mouth of the defeated angel, clearly considering ending the verbal slander against him forever.  Restraining hand on Devil's chest as usual, Chloe hisses, not exactly her normal voice of reason and restraint, “Stop, we might need intel out of it yet.”

Lucifer considers, then draws sharp talons across the fingers and palm of his enemy, slicing through tendons, muscles and from the white bits sticking out of the red ooze, bones as well.  “No more preposterous unfair bylaws for Heaven or Earth from you, H.O.A.  E.L.”

The Detective gasps as she makes the connection from the snooty angel’s name, Hoael to that oft detested organization, a Home Owners Association.  Obviously, the absurdly restrictive kind, regulating when residents can place their trash cans at the curb, if people can dry clothes in the sunshine, or the type of car you can park in your own driveway.  No wonder Lucifer breaks rules incessantly.

Her partner steps back and starts snapping those bat wings, ridding them of the dripping blood.  Lucifer snarls,  “No more writings where ‘the Devil made me do it,’ as if humans’ free will doesn’t exist, making their bad choices my fault.”

Chloe runs to him, “Don’t you dare leave me.”   Lucifer’s frantic fanning falters.   She points to Hoael, “That’s one suspect out of commission, but the battle continues.”  Chloe taps her ear, indicating that Lucifer should stop flapping the wings and listen.  They can both hear the sounds of weaponized feathers slicing through the air and the panicked sounds of men suddenly realizing they aren’t the baddest being in the room anymore.  Lucifer chuckles darkly and confides to Chloe,  “From the tone of the screams,  our miscreants have discovered demons are real and slice through appendages indiscriminately.”

“Okay, we will go together and find out where the children are.  And Dan,” Chloe insists after another yelp of pain from her ex.

Shaking his head, Lucifer extends his sharp pointed talons and glares at them, again disgusted with this form, “Devil is useless to you, Detective.  Can’t pick you up and hold you for flying, or anything else.”

“Fine, I can sit on your arm, like I would a swing,”  Chloe insists.  “Will that work?”

“HOLD on very tightly, watch the spines,” he cautions, bending his knees so Chloe can jump backwards like Trixie does to hop onto a swing.

Once Chloe is settled, Lucifer leaps into the air.  Chloe glances down to check that  Hoael remains in the cart.  The maimed angel has a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel with her uninjured hand and is slumped in the still sizzling electric glorified golf cart.

Chapter Text

Arriving at the area near Michael’s cell, Lucifer and Chloe find that the battle has proceeded without them.  Maze is hacking her way through random thugs while priests chant banishing rituals.  The chanting seems to annoy Maze, the bloody evidence of her backup knife in action is all over the faces and throats of screaming priests.

“Luci,” Amenadiel yells, then switches to Enochian, “we need them able to talk til we find out which one knows where the children were taken.” 

Chloe gave me that pedestrian advice too.  Ah well, as the Detective demands.

Lucifer barks in Lilim at Mazikeen, “Hamstrings, not tongues.”

She snarls, teeth glittering, in response, but starts slicing low.  The tide of battle is slowly turning in their favor when the crackling golf cart pulls up.  Hoael is still inside it, but the flickering wing keeps being zapped by the electricity escaping from the solar panels.  Is the wing flickering between dimensions causing the solar panels to arc electricity or is the solar panel electricity unleashed creating the dimensional instability?

The action stops as everyone catches the smell of crisped feathers and hears the zap and sizzle of ungoverned electricity.  Hoael cringes at every spark, screeching like an injured bird with every exhale.

The priests cower when they see Hoael’s wing fluttering in and out of this dimension, while the angel’s body is firmly on the Earthly plane.   Jaws drop, eyes widen as everyone tries to wrap their brain around the volatile flickering.

Amenadiel shouts, “What the Hell?  How did that injury happen?  What even is that?”

As Chloe shoots one fleeing priest in his posterior, Maze shouts to her exuberantly, “I see my bullets work on random feathered fiends.  What a fantastic shot, Decker,” as her knife whistles through the air, burying it in the leg of the holy man who has abandoned his brethren.  He yelps in surprise.  At this, the battle recommences.

Lucifer circles around the outside the skimish, turning screws from a distance til lightpoles fall, electrifying fences, creating sinkholes.  He uses his unlocking powers to prevent the escape of any of the kidnappers or their accomplices.  The Devil keeps a wary eye and ear on Hoael, the cart could be a problem for the humans, tied to the earth without wings.  Chloe works her way through the crowd, trying to find the person in charge, the one with the knowledge of where the children are.  Sheer numbers of priests and henchmen slow her progress.  When Lucifer loses track of her, he takes to the air, aiming for the high point above the fray.

From his stance atop Micheal’s hut, Lucifer watches in horror as Jkarenel reappears, with pointy brass tipped fence pole in hand, rushing at Chloe with the improvised spear.  He flies towards them, but can’t land near them due to the heavy combat surrounding them.   Instead, Lucifer is forced to descend away from his partner and hoof it towards her, knocking enemies and allies alike away with his spiked wings.

Changing tactics, Lucifer charges towards the fight, cursing his Devil form as he stumbles over talons not meant for running on Earth, knowing he cannot get there in time to protect her from both the frontal assault of Jkarenel and Micheal, armed with a cage bar.  “Duck,” he booms as Michael swings a metal cage bar, like the one Chloe used in her defense at this very same zoo.  Chloe crouches down swiftly, Jkarenel thrusts the pole at her anyway.  “CLANG” as Michael whacks the pole with his metal bar, shoving the improvised weapon away from Chloe.  Unaccustomed to the results of physical combat, Jkarenel drops the pole, looking at her ringing hands in shock.  In full Devil mode, leathery wings extended, Lucifer snatches up Chloe’s attacker with clawed talons.  JKarenel screeches, pinpoints of Devil claws digging deep into pampered skin as Lucifer launches straight up.

JKarenel squirms and flails to get loose.

“FALL, then as I did!” Lucifer roars as he soars above the storage hut.

“I still have my wings.” Jkarenel taunts, thrashing about, trying to land a blow on Lucifer.

“That can be fixed.  SWORD!”  Lucifer bellows imperiously when he crashes to the Earth, driving the other angel headfirst into the ground.  The Devil appears impervious to the buffeting from Jkarenel’s sludge colored wings.

Amenadiel and Maze have Hoael pinned to the ground.  Or rather, Amenadiel is towering over both of them, trying to convince Maze NOT to drive her demon blade into Hoael’s mouth to cut out her tongue.  The tongue that had been venomously detailing the plot to torture and destroy Trixie, Rory and Charlie.

At Lucifer’s command, Maze twists her foot, sharp blade coming out of the heel of her boot and enabling the demon to stake the remnants of Hoael’s talon ravaged wing to the earth beneath them.  The demon jumps on Amenadiel’s back, slicing the sheath straps. Careful not to touch the angel smithed pommel or grip, Maze heaves the sheath with the celestial weapon still in it to Lucifer.  As he spins to grab the sword out of the air, his gaze travels over Chloe, still in her protective position.  Lucifer swishes the sword sharply, freeing it from the sheath, knocking out one more priest.  Once he takes a fighting stance with the sword, Lucifer’s focus shifts to Chloe.

“Let the vermin escape,” Lucifer decrees.  At Maze's incredulous look, he entices, “We’ll hunt them later, find children NOW.”

Dan, bloody and bruised but unbowed, has stepped over to Chloe, putting an arm around her shoulders to protect her from random buffeting of retreating priests and henchmen.  He shifts so he provides a barrier between her and Michael.  Lucifer’s guttural growl booms through everyone, but after a quick flick of his eyes to Maze, his red eyed glare is directed to Dan.

The grinning demon whisks away towards Michael’s cell, gloating, “This is gonna be fu,un.  Lucifer wouldn’t speak Lilim if he didn’t want it baaad.”

“Where’sh Trissie?” Dan demands, lips and eyes swelling.  The dissonance fades, even the over protective (possessive) Devil realizes Dan is not threat or rival for the Detective’s affections at this time.

Michael points, answering wearily,  “Go through the gift shop, down the employee only staircase, up the second one on your right.” Michael gives that ironic/hopeless one shouldered micro shrug,   “The code is 1234.”

Dan glares at Michael, “What was that, before the 234?”

 “Micheal?” Dan questions sharply, when the battered angel doesn’t answer swiftly.

Michael gulps, whispers, “Thousand, two hundred, thirty four.”

As Michael turns to rush after Dan and Chloe into the gift shop, Lucifer commands, “HOLD, Michael.  Not one step farther.”

“But Ella!, she ran into the tunnels to find the children,”  Michael glances back and forth between his angry twin and the mouth of the cave from which he escaped.

“Miss Lopez is in good hands, or will be.  You,” Lucifer commands imperiously, pointing the now blazing orange sword at Michael, “will stay where I bid you.”

Michael slumps in defeat, but nods.  He flinches as a grinning Maze rushes towards them with the barbed demon chain, recently hacked free from his door.

Lilim is convenient at least, when I need to give commands to Maze that neither angels or humans will understand.  All they hear is growling.   The terrorized look on Michael’s face as Maze zipped by is almost worth speaking the syllables of Hell.

Maze reminds Lucifer when she reaches him, “You have two feathered goons and only one chain.”

“Drap it over point of that boulder,” Lucifer directs. 

Maze follows his instructions, then retreats a few steps as Lucifer lifts the sword above his head, so all can see it flame to life, courtesy of the lightbringer.  He glares a dare towards the heavens, and any angels watching.  Chloe calls him dramatic, but a display of power may prevent future attacks from his family.

Instead of chopping at the demon chain, Lucifer draws the sword edge across the boulder, grinning as the angels who directed the kidnapping of the children flinch as the menacing ring of sword drawn over stone echoes in the clearing.  Clearly, Lucifer is dragging the Flaming Sword across the stone boulder for effect.  Nothing of Earth could impact a Heaven forged sword.

Once Lucifer lifts the sword over his head, Maze backs away rapidly. 

“You gonna try to hack in half Hell forged demon steel chain with the angel made Flaming sword of Heaven?” even Maze is a little wide eyed about the results of this impetuous decision.

A cry from the cave freezes Lucifer with the sword over his head.  Chloe, with Rory in her arms, and Dan with Trixie in his, have been guided by Ella, carrying Charlie, to the cave where she and Michael were kept. Lucifer looks up at the glowing orange sword, then at the Hell forged chain and straight into the cave opening.

“Darling, take the children towards the back of the cave.  Put something solid between you and what I am about to attempt,” Lucifer cautions.

Dan trots quickly to the rear of the cave, herding Ella ahead of him, trying to prevent her suddenly being confronted by the celestial.  Chloe keeps turning back as she retreats.

Will she stay safe, my darling Detective, or will her curiosity draw her towards the action?  And how do I protect her, without taking away her free will?

“Michael, three steps to your left.” The Devil gestures with the now flickering Flaming Sword.

Michael glances behind him, realizing that Lucifer intends to use him as a shield, between those in the cave and whatever happens when the Devil chops at Hell forged demon steel chain with an angelic flaming sword.

Michael shifts as directed and nods at Lucifer.

The archangel raises the sword once again over his head.  Schling, the sword slices through the air on the downward stroke.  Maze scoffs at Michael tensing, but she is laser focused on the action, ready to spring into action to protect Lucifer, admit it or not.  Chlang, the sword strikes the demon chain and the rock beneath. 

Sizzle, sparks fly.  One sparkling large one headed for the cave, trajectory over Michael’s head.  The rock Lucifer used as an anvil rings with the deep tones of doom.

Michael crouches, as if to escape the impact.

“Coward,” Maze growls in Lilim as she rushes towards the entrance of the cave.  Even at demon speed, she is unlikely to outrun the flying red hot spiked barb tumbling end over end thru the air.

Swoop, Michael launches into the air.  There’s more to angel anatomy for flying than extra muscles on the back.  If you want enough thrust to launch from the ground, you need supersized leg muscles to do that.

The sizzling bit of demon chain impacts Michael on the right shoulder.  Hot enough to set his work jumpsuit to smoldering.  He winces from the impact, landing unbalanced and bent over.  Grimacing in pain, Michael reaches around to grab a spike.  He yanks his singed fingers away from the barb, still sparking in his clothes.

Maze plucks the device from his still smoking coveralls.  She examines the spiked ball, “Classic medieval weapon,” she enthuses,  “so so much blood when the spikes dig into flesh. Then you yank it back with the stick, dripping blood, and strike again.”  She walks around the battlefield, gleefully connecting wood stick to metal chain and then metal chain to the barbed ball.  “Looky here, when the Devil combines Hell forged steel and angel created sword behold an ancient creation, the Morgenstern.” 

“Yes, Mazikeen,” Lucifer snarls, “We know the Germans named it after me.”

Maze caresses the spikes of barbed Morningstar under Michael’s nose.

He pulls back slightly, looking a little green.  There are bits of smoldered jumpsuit fabric melted into the barbs on one side.

From the entrance of the cave, Chloe commands, “Maze, we will add that flail to our armory.  It will serve as inspiration on how weapons can be upgraded to combat celestial beings.  We will fight to keep Lucifer here, on Earth, with his family.”

The twins exchange an alarmed look, both clearly wondering what else this intelligent woman might do with demon rigged weapons.  She’s already taken out a wing on their sibling, with a mortal bullet enhanced with Hell forged steel.   Maze manages to salute Chloe while drawing the weapon so quickly past Michael’s dangling locks that his curls rock with the breeze of its passing.

“Detective, you should have stayed where it was safer.”

“Just like you always do, partner.”

Maze chuckles at Chloe’s dry rejoinder to Lucifer.

“Michael, into your hut, whilst we sort villains and victims,” Lucifer commands.

Hunched over, Michael slowly shuffles into the cave.  He swings the door shut behind him.  Glaring, Lucifer flicks his hand  imperiously and everyone can hear the metal bar lock snick shut.

Chapter Text

“MAZE,” Lucifer bellows in the silence, pointing to JKarenel, attempting to sneak away.

The demon scoops up one half of the barbed chain and throws it like a bola at the  angel as she launches into the air, wings spread for take off.  The Hell forged chain wraps itself around the wing joint at the shoulder.  The barbs embed themselves in feathers, the thin skin underneath at the joint and back.  JKarenel shrieks in the physical plane and also the one that roars through skulls as she plummets, her wing flickering between dimensions.  The high pitched screaming has humans cringing and ineffectively covering their ears. With a loud thump, JKarenel’s body impacts the Earth.  Noting her favorite humans discomfort from the discordant squawking, Maze casts about for a way to muffle it.  Cackling, the demon shoves a mud encrusted size large left behind boot in the angel’s mouth.   The choking noises coming from JKarenel have much less volume that the discordant screeches and no other worldly reverberation at all.

“Mommy,” comes Trixie’s awed whisper, “can I learn how to throw like that?” the wide eyed young girl asks, peeking out from her position behind her mother.

“Yes,” Chloe agrees, surprising everyone.  She glares at the demon demonstrator, “Not demon chain and no barbs, Mazikeen.”

Maze winks, “Yes, my queen. Liked your flickering wing punishment so so much. Just had to copy it.”  The demon grins at Trixie, “All that filth gathered on you during your escape shows bravery.  No need to swipe at your dirt.”

What have I brought my daughter to?

Startled, Chloe attempts to wipe the grime off her daughter's face.  The sticky white cobwebs in her tangled hair will have to wait for shampoo and a shower.  The clothes may have to be written off entirely because of the dirt, cobwebs and rents in the cloth.

A red flash and sudden unearthly pressure halts Chloe’s attempts to clean up her daughter.  She glances behind her towards Lucifer, red eyes flickering, transferring the glowing sword from one taloned hand to another, menace in every motion.

“They will pay for the Urchin’s dishevelment, Detective.”  Deep, dark slow tones signal the Devil’s displeasure.   Lucifer swings the flickering orange sword to encompass all their enemies at the zoo.   He sneaks a defiant glance to the sky. Chloe sees the moment Lucifer realizes he is the cast out scapegoat no longer, but once again an archangel, dominant in Heaven.  Standing tall, he fully faces the Heavens, narrowed eyes flickering red in time with the Flaming sword.   A warning to all the angels that they will feel the Devil’s wrath, should they have participated in the kidnapping.

“Trixie, go back to Daddy.”  Chloe spins her daughter around to shield Trixie from Lucifer’s red eyed glare that terrifies grown men.    She reprimands her daughter,  “Stay out of sight next time, til Daddy or I or Lucifer tells you its safe, okay,”  After Trixie nods, Chloe relents,  “I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes, Mommy.”  Trixie snuffles, but obeys and shuffles towards the back of the cave.

“Darling, is all well with you?”  Lucifer asks as gently as the Devil can all hulked out, otherworldly timbre making the care in his voice echo oddly.  “I’ve seen the determination before, but not often the fury and desperation.”

Fury at myself, for no good options right now. Desperation at being asked to choose between my daughters here and now needs and their futures.

“Both my daughters need their mom right now,”  Chloe fumes, hot as the Devil confronted by injustice.  “Can I be more effective protecting them by being their comforting mommy or by being your celestial consultant and Detective Lieutenant right now?”  She shares her dilemma with her partner.

Self recriminations will do no good, but what’s the correct course of action here?

“Tective, no Chloe, how are the children?” Lucifer inquires, asking questions so his partner can think through her options and not be wroth with him for the family that is relentless in punishing him and anyone on his side.

“Physically fine,” Chloe assures, “but they will both need my undivided attention some point soon.  And I, them.”

“Very well.”  Lucifer rearranges the order of business to accommodate his Detective’s desires.  “Will you consent to Maze, Daniel and I beginning the investigating whilst you attend to Urchin and Gamine?”

Chloe nods, “I’ll keep Ella with me, to help.”

As Chloe calms, the furious red burn of the Devil fades to bedraggled playboy, albeit with an eternal stare.  Mismatched with both reputations is the concern for others only those closest to him recognize, apparent to Chloe as he slowly draws near to her.

“Right, Detective, of course.”  Lucifer mummers in her ear, “And you are entirely certain that you are alright?”

“Yes, love,” Chloe assures.  As Lucifer does not look entirely content with her answer, she steps into his space, pulling him down first for a kiss on his cheek, then to draw his head down to hers.  Foreheads meet gently, Lucifer relaxes into her embrace, ultimately grinning at his own relief at changing back to human form without the vexation and drama of previous harrowing attempts. 

“Your acceptance changes me from Devil face to handsome club owner,” Lucifer mummers in her ear.  Chloe huffs, but caresses his neck, petting those sensitive hairs at the back of his neck.  He rolls his head into her touch, seeking contact with her as always.

Snuffles from Trixie break the moment.  Even wrapped in Dan’s embrace, she is wet eyed and looks at her mother imploringly.  Chloe breaks gently away from Lucifer to walk to her daughter.  She hugs Trixie, still in Dan’s arms.

“Monkey, okay if Daddy helps Lucifer now?  We have to find out what happened here.” Chloe explains.

Trixie nods, reluctantly slipping out of her Dad’s hug.  “We left Ella with both babies,” she frets.

Dan asks, “Where Amenadiel?” as he limps towards Lucifer.

“Flew to Linda’s.” Lucifer’s answer is short and clipped, not camouflaging the depth of Lucifer’s concern for his therapist, previously severely injured by his malevolent family.

Dan glances back to where Trixie and Chloe are waving a goodbye from the entrance to the cave.  Chloe gives Lucifer a thumbs up and a tight smile, trying to convey that he should be positive about Linda’s safety and well being.

“I hope she issh alright,” Dan worries.

“Yes, and so do all the misguided stooges here,” Lucifer’s dark and threatening tone quiets the bird chatter once again as light dims without the clouds covering the sun.  The sudden red flash is does nothing to lighten the atmosphere.

Trixie ducks behind her mother as the wind whips up.  Chloe wraps an arm around her daughter.

“Lucifer’s overdramatic carryings on don’t impact the innocent,” Maze cues them in while digging at her former lord,  “for all the atmosphere is a darkenin’, a howlin’ and there might be a shakin’ soon.”

Dan shakes his head, “Nope, no’ happening.”  Sometimes its best to ignore the fact that your friend’s mood can affect the physical world around you.  Especially when you have to investigate a crime scene where your daughter was one of the victims. 

Chloe winks a reassurance at Dan and points to Trixie.  “Don’t worry,” she mouths.  Its comforting for the five seconds before experienced Californians hear the underground rumble that often precedes a quake.

Chapter Text

“Mazikeen, escort Michael back out here now that the Detective is safely away with the Urchin.” Lucifer’s rumble is more threatening than the pre quake noises the earth just made.  They at least faded to nothing this time.  Lucifer’s displeasure is eternal.

The demon snarls something unprintable in Lilim.

“So I may judge his reactions to my questions and their answers.”  Lucifer’s eyes flash red,  “Also, he can be reminded that the Devil WILL take care of his own.”

“I hate tactics and investigation,” Maze complains.  “Much better with slash and stab.”

“Only a true warrior adapts, Mazikeen,” Lucifer reproves.

Lucifer flicks a hand at the door to Michael’s quarters, unlocking it.

Maze grins with lots of demon teeth, “Join the party, wingless one.  Just remember, there’s plenty of other places in your body to insert the back up bullets I carry for Decker.”  She rakes a glance over Michael’s body, clearly assessing where the most painful spot might be.

Lucifer shakes his head, perhaps he should suggest alternate weapons training to Chloe for bonding with Maze.  Demon bullets in the hands of the sometimes unstable Mazikeen is an alarming development, even to the Devil.

Apparently, Michael feels the same way, slinking out the door and limping around towards Lucifer.  The Devil notes that his twin holds his right side and winces with every breath.  Was Michael injured in the battle and by whom?

Hoael whines, “Michael encouraged us to trick you to come here.  Jkarenel said we should interfere so no more ‘reformed’ souls come to Heaven.  If you don’t punish her, will you take the projectile out of my wing?” the staked angel begs over the crackle of her wing, transitioning between dimensions.

“We will leave the bullet right where it is,” Lucifer gloats.  “Absolutely.  Placed where it is, you can’t flap your wing without excruciating pain.  Joints are funny that way. The bullet will leach both lead and demon steel into your blood system unevenly.  You will ever remember the result,” from clipped ominous syllables, Lucifer’s threat turns to otherworldly dark booming tones meant to reach Heaven and Hell, “of actions against the Detective and her family.  The punishment she dispenses is final and irrevocable, except by her decree.”

Hoael glares at JKarenel, trying to pluck the demon chain off her body and stop the wing flickering from one dimension to another.  She only succeeds in drawing the barbs deeper into wing.  Her full body coughing and thrashing have expelled the boot from her mouth.

“And don’t fret.  Your co conspirator will suffer the same fate.  Only it will be Mazikeen, with curved blades, imbedding bullet melded with demon steel in Jkarenel’s wing joint,” the Devil dictates.  Lucifer hopes his expression is that of stone, punishment of his family was oft contemplated, but the reality is very unsettling still.

In her excitement, Maze loses some of the glamour covering her face.  Her toothy grin is rendered even more terrifying.  Almost as dreadful as Lucifer’s eyes, red with wrath.  The defeated angels whimper and try to shift the blame, “No, we are sorry.  It was Michael’s idea.”  They point to the haggard angel, bent over from his injuries.

Dan objects, “I can’t believe you ‘till think you can ma’e M’el your fall guy.”  Dan points at Michael to make his meaning clear in spite of missing syllables caused by his swelling lips.

“Fall, Daniel?” Lucifer asks all too evenly.

“Yeah, the priests’ goons told all, trying to get me to confess where Trixie had taken Rory, ow, and Charlie.  Hsh and J here made their plans here to im’licate Mi’el, knowing we all hate him and would be qui’ to blame him,” Dan reports.

All eyes turn to the battered angel.  Lucifer asks, “Michael, I will ask one question.”

Michael nods, accepting the deal.

“What set off the invisible fence alarm drawing me here?”

“Ella walloped me with a cage bar.” Micheal looks down his right side, obviously mystified by the continued pain.

Lucifer and Dan chuckle darkly.  “Good for her.”  The bracelet bros knock fists, the manly way to celebrate being in chorus.

Dan shifts back to dark and menacing, “And why would she wha’ing you w’ ‘age bar?”  He advances on Michael, hand on still holstered gun.

“I told her to, so Lucifer would come to the zoo,” Michael explains, hands up.

“Whilst my enemies lay in wait?” Lucifer speculates in crisp tones.

Michael nods, “Yes, but before they could hurt the rugr, err,  kids.  I was, I wasn’t working with Hoael or JKarenal or the kidnappers.  Or with the poisoning priests.  I used the pole Ella freed to parry Jkarenel’s thrust at Ch..”  Maze growls, sharp teeth on full display while pantomiming her finger holding down a remote button.  Michael corrects himself speedily. “Her, Her Highness.”

“Ah.”  Lucifer oozes skepticism,  “Shall we look into this fantastical claim, Daniel?”

“I’ll be in the co’’unication control center reviewing the recordings.” Dan winces, putting a hand to his swelling face.  “I  find ishe,” then gingerly walks towards that building. 

Maze pulls out the clicker.  “So, my King, when do we wrap the other flailing former flapper with the demon chain?  Wanna try the clicker on them soo, so bad.”  Her fingers dance over the remote impatiently.  The Devil puts out an imperious hand for the device.

“You may have the honors with the chain, Mazikeen.  Evaluate your options thoroughly for the most effective placement,” the demon looks questioningly at Lucifer’s clipped tone, her former master generally revels in punishment.

He stands tall, expression implacable again, except for the eyes of Hellfire.

“NO, no, didn’t mean it.  I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this,” the defeated angels beg.

The Devil thunders, “Turn out like this!?  You terrorized a human child, one under my protection, that you knew well.  You led humans to plot against other humans, injuring each other, as if they don’t do that enough on their own,” Lucifer rants against the injustice of it.

Maze knows her former master well and has not dawdled in choosing a spot to wrap the demon chain around his enemy.  Since the boot hadn’t worked as permanent solution to stop the caterwauling, perhaps the barbs cutting into her lips and soft skin of the neck will serve.

Still fuming, the Devil tosses the clicker to the demon.  He glances over at Michael, already flinching from their casual handling of the device that causes him pain.  Lucifer subtly presses unseen piano keys.

The demon taps the buttons, no sizzle or spark.  Maze bangs the clicker against one hand, hoping to jolt it into submission.  Lucifer shakes his head and taps more unseen piano keys.

When the plastic cover of the clicker begins to crack, Lucifer puts a hand out for it.

Hissing, Maze snarls, shoving the clicker at him.

Lucifer puts a bit of showmanship into it, but finally has H and J convulsing as Bobby B did.  He grins in satisfaction.

“It never gets old,” he gloats.

“Its not zapping the other one,” Maze complains, tipping her head in Michael’s direction.

“No, Mazikeen.  And it will not, at this moment,” Lucifer cautions his best lieutenant.  “Michael did my bidding and will not be punished til we determine his guilt or innocence here.”

Surprised, Michael looks at Lucifer with wide, inquiring eyes.

“Don’t get your hopes up just yet,” Lucifer warns, “brother mine, that you have escaped my justice.  There will be a very thorough investigation of your role in all this.  For now, its sufficient that they,” Lucifer jabs a thumb at the downed angels, “attacked both the Detective and you.”   Lucifer reluctantly admits, “You, it appeared that you defended her.”

I’ve not often hated the ‘I don’t tell a lie’ vow, but here we are.

Michael nods, “Yeah, I , well, Scrappy wouldn’t like it if her friends got hurt or worse, dead around me.”

“And who is this ‘Scrappy’?”

The twins are startled out of their discussion by a yelp from Jkarenel as Maze drives curved karambit into collarbone.

“Mazikeen, I believe you know more of angel anatomy than that,” Lucifer comments in haughty disapproval.  “There’s no connection to the wings at the front of the collarbone.”

The demon attempts to look innocent.  Shrugging, she replies, “Clumsy me, had to test, didn’t I?”

“Carry on.” Lucifer closes his eyes and shakes his head.  She might have a soul now, but Mazikeen is still all demon when it comes to tormenting angels.  May as well enjoy the show, Chloe is still settling the children.

“Pay attention, Michael,” Lucifer grins at his brother’s alarmed look.  “Maze is a creative torturer and she has a long list of grievances against you.”

JKarenel shrieks, “You promised you would do it with the Flaming Sword, an honorable amputation.”

“Did no such thing,” Lucifer refutes hotly.   “I bellowed for the Sword.  What you assumed is your problem, not mine,” Lucifer vehemently disputes everyone’s go to premise that he is lying.

“But why this punishment, with human poisons?” the defeated angels wail.

With the haughtiness of ruling for eons, Lucifer decrees, “The Detective has indicated that lead and demon steel bullets imbedded in the wing at the collarbone joint are the proper punishment and protection from re-occurrence of plotting harm to her family.  If Mazikeen chooses to carve a warning on your body indicating same, then, ‘So.  Be.   It.’”

Both chained angels cringe further into themselves as the icy hot air of Hell sweeps over them.  The demon knife slips as the Earth shudders.  Maze cackles, “This is much more fun here than when you do it in Hell.  Who can tell there if its your displeasure making the brimstone winds howl or liars falling into the Styx, making it belch?”  She winks at Micheal, clearly including him in with the liars.

“Mazikeen,” Lucifer reprimands, “you are mixing metaphor myths.”

“But the look on Michael’s face, my king,” Maze crows.

Lucifer does chuckle at the widened eyes and rapid breaths of his brother, “Did you not pay attention to which was fiction and which was truth whilst you were in Hell, Michael?” 

The Sword of God has tried to straighten up, like a soldier expecting his reprimand next.  Michael’s wince of pain detracts from the image.

The sky darkens again as the winds whip up, shaking the tree tops.

“Still not got the hang of that Emeritus thing, do ya my king?” Maze taunts.  “Hell and Heaven firepower combined into the ultimate in celestial dominion now that Dad and Mum have toddled off into the sunset.  Really think the humans, even Chloe, can withstand the collective force?”

“The Detective is a human Miracle, Mazikeen, well able to withstand the celestial.”

“Certain, my former lord, of your supposition?  You’ll have to hope its not as full of holes as your control.”

“Remember your place.”   Thunder crackles out at sea.

Maze cocks a reproving brow at Lucifer.  He holds up his forefinger, then looks to the sky and clasps his hands together to receive prayer.  As she seethes, Maze takes out her irritation at waiting by twitching both chains while snarling soundlessly at Michael.

“The Doctor and Eve are fine, Mazikeen.  They were asleep when Amenadiel arrived, with a few bruises.”  Lucifer informs her, relief in his tone and relaxing body.

Maze sends a demon blade whistling between the twins.  It embeds itself in the wood fence behind them.

In an aside to Micheal, Lucifer joshes, “That’s Maze, celebrating good news.”

Lucifer’s phone rings and Linda’s voice explodes at the other end.  “How am I to get to my child, Lucifer?  Can’t leave Eve by h,herself, Amenadiel can’t carry two,  mini van destroyed by whomever invaded my home and stole my child.”

“Linda, I will have a limo at your home to pick the three of you up in 15 minutes.”   Lucifer has learned that mothers worried for a child do not appreciate jesting distractions. “Char, my head valet, will have a replacement for your minivan, at my expense of course, with appropriate child car seat, delivered to the zoo.”

“The baby bug out bag is always prepped.  I will be standing at the end of the driveway in 14 minutes. Do Rory or Trixie need anything?” Linda demands crisply.

“Doctor, please pack whatever you determine Urchin and Gamine might need.  In the future, may we spend a session on ‘baby bug out bag’?  I do not wish to leave the infant’s requirements to chance if there is a situation.”

“Oh, I’m gonna ‘situation’ some angel,” Linda threatens, venom so apparent even electronic speakers don’t muffle it.   “Lesson to all of them.”

“Of course, Linda, as you wish.”  After she hangs up, Lucifer begins texting.

“Now you are really in for it,” Maze gloats to the whimpering angels writhing on the ground.  “Micheal here can tell you that ‘the Doctor’ Fury probes for weak spots with her words.  Sharp as my demon blades, hidden damage just as long lasting.”

Chapter Text

Previously, in Imagining – Lucifer and Chloe pined for each other on separate planes.  Amenadiel convinced Lucifer to go back to Earth before Rory was born because Michael had confessed to tricking Rory in the Hell loops as she time jumped.  Charlotte and Dan find their way back to Earth.   More of Lucifer’s siblings make his Earth family their target and try to pin the blame on Michael.  Post battle, Chloe found some privacy to nurse Rory, reassure Trixie and quiz Ella on their captivity and Michael’s part in it.

In the tunnels under the bird sanctuary, Trixie snuggled in on one side, Chloe tickles Rory’s feet to wake her.  The baby’s eyes blink a few times, then she starts to nuzzle for food.  Once Rory is latched on and nursing enthusiastically, Chloe asks Ella, “How did you know so accurately where the children were?”

“Miguelito, sorry, Michael, said he overheard the goons’ plans for Trixie.  But that doesn’t make sense, the goons didn’t know where Trixie went.  Honestly, Chloe, I’m not sure.  It all happened so fast.  He did know the tunnels, Michael.”  Ella whispers, hoping not to wake Charlie in her arms.  Charlie should wake, but no one wants to have him awaken without Linda or Amenadiel.

“Mommy, I knew the tunnels from the bird rescue being dedicated to Daddy.  I showed Lucifer an old picture of drawings of Mars’ canals.   The tunnels follow the Mars map.” Trixie, child of two detectives, continues.  “I knew how they were marked so the employees don’t get lost down there.”

Chloe praises, “That’s brilliant, Trixie, to remember under pressure how the tunnels are marked and where they lead.”

“Ah,” Ella adds, “Michael knows the tunnels from working here and staying out of sight during the times when its open to the public.”

“Monkey, how did you get free in the first place?” Chloe wonders.

“The guys who took us into the tunnels were very nervous about being down there.  Spiders, spooky noises, and flickering lights.”  Trixie confides,  “I thought it was Lucifer here to rescue us.”

Ella continues the  tale, “When all of us were together, Miguelito mentioned everything people are afraid of in tunnels – bats, spiders, mine collapse, small enclosed spaces, centipedes, the dark.  By the time he finished, all the hoodlums were jumpy and not wanting to be in the tunnels at all.  No of them were willing to pursue the kids once Trixie escaped.  Miguelito knew everyone’s fears and which ones to play on with whom, the same way Lucifer draws out desires and confessions.”  Ella stops for breath, contemplating the connection.

“Trixie, were you afraid?” Chloe worries.

“No, Mommy, I’d been in the tunnels before and knew they were solid.  The bugs all scurried away when Michael glared at them, but right towards our guards.  They didn’t like that surprise.”  Trixie concludes gleefully,  “Boy, did they jump.”

“The bugs or the guards, Monkey?” Chloe asks, smiling and kissing the top of her Trixie’s head.

“Both Mommy, like a bad dance.”  Rory waves her arms in agreement.

Ella chimes in, “While Michael terrified the guards,  Trixie took Rory and Charlie down the tunnels.”

“What did you do then, Monkey?”

Trixie pipes up, “We hid, Mommy, just like Maze instructed.   Then, Ella found us.” 

“Ella, were you frightened when Michael rattle off the list of tunnel terrors?”

“Oh, no.  Bugs don’t bother me and the dark, the dark isn’t the only time bad things happen,” Ella shivers.

Better hop in with a question here, so Ella focuses on something besides Pete’s attempt to kill her.

“Mommy,” Trixie asks as she scrambles up, “Can I use the bathroom?  Its that door across from us.”

“Of course, Trixie.”

Once the door shuts behind her daughter, Chloe begins questioning Ella in earnest, “What was Michael’s attitude towards Dan?”

“Miguelito was very concerned that Dan not suffer,” Ella reassures Chloe. “Once Dan started to groan from the beatings, Miguelito was trying to summon help by making his wardens think he was escaping.”

“How did he do that?” Chloe interrogates her unknowing witness.

I have to watch for the long game here, Michael is a warrior and swordsman.  Might be more of a planner than other angels.

“He had me wallop him with a cage bar I loosened, right where the horrible invisible fence collar, as he calls it, runs down his right side,” Ella explains.

“And how did he treat you?” Chloe asks, pulling on her acting training to ask calmly.

No matter what Ella gushes approvingly about Michael, I’m still going to remind him, forcefully, that she is under the protection of the Furies and their demon disciple.  I have to use the terms he used for us to be sure he remembers how much power we have over the conditions his ‘home’ detention.  Or any detention.

“Miguelito protected me by lying to our captors and directing their attention to the underground sounds.  He said it was cave walls crumbling or rats scurrying thru the tunnels.  The perps who were supposed to guard us couldn’t flee fast enough, especially once the lights were on the fritz.  They were super afraid,”  Ella pronounces proudly, like Trixie, she is gleeful about that turn of events.

Worried that Michael, even wingless, has the same ability to influence electrics as Lucifer, Chloe asks, “How did he get the lights to flicker and go out?”

Ella responds enthusiastically, “There was an exposed electric wire in the cave and Miguelito kept whispering “Snake, snake.  It’s a good thing I’m used to Lucifer’s antics.  Very little weird surprises me anymore.”  Ella explains,  “Even if our captors couldn’t hear Miguelito, it sure seemed to work on the rats and they ate right thru the wire, making the lights flicker and further freakin out the hoodlums.  Miguelito knew where the battery  lanterns were in case of power outage and he gave one to me so I could travel through the tunnels.”

Chloe interrogates carefully,  “He didn’t go with you?”

“No, he guarded the entrance from his quarters to the underground tunnels, so none of our enemies could follow me that way.  Michael was a real guardian angel today, no matter what he may have done in the past for someone to put a monitor ankle bracelet on him.”  Ella’s tone about the tracking device indicates her disapproval of it to a seasoned detective.

Trixie nods enthusiastic agreement as she walks back to them.  Chloe cautions, “When we rejoin them, we will see what Daddy and Lucifer have discovered about Michael’s behavior today.”

Chapter Text

While Chloe, Ella and the children are recuperating in the tunnels, Dan approaches the twins.  He whispers in Lucifer’s ear, “So far the recordings back up what Michael claimed.”

Lucifer draws Dan away from Michael.  “What do you suggest, Daniel?”

“I’d like to ask him some questions.  Interrogate him a little,”  there’s lots of teeth in Dan’s grin as they walk back to Michael.

“Daniel, certainly you may resume your,” Lucifer draws a deep breath and fidgets with the bracelet Dan gave him, as the cufflinks were lost in battle.

The pause gives Lucifer time to realize he must show respect for Dan’s abilities and not insult him or his bumbling shoegum skills in front of Michael.

“earthly calling of investigation,”  Lucifer concludes as diplomatically as he can, while still telling the truth.

“Michael, Ella said you would know where the clean towels are kept,” Dan starts with an odd question, hoping to throw Michael into truth telling.

“Yes,” Michael agrees.

“She said you got banged up, to summon Lucifer so Kinley’s men would have to stop torturing me for information.” Disbelief is written all over Dan’s face.  “Did you?”

“Yes,” Michael nods, watching Lucifer as he answers.

“Last time, you conspired to have me killed,” Dan accuses hotly.

Finally glancing at Dan, Michael assents, “Yes.”

“Are you working towards a thousand affirmatives, Michael?” Dan is clearly losing patience.

“Ye, es,” Michael cringes at the reminder, accompanied by Lucifer’s glare, clearly Dan is in the know about Lucifer’s threat.

“They were all yes no questions.” Michael whines slightly.

“Was it your intent to summon Lucifer?” Dan demands.

Lucifer puts in testily, “Not a demon, Daniel, can’t be summoned.”

Dan waves a shut up already hand at the Devil, who chuckles at his friend’s spunk.

“I intended Lucifer to respond here, yes.” Michael affirms.

Dan establishes a timeline, “But the kids escaped before Lucifer or any one else arrived at the zoo.  How did they escape?”

Michael replies, “I played on their fears.”

“The children’s?” Lucifer thunders, eyes flickering to red.  Dan reaches where his pistol should be, but isn’t, instead fisting his hands as his body shifts to attack stance.

Michael freezes, “No, no, our captors.  I mentioned the unsafe conditions often found underground, which Miss Lopez and Miss Trixie knew wasn’t true of these tunnels.  Fear herded any bugs towards the captors.  Convinced the rats the wire was a snake so they would bite it and the power would fritz anytime the Dou, er, Detective Espinoza groaned too bad.”

“Why not just let me be killed, again?” Dan inquires.

“To protect Ella from being their next target.”  Micheal gives that awkward microshrug, muttering, “Also, she’s going to hate me, if she finds out about the other.”

Lucifer cocks his head, “This is all about Miss Lopez’s opinion of you?”

Michael looks very interested in his battered boots, scuffing the floor.

“Mikeeey,” Lucifer employs his mojo on his brother, willing him to look up.

Slowly, Michael does so, his face turned away, but his gaze locked with Lucifer’s.

“I don’t want her to think I’m a monster,” Michael slowly admits in a whisper.   He complains, “Its enough to look like Al Capone in a Quasimodo costume.”

With the twin thing, Lucifer and Michael communicate their reluctance to pop the bubble in which Ella currently resides, believing, but without understanding that angels are actually here on Earth.  Demonstrating physical proof of their identity doesn’t work out so well for angels.  “Be not afraid” only goes so far.

With the use of the term ‘monster’, Lucifer wonders just how much his nefarious twin has spied on him.  Or, perhaps, all not perfect in appearance angels believe they are monstrous.  Too many feels in this day, if he has sympathy for Michael.

The jingle jangle of decorative chains draws the attention of all three males.

“Saved by the bell,   ed demon,” Lucifer mutters under his breath.

“All the henchmen, priestly and otherwise, are stashed in underground cells, awaiting your interrogation,” Maze brags.  She continues her report,  “Feathered fiends still thrashing against their staked demon steel bonds, but only very sticky duct tape, tightly wrapped, is needed to keep them quiet.”

Maze’s nonchalant description of the captured angels condition has Michael shuddering and Dan laughing, somewhat nervously.  Lucifer says, “With that well in hand, Mazikeen, you and Daniel may continue to interview Michael.”

“And where are you off to?” Maze demands, as Lucifer strides swiftly towards the gift shop.

“To make sure the bugs Mikey compelled are not following the Detective and imps,” Lucifer tells only part of the truth.

Dan shakes his head, “He’s got it baad.”

“And still not wanting to admit it,” Maze razzes fondly.

Chapter Text

Chloe startles awake to find large hands on Rory, scooping her away.  She tightens her grip on the baby and glares up at the threat.

“Lucifer?”

“Darling, why are you all unconscious?” Lucifer demands, as breathlessly as Chloe’s ever heard him.

“Asleep, Lucifer.”  Chloe resists the temptation to roll her eyes. “Being kidnapped tires mortals and babies.”

Trixie squeals and launches herself at Lucifer, who startles backwards, landing on his ass while keeping Trixie from getting squished by his fall.

Gently, a sleepy Ella asks, “What did you think happened, Lucifer?”

“I thought, thought you all had been drugged again.  You were so silent and still.”

Ella tries to reassure, “No, Lucifer, just exhausted.”

Trixie teases, “Silly Devil.” As Chloe rolls her eyes, “You are over dramatic babe.”

“Well, how was I to know?” Lucifer whines.  He launches into an emphatic diatribe of the situation as he saw it, “All of you together and no Detective discourse, no chattering child, no tempestuous toddler, no babbling baby, or effervescent Ella.”  Lucifer’s hands gesture towards each one of them as he describes them.  One could almost say ‘fluttered’ but that’s for small feathered creatures, anxious with the knowledge predator becomes prey in a second.

Chloe realizes this is Lucifer’s stress response.  The quickest fix she knows is to transfer Rory to Lucifer’s arms.

“OH,” now Lucifer startles and freezes up.

Chloe smothers her laugh at Lucifer’s wide eyes and regression back to stiffness around small humans.  Or, is it something more? Lucifer is eyeing the crumbling walls of the tunnels with great suspicion.  OH, indeed, dank and dim with grey dust slowly drifting down in stuffy air.  Except for the no screaming, the little cave’s condition matches that of Hell.  Time to get her partner out of a triggering place.

“Ella, lets go back before everyone winds up down here in search of us,” Chloe suggests, taking Charlie from her so the forensic scientist can get off the floor of the cave.  Once Ella is up, she holds her hands out, excited to carry Charlie again.

“Ready, Monkey,” and Chloe holds a hand out to Trixie, who is now rubbing her eyes and yawning.

Chloe, Trixie and Ella carrying Charlie trail after Lucifer, striding swiftly through the tunnels.  Carrying a baby does little to slow long legged Lucifer’s swift pace.

After a few minutes, Lucifer and Rory have rounded a corner and are out of sight.

Chloe stops entirely as Trixie stumbles. “Monkey, you okay?”

“Yes, Mommy.  I’m not wearing my hiking boots for this expedition,” Trixie giggles.

“We will take it slower then,” Chloe suggests as they start off again.

Ella adds, “Alright by me.  How are babies so heavy for their size?”

I’ll have to ask Lucifer, if he knows, if wings are heavy, in their pocket dimension.

Chloe stops their party again, to show Ella how to switch holds without waking the baby.

After a few steps, they hear someone rushing towards them, clearly someone in dress shoes in a hurry.

Just short of panting, Lucifer demands, “Tective, where have you been?  Why have you not kept up?  Is one of you injured in some way?”  Lucifer scans the area very quickly, clearly looking for threats.

“Lucifer,” Chloe puts her hand on his arm, knowing her touch settles him.  “Tired people travel slowly, especially with a sleeping toddler.”  She tips her head towards Charlie.

Lucifer looks down at the squirming baby, “She does seem restless.”

After rolling her eyes at Lucifer’s self absorption, Chloe wonders, “Do I tell him babies pick up on parent’s feelings?  Nope, better to get him out of here and into the sunshine and wide open spaces.  If I tell him here, he’s likely to look for the nearest entrance to Hell and flee down it for failing his daughter.”

Chloe is glad she waited, her flamboyant partner seems to be trying to calm, if Lucifer can find it with baby drool on wrecked Armani.

“Shall we proceed then, ladies?” the Devil bows them towards the exit.

Chloe grins as Lucifer drops back to courtliness to cover his anxious return.

Lucifer declares,  “We don’t need everyone down here, getting ash covered and forming search parties for you dilly dallyers.”

“That’s why we heard you jogging back to us buddy,” Ella grins at a chance to tease Lucifer.

Chloe rolls her eyes as Lucifer straightens up, trying to find his dignity and jiggle an increasingly fretful in her sleep baby.

“Does he hope to outrun the fussiness?” Chloe wonders as he once again rounds a corner and is out of their sight.

Ella jokes, “It’s a good thing he doesn’t wear a fitbit, he’d have twice the steps we do because he keeps backtracking to us.”

With long efficient strides, Lucifer returns to the stragglers.

He transfers Rory to one side and extends his other arm to a now limping Trixie.

She looks puzzled.

“Well, child, lets all get out of here faster.  This one time only, latch and hold on.”  Lucifer presents his not baby holding side to Trixie, with an arm stretched out to scoop her up.  “Chop, chop, now.”

Chloe giggles as her daughter suddenly has a spurt of energy to Lucifer’s side.  Trixie jumps up for Lucifer to catch her and wraps her arms around his neck.

“Ladies, if you will,” as Lucifer inclines his head to Chloe and Ella, with Charlie, to proceed him.

“Urchin, if you will be so kind as to provide directions to us all for the swiftest way to the surface.”

Trixie chirps excitedly, “Take a right, Mommy, then up the stairs.”  Chloe gives Lucifer a relieved thumbs up, if Trixie is enthusiastic to play tour guide, she is recovering from being kidnapped yet again.

Ella whispers to Chloe, “And Beatrice leads Lucifer out of Hell.”

Chloe grins at Ella’s reference to Dante’s Beatrice, and continues smiling as Lucifer encourages Trixie to explain about recognizing the tunnel layout being based on the old pictures of Mars’ supposed canals.

As they see daylight, Trixie squirms to be let down.

“Urchin, what’s wrong?”  Lucifer looks worriedly at Trixie, then at a now contentedly sleeping Rory.  “Have I hurt you somehow?”

Trixie stills, “No, Lucifer.  I want down so I can walk out myself.”

“Of course, Urchin, but why?  Have I squished you or the implette?” Lucifer regards both girls with great concern.

“I want Daddy to see me on my own two feet, not carried like a baby,” Trixie insists.  “I want him to be proud of me.”

Chloe steps up, “Of course your Daddy is proud of you.  Look what you accomplished today.  You kept two babies safe, escaped your captors, navigated the tunnels by yourself to a hiding spot and stayed in it until we could rescue you.”

Trixie just buries her head in Lucifer’s neck.

He jiggles her, the way he has seen Chloe and Linda bounce a fussy baby.

“Do you know, child, that your father wants you to be proud of him?” Lucifer asks gently.

Trixie shakes her head.

Lucifer reassures, “He does, very much.  He always wants to be your hero.”  Chloe nods emphatically, reinforcing Lucifer’s suggestion.

“He doesn’t need to do anything to be that.”  Trixie declares,  “He’s the best Daddy ever.”

“Exactly, and neither do you have to do anything more spectacular than you already accomplish to have all of us be proud of you.  I do understand wanting to make a parent proud, even if I could never succeed at it,” Lucifer gazes at Rory, clearly wondering if his daughter will be as proud of him as Trixie is of Dan. 

Chloe knows he is worried if your child can love you, if your parents’ love towards you is an uncertainty.  Lucifer’s great doubt of his ability to love because of his parents’ turning demonstrations of affection into a transaction shows on his face.

Chloe gently extricates Trixie from Lucifer’s grip and the little girl runs towards the sound of her father’s call from outside the tunnels.  Ella rushes after, in response to Dan saying that Linda had arrived at the zoo.

Knowing he pays more attention when he is being touched, Chloe slides one hand under his destroyed sleeves while the other caresses Rory, still cradled in his arm.

Wanting to distract him from the anxious about his parenting doldrums, Chloe points out to Lucifer, “Rory settled, while you held her.”

“Ah, yes, Detective, I assumed that was due to the Urchin’s dissertation on how to find one’s way out of mazes and tunnels.”  Lucifer continues to assert that other people provide comfort, but not himself.

“Lucifer, Rory calmed down while you created a ‘maze escape’ ditty for Trixie,” Chloe reminds him gently.  “It was a lullaby to Rory.”

Chloe smiles as Lucifer brightens at her praise.  Her grin becomes even wider when Lucifer too plays with the legends surrounding her dear Trixie.

“We’ve all been lead out of Purgatory to Earth this day by Beatrice,” Lucifer jests.

Chapter Text

At the entrance to the tunnels, Ella hands a restless Charlie off to a tear streaked Linda.  With Amenadiel shepherding, they all rush to the vet trailer so Linda can examine her son, Rory and Trixie.  She hopes to determine that the children do not need further medical assistance.

Lucifer steps in front of Michael as he starts to trail after Ella.

“No, you will stay here, under my supervision,” Lucifer commands.

Michael deflates, then brightens, “Ella might need something, out of the higher cabinets.”

“Amenadiel or Daniel will be able to reach anything she requires,” Lucifer grins at popping Michael’s bubble of hope.

Refusing to pace or fuss with his ripped clothes in front of his brother and show his unease, Lucifer leans against the tunnel entrance, wishing he hadn’t given up smoking.  Just for something to do and pass the time waiting for the Detective to return with word on the children.  Instead, he’s trapped with staring at the distorted image of himself.  Who is twiddling his chewed up thumbs.  A tell, of unease.  Micheal hisses twice, then stops the rotating of his thumbs.  He aborts a motion with left hand to his right shoulder.

“Demon steel pricks.  Stings a long time,” Lucifer tells Michael after stiffening up so he does not reach or look at the mark on his arm where Cain caught him with Mazikeen’s demon blade.

Michael looks down at the gaping hole in his thick work coverall.  “Certainly as ugly a cut as celestial weapons, too.” 

Lucifer clamps his teeth together tightly.  He will not confide in Michael of all people about the Fall, with Heaven woven chain preventing him from decelerating his descent.  Wings, feathers bent in unnatural directions, caught fire from the speed of entry into Earth’s atmosphere.  Then, the solid hit of crust did nothing to douse the flames before his impact caused the crater that became the Lake of Fire.   Ah, well, Michael too suffered permanent injuries from Lucifer’s being tossed out of Heaven.  And had been shunned by their siblings, whereas he, Lucifer had been vilified, courtesy of Michael.

Things unsaid between the twins are loud in the silence of avoiding eye contact.  The edge of a dense cloud clips the bright sun, dimming the spot where the twins stand.  The gloom of Hell on Earth, reflective of Lucifer’s thoughts.

In unison, they look up, grateful for the interruption, as they hear light footsteps rushing swiftly towards them, sunshine trailing behind her.

Michael mummers to Lucifer, “Does she always make the darkness bright?”

Striding towards them is Ella, medical bag slung over her shoulder.  Once she reaches them, Ella points to Michael, “Its your turn.”

At confused looks from both of them, she explains with a bit of exasperation, “To have your wounds treated.” 

Once Michael grudgingly removes the top portion of his coveralls, Lucifer notices the deep puncture wound from the demon steel piece that Michael blocked with his body from going into the cave.  Michael’s injuries are directly tied to Lucifer’s decree.  Commands to protect his family, thus Micheal’s pain is Lucifer’s responsibility.  And so, how to address this, subtly.  There’s Ella’s celestial naiveté to protect, Chloe’s abhorrence at improving the conditions under which Michael exists, and Lucifer’s own reluctance to give his twin a taste of better things.  But that, then would mean acting like his parents, no mitigation of the suffering caused by obedience.

A sudden gust of wind blows scattered feathers from battling angels and frightened birds over Lucifer’s shoes.

IF I believed in signs from Dad, this would sure be one of them.

Lucifer goes behind a tree, brings the wings out quietly.  He picks off the smallest piece of downy after feather he can.

Feather hidden in his palm, Lucifer walks back to the couple.

“Here, Ms. Lopez, I will hold the extra bandages for you,” Lucifer offers,  “and pass them to you so you may use both hands.

He slips the tiny feather bit onto the next bandage.  Fluffy white feather blends into cottony white bandage and Ella presses the ensemble against the deep gouge in Michael’s shoulder.

Michael grits his teeth against the intense healing.  Lucifer chatters on a mile a minute to distract Ella from the divine glow, bright streaks emanating from the healing.  He also makes cigarette lighter motions with one hand, accompanying the music from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ that started playing from the speakers at a wink from him.  To camouflage the golden rainbow, yellow bulbs in lampposts, the colored lights of the gift shop and on the primary color bulbs of the carousel light up in accompaniment to the symphony soundtrack.  His distraction works, now Ella chatters on to both of them about the science behind the matching of music, tones, bright colors and dim glows.

Ella removes the bandage, “Oh, this wound must not have been as bad as it looked, Miguelito.”

In his reassuring suave voice, Lucifer comments, “Apparently not, my dear.”

“Ella,” Daniel calls, “Linda needs your advice, about Charlie.”

When Ella rushes away, the twins are once more alone together.

Michael states the obvious, astonished, “You healed me, on purpose?”

Lucifer tries to sound offhand, “You saved Dan today and protected the children from being hit by the flying pointy spark from demon steel and heaven sword forged together.”   The Fallen One, with teeth clenched,   “Well done.”

“You mean that?”

“Said it, didn’t I?” The twins find the sidewalk fascinating, instead of looking at each other.

“Yees.  Is that why you ‘donated’ a feather towards my healing?” Michael tries to puzzle out his brother’s generosity.

“Yes.  Couldn’t leave you all in pain, injured from doing as I bade you,” Lucifer explains.

“You really did get a bad rap, didn’t you?”

“You’d know, Michael, being the one who started the rumors.”  Lucifer stomps off in search of his found family.

Maze pops up on the path to the vet shed where Chloe and the others are.

“Mazikeen, don’t do that.” Lucifer snaps, reverberating Devil timbre and red eyes.

“What, watch the wingless wonder so you can moon over Decker while she is right next to you?” Maze teases.

“Mazikeen, go terrorize Michael,”  the Devil commands, hoping to rid himself of his former left hand and her too sharp insight.  “I’ve showed him way too much mercy,” Lucifer reflects.

Out of sight, Lucifer stops to listen.  Since coming to Earth, the demon often surprises him with her ability to weaponize others’ vulnerabilities.

Michael wonders, “Maze, why do you think no angels have been down here, trying to rescue Hoael and Jkarenel?”

Maze taunts, “All the angels are afraid of the Three Furies – Decker, Charlotte and Linda.  More than they are of me or Lucifer.   Feathery pricks gained street smarts, who knows?”  She shrugs, amused, “Or, they are much too entertained by your misery to interfere.”

Lucifer grins, good humor restored by Maze’s irrefutable digs at his brother.  Its true enough that the Angel of Fear was not well liked by their siblings.  They might relish Michael’s torment as they had done Lucifer’s.

Chapter Text

After ascertaining that the best that can possibly be done for the children is being accomplished by Linda, Chloe and Dan, Lucifer reluctantly accompanies Ella back to Michael.  Amenadiel continued to play the part of anxious, inexperienced parent, suggesting absurd aliments and cures from Dr. Internet.

“I want Miguelito to take some of these painkillers, Lucifer,” Ella tells him as she rushes along the path towards what most fear.  He has to stretch his stride to keep up with her swift pace.  Is Michael worth the hustle?  Not in the slightest, but protecting Ella is.

They finally convince Michael to take the pills, when Ella yells, “Stop.  Don’t take them dry.  Let me find some water.”

Once Ella departs, Michael looking at the pills in his palm, questions Lucifer,  “I’ve watched you swallow all manner of pills.  You just throw them in your mouth or take them with whiskey.  Why in the world does she insist I drink water to down the pills?”

The Devil shrugs, “The world is a better place because of her care and sense of compassion.  Did she talk you into assisting in the children’s escape?”

“I protected the children because your three Furies and their demon disciple made it clear that if anything amiss happened to the rugrats any where near me, I would be held responsible by them,” Michael answers Lucifer’s question about his motivation in distracting Kinley’s collection of kidnappers.

Michael continues as Ella returns, “The kidnappers were easy for me to frighten in the tunnels.”

“Lucifer, he did actually do a lot to distract our captors from seeking the children’s hiding spots,” Ella expands on Michael’s contributions.  “It was his idea for me to hit him on the full body ankle monitor,  to signal his wardens and the guardians of the mews.  Where are they, anyway?”  She looks about as if expecting new arrivals on her cue.

Lucifer sighs, Ella’s enthusiasm for Michael and the actions which look selfless to her worry him, for her sake.

Looking at him disgustingly fondly.  Still can’t find it in myself to shatter her illusions.  If anyone could reform Michael, it would be she, who rushes in for the hug where angels fear to tread.

“Guardians of the mews?” Lucifer cocks an dusty brow, trying to make sense of what Ella is saying without giving the game away.

“Yeah, guardian, like an angel.  Mews, a very archaic English term for aviary, I’m surprised you didn’t recognize it.”  Ella trails off as Lucifer narrows his eyes in disapproval.

“Miss Lopez, if you would be so kind as to find those ointments you mentioned for treating Michael’s superficial cuts.  He is wincing again.”  Ella rushes off, nattering about idiot brothers who have given her plenty of experience in first aid after sibling quarrels gone physical.

“Guardian, Michael, mews?  You are lucky Miss Lopez is well educated, especially about all things avian.”  Lucifer corrects his twin,  “And I am not your guardian, much more judge, jury and jailor.”

“Look, Lucifer it hurts like, well Hell.”  Michael complains,  “The intricacies of the American version of English are beyond me.  A ‘pond’ to refer to a big body of water that separates the two countries.  As if the Atlantic was a backyard puddle separating two houses.”

Language lover Lucifer laughs, grinning at Michael and his grumpy observations.

Astonished at the moment of agreement between them, Michael reveals, “And Ella, she appreciated my assuming her vast knowledge.”

Lucifer waves a hand over his brother’s shoulders.  Chains clank, demon forged shoulder straps unlock, slithering down to pool at Michael’s boots.

Lucifer cautions, “I have loosened those chains based on Miss Lopez’s belief of your assistance to herself and the children.  If I find out you mislead her in any way, I will return the restraints, with a twist.”

“What twist?” Michael frets.

“Whatever the Furies suggest,” Lucifer ripostes.  “They are certainly full of ideas.”

How creative might the Detective become given enough time and encouragement? Focus on the case, Morningstar, not the delectable Detective in dishabille. Or in the shower, washing off seawater, random feather bits from siblings, rock dust, baby drool from 3 seconds with the imp.

When Ella returns, she asks about how the chains were taken off without Michael’s jailors present, Lucifer responds, “You know I am good with locks, Miss Lopez.”

“Won’t they object?” she worries.

“No, Miss Lopez, I’m too much a benefactor to this facility for Michael’s wardens to object to my removing the location monitoring devices,” Lucifer replies confidently.  “I promise to notify them forthwith.”

A wolf whistle has all of them looking around.

“Mazikeen,” Lucifer begins to lecture.

“Need to borrow Ellen and her magic liniment.  One of those idjits got me with an unpolished badly welded metal cross.” Maze scratches at her hip.

“Oh no,” Ella exclaims, “where do I need to apply it?”

“C’mon, Ella, we will find a room.  Don’t need their,” Maze flicks her fingers disdainfully at the brothers, “comments.”

Maze herds Ella into the nearby restroom.

Lucifer demands of his twin, “Why did you protect a resurrected Daniel? Here at the zoo?”

“At first, because I realized that the Furies and Goddess would be after me if he died again, near me, even if I had nothing to do with his kidnapping or demise take two.  Then, Ella, she looked at me like I could be some kind of hero.  Surprisingly, I desired to be that person,” Michael admits.  “Still don’t understand what’s happening to me.”

Lucifer huffs and cocks an eyebrow.  This does after all sound very vaguely familiar.  “How did you come to call them the Furies?”

“There are three of them.  Her Highness the Detective pursuing justice, avenging those who have been murdered, especially by family.  Tisiphone in human guise.  We are both in trouble there.  Therapist to angels, Li,” Michael stops mid syllable at the red eye glare from Lucifer for being so forward, “er Dr. Martin, discoverer of lies and fixer of misunderstandings.  Ms. Richards, strong enough to survive the Goddess’s energy in her body.  Fighting for justice, a modern Megeara.  All three, along with Maze their demon disciple, threatened me over Ella, separately and together, in addition to the children.”

Lucifer nods once sharply, then rumbles in deep Hell tones, “Remember, I believe in ladies first.  After they finish with you, I will practice the least effective torture humans devised in each decade since they shifted people to their ancestors’ homeland to count them.”  

“Least effective torture?”

Lucifer grins evilly at his twin’s confusion, “Lots and lots of practice til we hone the art of it.”

Michael shudders in understanding and fright.

Sensing the fear pouring off Michael, Lucifer demands, “Have you frightened Miss Lopez?”

“The first time Ella came here, I could feel the waves of terror rolling off of her.  But not of me!” a defensive Michael sounds infinitely surprised.  “First she needed gloves.  Then did I know where the towels were.  She was impossible to resist or scare off.  Plowed right thru the fear.  I thought maybe because it was dark and she couldn’t see me well.  Its me she turns to for the stuff she needs for the birds and advice on the wings.”

“She doesn’t know about your responsibility in Daniel’s death or the Detective’s kidnapping.” Lucifer surmises.

“She doesn’t know about your responsibility in chaffing chains,” Michael counters, knowing Lucifer values Ella’s good opinion of him.   “If I told her that, I’d have to explain the reason for the restraints.”

“Fair point.”

The two enemies exchange a look, who has the most to lose if Ella discovers the truth?  And takes fright and flees.

Heavy on the sarcasm, Lucifer warns, “Miguelito, I will be checking with all my sources, to verify your story.”

“Didn’t expect less.  Michael sighs, “Will you still let her visit … here?”

“I don’t control her movements, Michael.  If I decide you are a danger to her, its you who will be shuffled elsewhere,” Lucifer pauses for effect,  “less desirable.”  The Devil intends to frighten his two faced twin with dread of the unknown.

“And Michael,” Lucifer further warns, “Don’t assume Miss Lopez is a defenceless gull, just because she rushes in for the hug where angels fear to tread.”

Michael tips his head slightly, “Wings. Ella?”

Lucifer hisses between his teeth and explains, “Gull means two different things in American English.  The noun gull is a bird, the other meaning of the same noun is a dupe.  English is a complicated language, the American version of it can sometimes be incomprehensible to non native speakers.”

“American English is almost as confusing as being your twin.” Michael deadpans.  “There’s not much to Ella, how can she possibly defend herself?”

“Once she figured out the dreadful crimes of the cowardly person to whom she had given her heart, our intrepid Miss Lopez took him out with the sedative he had prepared for her, his next victim,” Lucifer is clearly proud of Ella’s ingenuity, but plucks at the pulled threads at the ends of his tattered sleeves. 

Because we, her supposed friends, were so involved in our own lives and dramas we did not even practice basic dating safety and review his social media.  Dan and I chatted extensively about Corbett and put Rae-Rae on alert. The Detective claims it’s a red flag, Corbett being so by the book.  Ella is unconventional by any standard – the Devil got a bad rap, her history with ‘borrowing’ cars, and ability to put the gory pieces together to assist us in completing the puzzle of crime and punishment.  The Detective recommends persuasion and patience for Corbett. 

With Michael, I’d rather start with threats and intimidation.

“Lucifer,” Michael tries to ask without snark or whine, “Why did you even ask me questions?  Mostly you and everyone else instantly assumes I am guilty.”

“You can thank Mum for my ‘openmindedness’.”  Lucifer grins at his twin’s amazement.

“The Goddess? Really?” Michael’s surprise that his mother spoke up for him matches Lucifer’s combination of skepticism and long shot hope at the Goddess’s ‘wounded bird’ story.

“Yes, Mum, really.  More communication, all around, in the family, is needed.”  Lucifer straightens what’s left of his suit and brightens as swiftly as the clearing sky at daybreak after pre dawn thunderstorms,  “Here comes the Detective, to interrogate you about today’s events.”

Chapter Text

A modern Fury, gun on her hip instead of a whip.  Defending the Devil, and his progeny.  Why must my brothers be such cock blocks with their blatherings?  A Devil can’t even admire his Detective without interruption.  What IS Michael whining about?  Is it a smiteable offence, that he interrupts my appreciation for the Detective’s confident carriage, walking towards me, knowing what I am?

“But Dan interviewed me and watched the tapes.  You’ve questioned me, red eyes and Hell echoing in every syllable,” whining Michael shivers a little, looking warily at his brother.

“And the Detective may question you at any time, any subject.”  The air stills at Lucifer’s decree in King of Hell register.  He counters Michael’s objection,  “You answer to her at all times, in any circumstance.”

Michael shudders at Lucifer’s implacable tone, so like their Father’s that the sky above has rumbled and the earth below quivers.  A side effect of being God Emeritus, Devil on vacay.

Unlike his Father, a jovial Lucifer explains, “Besides, its part of the detectiving to ask similar questions multiple times by different investigators.”  Abruptly, as the Detective draws closer, Lucifer’s tone switches to threatening,  “Don’t think you are special, except for how swift and sure my vengeance will be.” Lucifer snarls at Michael, deep bass Devil tones now meant to reverberate through his twin’s body and soul to terrify him.

Now I am sure that’s a weak point, my voice thundering, literally like Dad’s.  Maybe I won’t do that often.  Not imitating Father, driving away the love of my life by concentrating on a hobby.  Even a hobby as satisfying as tormenting the once perfect twin.  Or watching Chloe have at him.

The Detective stalks up to Michael. 

Does she know, at all, how hot she is?  Pursuing justice.  Finally, the appropriate person receiving the blame, all due to her.  Which is more enthralling, Michael at the receiving end of disproval and distrust or Chloe, so sexy in her post battle disarray?  The Detective, hands down.  Her dishevelment caused by defending and protecting me.  That’s the real miracle. I wonder if there’s a Devilish intervention I could create, and find some private time with her whilst we are both still running hot from successful combat.

“Darling?” Lucifer breathes, voice deep and suggestive, his suddenly sexy thoughts running away with him.

“Not now, Satan,” Chloe narrows her eyes at Lucifer.  One light touch from her finger on his chest freezes him in place.  Her slender hand has found his ‘pause’ button once again.  He sighs, she’s going to exercise her free will to interrogate a suspect, not surprise him with passion or tenderness.

Because one more attempt at trying to distract her and my warrior queen might turn that fighting energy on me.  Which could be fun, if I could find 2 seconds of privacy post battle and charm her into working out her frustration with me. I know I’d like good ravishing, and she certainly deserves a bit of fun.  Instead, she’s chatting with Michael, a cold shower beyond even thinking about Daniel and Mum.  Separately or together.

Lucifer shudders, rampant desire chilled.

Chapter Text

Hands on hips, Chloe demands of Michael, “Why did you demolish the flowers in the ‘don’t feed this to the birds’ exhibit?”

“Ella,” the Angel of Fear stumbles over describing Ella’s hidden terror, “she, the fear rolled off her in waves, once the star gazer lilies bloomed.”

Lucifer and Chloe exchange a look.  The Devil growls, “The flowers, sickly sweet smell, sickly sweet Pete.”  Chloe glares, wishing suddenly for red fire eyes herself, to use on Daily.

“Why else, Michael?  You always have a hidden agenda,” Chloe accuses.

“Ooh, my clever Detective.  Perhaps he has hidden something in the debris of the demolished exhibit?”  Lucifer suggests, innuendo in his tone.

“Yes, Lucifer, let’s go investigate the tunnels underneath the destruction,” Chloe concurs, inserting her arm in the crook of his elbow and dragging him along.

“I thought you’d never ask, Detective.”  Chloe can hear the relief in Lucifer’s tone, but believes it’s a reaction to an excuse to get away from his twin.

Lucifer strides swiftly alongside Chloe, proud to be her escort.  He looks back over his shoulder, regally bidding Michael, “Back to the hut.  You may eat and drink if you find some food on the way.”

As they swiftly descend the staircase under the exhibit, Chloe fills Lucifer in, “Rory’s fed, safe with Ella and Maze and Eve.  I snapped pictures of Maze cooing to Rory,” Chloe brags.  “Dan has Trixie.  Amenadiel and Linda are both consumed with Charlie, who is finally awake.”  Chloe knows from Lucifer’s squeeze that he is as relieved at as she is at his nephew’s recovery.

Once they reach the bottom of the stairs, Chloe shoves the shredded suit jacket off her partner, “Lucifer, you are one hot disheveled mess.”  She cups his face gently with her hands, communicating her desire through her caress.

“Much like this bootlegger burrow.”  Lucifer details his complaints,  “Beams helter skelter, horse blankets? in this century, and a random park bench that somehow landed upright and intact.”

 Chloe kisses him, hands active on top of his dress shirt,  “Hair is all curly, your clothes are so ripped up no one will notice one more tear.”

“Yes, my darling, have your way with me.”  Lucifer yanks his shirt open, sending the few buttons still doing their job flying.  Chloe drags the shirt off him, kissing freckles as the fabric falls away.  He shudders slightly at her affectionate touch.

As Lucifer slides his hands under her shirt, Chloe commands, “Take my shirt off, but leave the bra on.  My boobs are…”

“Magnificent.”  Lucifer nuzzles at the top few buttons of her blouse, nudging it aside with his nose.

Chloe chuckles.  “Still sore from combat and a little over full.”

“Rory?”

“Nursed again, but fell asleep in the middle.”

“Ah?” Lucifer packs a lot of concern in one syllable.  As his partner, Chloe knows the truth of Lucifer and his feelings, the more he cares, the less he will say or show.  His emotions, hidden from everyone but her.

Chloe reassures, “She will probably wake sooner than normal, and nurse more then.  Stop worrying.”

“And you, darling?” Lucifer remembers that Chloe often pumps after Rory nurses because of their erratic schedule.

Chloe shrugs, “My boyfriend has enough funds and is extravagant enough with his money to order a breast pump and the stuff to go with it express delivery to wherever I am.”

“Does he now?” Lucifer rescues his phone from ripped suit jacket.  He jabs at the phone.  “It will be here in 45 minutes.”

“Excellent.”  Chloe grins,  “How ever shall we pass the time?” batting her eyelashes furiously up at Lucifer.

The handsome Devil grins back at his partner, “By indulging my adoration of your clumsy flirting.”  He nuzzles at her neck, blowing warmly at loose locks of seashore colored hair.

“Clumsy, mmm, I will show you clumsy,” Chloe mummers in his ear.  She nibbles, then licks his ear, making her way down his neck.

“Ow, do it again,” Lucifer begs hopefully.  “M’ I vulnerable to you again?”

Just how does that not man convey tortured hope into the same phrase.  And how do I let him down gently?

Chloe sighs, “I pick pocketed Amenadiel for a very specific piece of jewelry.”

Lucifer groans, “My clever Detective.”

“Not so clever, you are using your tongue to talk,” Chloe complains.

“Yes, darling.”  Lucifer kisses his way around her bra, lingering on the plumped up breasts above the cups.

Chloe spins in his arms, and lifts her hair out of the way.  “Carry on,” she encourages.

Lucifer kisses her back around the bra.  “Do that again, put a little more tongue in it,” Chloe directs, while her hands travel up and down the side of his thighs.

The Devil obliges and discovers that his partner’s shoulder muscles are tight.  Lucifer brings his thumbs up to either side of his mouth and starts massaging. 

“Ohhh, ahhh, no wonder they say you have a forked tongue.”

Lucifer very gently teethes her back, not a bite, more an acknowledgement of her quip.

Behind her, Chloe starts yanking at his pants, hoping they are ripped up enough to slide off.

As Lucifer shimmeys to assist the descent of his trousers, he maneuvers them towards the park bench. 

“Will it hold us?”  Chloe cautious, “Its not secure in any way.”

“Oh, ye of little faith,” Lucifer jokes.  He grabs a beam, shoves it through the metal undercarriage of the bench and into the wall.  Then, he wedges the other end of the beam into the corner.

Before he can rise from his crouch, Chloe bends over to kiss the back of his neck. 

Lucifer shudders, “Didn’t know that felt so good.” The drop in register makes Chloe shiver in return.

Between kisses, Chloe asks, “Did no one ever ask what you wanted?”

“Yesss, no, do that again.  I’d not have wanted anyone but you at my back.”

Chloe scratches her nails down his back.  He groans, loud and long.

Before Chloe can reward his enthusiasm, Lucifer spins, shedding underwear with one hand and pulling her with him with the other.

“Stop,” Chloe barks before he can sit on the bench.

“Darling?” a revved up Lucifer tries not to whine.  Detective’s free will and all that balderdash.

“Splinters, you don’t want down there.”  Chloe swats his butt cheek very softly.

“Suppose not.” Lucifer agrees grumpily.

Chloe grabs a stray packing blanket and throws it over the bench so it covers seat and back of bench.  Her Devil can be very active underneath her.

“Are we good, now?” he asks a little desperately.

“I dunno, you are not sitting down yet.” Chloe pushes on his shoulders.

Lucifer promptly sits and pulls Chloe towards him again.

As she stands in front of him, he eases down her pants.

“Cotton unmentionables again love?”

“The fancy silk ones are distracting…”

“Oh, yes they are, my love.  Although, these have their charms,” Lucifer delicately traces his fingers above the elastic band.

“Lucifer, its better to wear sensible clothing for detectiving and as celestial consultant,”  Chloe admonishes.

“Of course, my darling, just as you like, as long as you let me take them off you once in a while.”  Chloe grins at Lucifer’s desperation.

Chloe shimmys her cotton drawers off.  She flings them onto Lucifer’s suit jacket.

“Oh, Lucifer likes.” He rains kisses around Chloe’s belly button, then downwards.

Chloe lets herself be pulled in, kneeling on the bench on either side of Lucifer’s hips.

“Shush now,” Chloe leans in towards him.

Lucifer parts his lips, open mouth for her kiss.  He groans at her deep, enthusiastic response.  Chloe curls into him, his hardening cock landing between her nether lips.

When it jumps against her clit, Chloe moans into his mouth.  She squiggles, trying for the sensation again.  Lucifer slides one strong arm under her rump to ease the pressure on her knees.  Chloe rotates her hips in small circles, sliding just slightly up and down over him.

“Beautiful,” Lucifer’s deep voice is wrecked as he kisses his way from Chloe’s mouth to that point under her jaw she likes so well.

She drives her short clipped nails into his muscled shoulders.  “Do this awhile?” she grunts between excited pants.  It’s a little cringy, how sharp her voice went on the ‘A’ while.

“Yes, darling, ah, yegh.”  Lucifer loses his ability to speak coherently on the upstroke. 

Chloe hisses as she continues the swiveling, glad they are equal measure loosing their minds.

Underneath her, Lucifer’s muscles tense as he tries to keep his hips from moving so Chloe’s song of pleasure at leading continues.

She whispers, “I can feel your rock hard,”

“Yes,” he moans, face tight with concentration on not moving.

“Thighs pulsing in time with my movements.  Like your thighs are a giant dick, just at my entrance.”

“You’ve learned to talk dirty.  Lu, Lucifer likes.”

Chloe giggles, boasting, “Made the person who, ooh, speaks all  ll,languages stutter.”

 Lips meet, tongues tangle, souls soar together.

In the aftermath, a sweaty Chloe pants against Lucifer’s chest.  Too soon, he becomes twitchy beneath her, groping for underwear.

“Mumph?” Chloe grunts her question at Lucifer concerned about clothes in the aftermath while she is naked.

“We’ve a case to finish investigating, Detective.” Lucifer stands and gathers Chloe’s clothes.  “Much as I might like, can’t stay hidden down here all day.”

Chloe objects to rushing back upstairs, “Need a minute here, Lucifer.  I think there’s been every emotion a person can feel in this day.”

Chapter Text

Once Chloe is occupied with the pumping equipment, Lucifer ventures to Michael’s hut to be sure his twin followed his over the shoulder directions.

He summons Michael outside, no need to be trapped in small spaces with this brother of all people. 

“What happened to your shirt, there’s now no buttons?” Michael looks puzzled.  “You’ve less clothes on?”

“Yes, and if you ever comment on the Detective’s apparel or appearance, it will be the last thing you say,” Lucifer threatens.  “I will train an eagle to come every single day to rip out your tongue.  Prometheus’s punishment revisited.”

“Did you do actual work in the tunnels?  Or is this some kind of trick? Curls are going in even more directions than before, but you look less ragged somehow.”  Michael tries to reconcile Lucifer’s even more disheveled appearance from before he and Chloe went into the tunnel with the contentment now apparent. 

Suddenly, Lucifer understands from experience Chloe’s desire to keep their love life activities private.  No more public bragging or teasing about intimacies with others present. Right now, he can’t tell Michael ‘focus on the case’ but what could his rotten too observant twin be distracted with?

Lucifer walks over to the carousel to check his appearance in the scenic panel mirror.  He shakes his head, curls flipping about, jesting with Michael,  “Still not as bad as the aftermath of the ambrosia fight.”

Michael laughs, “Did the humans ever figure out that’s where all the Mars water went, us trying to get cleaned up after?”

“No, and they shan’t either,” Lucifer commands haughtily.  “Humans have a dessert they call ambrosia –pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries and marshmallows.  Sticky, sticky and red syrupy.   I can’t imagine the mess the Urchin might create, trying to prove that truth.”

“We were sticky for days,” Michael recalls, grinning at the chuckling Lucifer.

“It was worth it though, for the trick we played on Amenadiel,” Lucifer admits between gusts of laughter.

Chapter Text

In the abrupt silence, Michael then Lucifer stiffen, registering the squirrel frozen mid scamper.

Lucifer’s wings pop out as sharp bladed icicle tinted defensive feathers while he shifts in front of his wounded brother.  The defensive habits of your earliest millennia can be hard to break.  He’d never been so blatant with his reactions  while facing off with his father before.  In times past, the wisecracks and distractions had shifted God’s attention away from twin and siblings adequately.

“Sa, Lucifer, what, I can’t show up when miracles happen. You and your twin are getting along,” God sing songs, practically clapping in glee as he charges straight for them.  He ignores the winding concrete paths, instead dragging his feet, scuff, two, three, four, shuffling straight through rock beds, sending the decorative rocks in the sharp corner onto the concrete.  The lighter mulch, scattered out of its bed, is just a bystander casualty of God’s inattention.

“After I wound up in Hell once more, somehow.  That’s your usual long game, Daddy dearest.”  Lucifer remains in his defensive position, eyes flickering red.  His glinting white wings arch over all their heads, in a protective display, a bird of prey defending a nest he dare not leave.

And God replied, “You launched a whole string of miracles, Lucifer, showing mercy to Michael.  It took a little time, for the results to spread, much like the pebbles here will take time to return to their decorative positions.  When Michael protected your family here at the bird rehab, it launched another set of miracles, including Espinoza’s continued furlough from Heaven.” 

“What Dad?” the brothers chorus, exchange mirror looks of disgust, ‘oh great, that’s back, the twin thing, speaking the same sentences simultaneously.  Grimacing, Lucifer shakes his head sharply, in Enochian, their similalspeak matched and sounded melodic.  On Earth, in two different accents, its as disharmonic as his family has been.

God claps again, “You see, you two are getting along.”

Lucifer, ever protective of free will, snarls, “And is Daniel’s return to the Urchin our ‘reward’ for attempting some kind of détente?”

God confesses, “I gave Trixie her Dad back, because you so obviously need advice I couldn’t give you for your daughter.  Besides, she was kind to a forgetful old man.”

With positive comments from Daad, Lucifer steps to the side so He can see Michael while God communicates.

“Also, your mother insisted,”  God relates, confused,   “Something about Daniel’s describing his interactions with Trixie enabling your mother to understand better what you needed from a parent.”

Lucifer nods, the flickering red easing to a rich, steady brown.

“Your mother and I understood, because of our happiness in reuniting, that Daniel and Charlotte should stay together.  I learned new things when I mentioned that to the Goddess,” a puffed up God winks at Lucifer.

“Yes, Dad, enough already, TMI, TMI,” Lucifer turns away, covering his eyes.

Must both parents take joy in traumatizing me with intimate details.  No wonder I ‘overshare’ as the Detective, exasperated, but kind, refers to my exuberance.

Watching Lucifer out of the corner of his eyes, Michael asks God,  “If Daniel returns from the dead, and I was partially responsible for his demise, could  er, Remi return?”  Lucifer turns to Michael, amazed that he has any regrets about offing their sister.  Surprisingly generous, Michael adds, “Or Uriel?”

Lucifer swings back to God, hopefulness and suspicion flickering before protective skepticism shields his emotions.

“I don’t know.  Truly Lucifer, don’t look at me like that.  Your brother Amenadiel is correct, omniscience is the power slowest to resume its full potential.”

“Great Dad, more non answers.” Lucifer rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

“You are the demiurge, on the same plane, not swinging swords or barbs at each other for the first time in millennia,” God celebrates.  “United, the sword does cut thru universes. 

Michael snarks, “and Hell forged demon steel.”

Lucifer demands, “And just what are we supposed to do with that information?”

“Looks like you and your Detective have your next case, son.” God teases.

Lucifer nods, wandering down the pathway so God can speak to Michael without an active audience if He wishes.  A next case means God expects Lucifer to be on this plane for some time, with Chloe.  The Devil can give some leeway for that, even to a God whose vengeance lasted millennia.

Michael clears his throat.  “Father?”

“Mmmph?” God tips his head, encouraging the inquiry.

“Er, um, will you be going back to Heaven?” Michael hedges.

“Not soon.  Something I should know, or tell Amenadiel?”

Michael glanced towards Lucifer, who was acting nonchalant by kicking pebbles off the sidewalk, with the same scuff, two, three, four rhythm  as God did to kick them out of the landscaping.  Staying on the walkway, pretending to give them privacy, but plainly not ready for more than one family member at a time in his space for extended periods.  Also, not giving them a chance to plot against him.

“There’s, I left stuff to make whoever sat on the Throne forgetful.  That’s why you lost your memory,”  Michael confesses so quickly he’s breathless at the end.  He takes a huge breath, “It must have mostly blown away, Lucifer didn’t forget anything.”   Michael mumbles to his boots, “But then when Amenadiel was on the throne, he seemed more spaced out than usual.”

“Ssa ,” God corrects himself,  “Lucifer, except for the piano bench, he never sits still.”

“So?” Michael says sulkily.

“Michael, for someone who made a study of your brother, you certainly haven’t thought through the implications of his inclinations,” God gestures to Lucifer, still abusing his Louboutins by skittering rocks off the pathway, “such as always being in motion.” 

Lucifer glares at both of them, but says nothing.  He has learned from detective work that a lot can be learned if a person stays silent and lets others fill the void.

“Lucifer wasn’t on the throne long enough to be affected by the noxious gases.” Michael finally figures it out.

Always wanted to be the fly on the wall, to see when dickhead twin realizes I’m always going to outwit him, even when I don’t know there’s a contest.

Pleased at getting one over on his brother, Lucifer dusts off the remnants of his dress shirt, tucks the tattered tails back into his pants.  Appearance should match accomplishments, after all.

A little hard when seams are ripped, cufflinks are long gone and hair is a wind whipped curly dishevelment.  Exasperated by looking a mess in front of an often judgmental God, the Devil lashes out, “Used to noxious gases, lots of ash and brimstone where you sentenced me.”  Lucifer glares at his Father, covering any hurt with flashing red eyes.  Bright white wings extend and ripple, to take the focus off Lucifer’s face with its tattle tale emotions.

“You went back willingly the past few times, Lucifer,” God reminds him in the know it all parenting tone all children resent.

“You set up those circumstances.” Lucifer accuses, sulkily.

“And you reacted to protect, not destroy,” God sighs.  “I was waiting for that moment.”

“Twice?”

God tips his head towards Michael, “I was out of commission for one.”

What can I do to get Him out of here?  A distraction is needed here.

“What are you doing here, Dad?  Does Mum know you are gone?”

“Ah, well, speaking of your mother, I’d better return.  She will be anxious for news.  Very enthused about a granddaughter.”  God continues anxiously, “I can tell her you were pleased?”

“Yes, Dad.” Lucifer begins to understand why Chloe rolls her eyes so much when dealing with celestials.  Almighty God, rocketing around in a fuzzy sweater, undignified in his excitement.  Really, the attention span of a magpie loose in a bling filled jewelry store.  Which does work to his advantage.

“Dad?”

“Yes, son?” God stills.

“You both have made great strides in communication,”  Lucifer admits through not gritted teeth.

The Detective and the Doctor better be correct about this. 

“Well, thank you, Lucifer.”  God brags,  “I’m off to ‘communicate’ with your mother,”

“Bye, Dad.”  What can I give him to do that will amuse both of them, with the real goal of taking a lot of time.   “You and Mum make the zebras more colourful this time, alright.  So they aren’t outshined by the psychedelic unicorns and feathered pegasi.”

“What a brilliant idea.  Miss Trixie mentioned giving the unicorns a little more common sense this time, so they realize that horns are more than a sparkly ornament but are meant to help them defend themselves.  Such inventive concepts we gain from this world,” God comments as he trundles off and disappears in a whirlwind of smoke that scatters the pebbles and mulch back onto the path.

And poof, God vanishes into the ether, as usual leaving behind more questions than answers.  How long can Dan stay?  What exactly is his furlough based on?  His action, their (the twins) actions?  God or Goddess’ whims?  Is Charlotte included in the deal?  Whole strings of miracles for whom, the planet, the damned (Devil included), the ghosts, Charlie, Rory?

“D’you think He meant what He implied, about Remi and U,uriel?” Lucifer asks, kicking the rocks back off the pathway where God’s flashy departure had strewn them once again. Typical.

Guess we are both still pretty petty, Dad and I.  Literally throwing stones in each other’s path.  Although, normally its me credited with strewing stones in the path of righteousness, not the old man.  What’s the inscrutable message, Dad, now that you are actually communicating with us?  Why’d I want his attention, anyway?  I’m more confused than before He was here.

After the smoke dissipates from their father’s flashy departure, Michael quips to Lucifer, “Dunno, I think we are both just pebbles in the ineffable Rube Goldberg path He has going for us.”  He gestures to the stones and mulch strewn on the sidewalk by God’s impetuous shuffle/dance.

Lucifer huffs a laugh at his brother’s dry humor.

“Who’d have thought the Devil would be clearing a path God showered with stones?” Lucifer shakes his head at the irony.

Both chuckle darkly in agreement.  The laughing stops when they catch each other’s glance, no need to get along that well.

“Why are you fixing what Dad disarranged, spite?” Michael’s curiosity about his brother actually working gets the better of him.

“No brother dearest, the humans, urchins in particular, expect a path to be clear.”  Scuff, two, three, four, Lucifer keeps swiping stones and mulch off the concrete.

“And, just for that?”  Michael is clearly confused by Lucifer’s efforts.

“And we both know Miss Lopez rushes in where angels fear to tread,” Lucifer glares at his twin, reminding the Angel of Fear of Ella’s uniqueness.

As Michael limps towards his hut, Lucifer snorts derisively, taking his frustration at his brother’s lack of appreciation for Miss Lopez’s safety out on the debris.

Michael returns with a broom and starts sweeping the clumpy brown mulch off the white flat sidewalk path and back into the beds.  Where people expect their footing to be uneven.

“Wuss,” Lucifer winks at his twin.

“Control freak,” Micheal points a finger at his brother.

Lucifer watches as Michael sweeps all the debris off that section of the sidewalk.  Certainly more swiftly than he had with his Louboutins.  Still plenty of brown mulch strewn on white sidewalk.  “Fair point. ‘N’other broom anywhere?”

Michael finds another broom and they work together to herd the pebbles and mulch off what is supposed to be a clear path.

Alright, that’s enough time with the two of us together left unsupervised.

“I believe I have a celebration dinner to organize.” Still uncertain of his brother, Lucifer defaults to distraction.  He begins typing on his phone, summoning food deliveries.

Chapter Text

Once Lucifer finishes texting fav restaurants, Michael complains sulkily, “I’ll not be included in this after party, will I?  I’m just some kind of surprise quiz God gave you, that you are trying to pass, to ensure Espinosa’s parole from Heaven and Hell continues.”

“Michael, you are not my test.  You are my my sibling, at least.”  Lucifer remembers back to how horrible it felt when Amenadiel declared Lucifer his test to get his wings back.  He’d forgiven Amenadiel for that, their family dynamics are such that his elder brother probably had no understanding how devastating the comment was.  The sadness lingered.

“I plucked a feather for you to be healed.” Lucifer defends himself.

“So you donated a feather to my healing.  Didn’t work all the way, like the one for Amenadiel,” Michael protests.   “The scar on my face is still there, the wound from the ‘Morningstar’ still stings.

“Only a feather from the Lord of Hell will work to heal damage from demon steel, Michael, totally at my discretion,” Lucifer warns his ungrateful brother.

“Oh, it made the scar hurt less alright,” Michael admits crankily, “and its much less itchy and”

“Disgusting looking.” Lucifer ripostes with the truth.

“Yeah, that.”  Michael tries to keep the whine out of his query, “Lucifer, Amenadiel was healed completely by your feather after he was stabbed with a demon blade.”

“I used a much smaller feather on you than Maze had for Amenadiel.  Also, you were hit with demon forged chain mixed with Heaven created sword,” Lucifer reasons. 

“Right, so this is all the healing I get, then?” Michael grumps.

“Amenadiel believes in the power of the divine, even from the King of Hell.”  And Maze apparently wanted him cured completely.  Do I want Michael completely unscarred and able to deny the punishment for tricking the Detective.  Not so much.  To protect Chloe, and my life here on Earth, I’ll tell Michael just part of the truth.  “The amount it works may depend on how much you forgive yourself.”

“That’s gonna be a very tall order,” the realization of the hard work ahead of him to forgive himself commences for Michael.

“Undoubtedly so.” Lucifer knows it’s a long road, full of fits and starts and misdirection.  It’s a truth from which Lucifer has no interest in protecting his lying twin.

They stand in glaring silence, what price will confidences with the other bring?  Is the risk worth the reward?

“I, I was wrong about one other thing, Lucifer,” Michael mostly talks to the floor.

“Just one?” Lucifer responds at his most sarcastic.

Michael sighs, imploring “C’mon.”

“Very well, what was it?” Lucifer stands stock still, determined not to reveal his uncertainty by fooling with non-existent cuffs or other telling twitches.

“You are not like Father.  At least with you, I know where I stand and if you approve of my actions, even if you are reluctant in the telling.   There’s at least some kind of feedback.  Also, you did reduce my punishment promptly, no millennia wondering if you even noticed me or my deeds following your Command.  Healed me when I was injured following your decree.”  Michael points to his sloped shouldered right side. “No matter how badly I got hurt in His service, He did nothing.”

“There’s no silence on my part, I’m told.  The urchin has compared me to a nightingale for my endless chirping,” Lucifer confides wryly.

“She’s not wrong.” Michael agrees, humor in his voice.  “Ella mentioned you and the, your family were watching ‘Ghosts’ too.”

Lucifer huffs a reluctant laugh and the edges of his eyes crinkle just a little in amusement.  He knew that Ella had been watching ‘Ghosts’ and comparing them to Azreal, masquerading as one in her life.

“Lucifer?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry about if you can parent better than Dad.  Even if you did kick the pebbles back into their spots with the same scuff, two, three, four rhythm as Dad followed to knock them out of the greenery beds.”

Lucifer gives Michael a dark glance, not liking to be reminded of the characteristics he shares with their father.

For all I was so desperate for Him to admit His love for me, that I regressed to trying to please him.  And did He finally acquiesce in the end just so I would stop with the futile and degrading attempts?  I’d better pay attention to Michael here, his ditherings are now about the children in my care.

“When the baby or the child needed something fixed, you made an attempt.  Surprisingly successful, if I am reading the room correctly.  Instead of just looking on with disappointment, the way Father did when we struggled.  I’d forgot, til you stood between me and Dad when he surprised us here, how often you distracted him when He was disgusted we angels HE created weren’t perfect.”  Michael discloses,  “No one realized til after you left? that getting rid of the scapegoat wouldn’t fix whatever the underlying problem was.”

“Michael, ‘left?’ is in no way a synonym or euphemism for being cast out of heaven, the only place I knew, to plummet and burn in the liquid superheated lava of Hell.”  Lucifer abruptly stops his rant,  “None of you realized if the ‘Fall guy’ wasn’t there, his role would be disbursed among you?”

Michael shakes his head, “No, not that either.  ‘Cept for battle moves and Uriel’s endless tinkering, none of us think much about consequences.”

Lucifer huffs again and responds to Michael’s inquiring look, “The Detective contends that angels are ‘mighty flighty’.  Impulsive and in the moment.”

“She’s not wrong.”  Michael continues with the ‘Ghost’ references that seem to appeal to his brother.

Michael asks. “Why didn’t you kill Hoael & Jkarenel?”

Lucifer replies, “You can’t rectify one evil with another.  Their punishment has been determined by the Detective.  She may change your circumstance at any time, with a worried sigh,”  Lucifer reminds his brother and sometime enemy in deep dark resonating tones of the King of Hell.

Chapter Text

Once Daniel takes his shift supervising Michael, Lucifer seeks out Linda, no Doctor Martin, celestial therapist.

Lucifer confesses to Linda, “Begged Daad for a favor, that he would protect the Detective.  Whilst I was bleeding out on the hanger floor, shot by Malcolm because of my own hubris.  No condition to bargain anything useful to the Almighty parent, ‘cept maybe my soul.  In exchange, I would be the son he always wanted.  So far, the son he wants fixed His relationship with Mum, killed my brother to protect His Miracle and Mum, killed a human with illusions of immorality, to fix His mistake in leaving Cain on Earth too long, assisted Amenadiel to the Throne, Have not yet destroyed Azreal for taking Chloe from Earth.  Began a détente with Michael, who was the origin of many of the rumors that I desired to replace Dad and fight the Host.”

Linda asks, “Would you do all these things again?”

“Detective’s worth the price, but the family fixer becomes the family scapegoat in short order when relationships are damaged beyond repair or distraction.  Learned that from experience, several times over.  Am I just in the same olde cycle again?  Responding to Daad, blowing hot and cold without discernible pattern?”

“Lucifer, there’s no human advice that covers this,” Linda reasons.  “Adult human children in your situation often choose no contact with an oppressive parent, but clearly that is not an option for you.  You wanted the contact with Him until very recently, what changed?”

“I can’t go back to Hell, Linda.  I might lose my mind.  Forget about this place, forget about her.”  Lucifer’s voice breaks, his torment merging with the anguish he knows his partner felt when she said those words.

“What are you concerned about, here on Earth?”

Lucifer fiddles with the bottle of water Daniel brought, much as he trifles with the water pitcher and glasses in Linda’s office.  He looks an appeal to Linda, “How far will I go, before I realize its too far and He has taken over my life once more?  History is full of examples of humans committing cruel acts to glorify His name.  Ask any Native American, you can’t ask Jews in Spain post Inquisition, cause there are none left.  Hoael and Jkarenel both believed they were following God’s wishes, tormenting Daniel and Charlotte and seeking to kidnap my daughter.  There’s plenty of people who have committed despicable acts in the name of the Devil.  What if that is really who I am?” Lucifer rants as he paces away from her.  Or himself, sometimes Linda has difficulty discerning which it is.

Linda counsels calmly, “Lucifer, lets break this into smaller pieces.  Is it so bad, getting along with your siblings?”

“No, Amenadiel’s alright.  Better than alright, thanks largely to you.”  Lucifer bows with a flourish to Linda.

“But will I let Michael hurt Miss Lopez,” he wonders despairingly,  “to keep the bargain with Dad for protecting the Detective?”

“Lucifer, you always do TRY to find another way.  And you have more resources now to assist you.  I’m hopeful my counseling helps you with your family.”  He nods, eyes begging for more reassurances.

“Chloe knows a lot about de-escalation in stressful situations.  You are yourself reading and studying psychology to better unguilt the damned.”  Linda suggests,  “Those behavior modification principles can be applied to your family as well.”

“Learn how to manipulate my family back?” Lucifer rubs his hands together, clearly contemplating mischief.

“No, you’ve shown Michael there are immediate consequences for his actions, good or bad.  Consistent feedback is very important here,” Linda lectures.  “Clearly, intermittent rewards with less and less frequency motivates angels to extravagant dramatics to get attention.” She nods at Lucifer to get the message, but her most famous patient misses clues about himself in her words as surely as the moon spins around the earth.

“I need to show my family the rewards of disobedience, just as I did demons.”  Lucifer declares grandly, growling the last bit.

“Chloe is establishing clear boundaries for angels in regards to her children and mine.”  Linda advises,  “You need to make it apparent that you will enforce those boundaries, physical and emotional, to angels and demons.”

“Excellent idea, Doctor, I will show all angels how I punish the demons and human scum that dared threaten my family’s safety.  Show the demons what happens to angels,” Lucifer sighs, “what I am willing to do even to family if they threaten what’s mine.  Dad felt threatened by my questions.”

“Lucifer, there’s a large gap between questions and kidnapping.”

“Ah, just so.  Humans discern the difference much more than celestials. All or nothing, we angels. Perhaps the Detective, and Daniel, since crimes were committed against him and his family also, would like some input into the punishments.  You also, my dear,” Lucifer suggests.

She ponders.  “Sisyphus’ punishment, Lucifer.  Because Hoael and Jkarenel tricked you and it felt like forever to me until I held Charlie in my arms again.”

“Pointless boulder rolling uphill it is, then,” Lucifer confirms.

“Make sure that boulder squashes them on the way down every once in a while,”  Linda is now vengeful mom, not reasonable therapist.

“With pleasure, my dear, with pleasure.  Shall we go and find the other victors and let them have their say?” Always courteous to his friends, Lucifer grandly gestures for Linda to lead the way on his arm.

Chapter Text

First, Lucifer and Linda find Dan and Ella.  As usual, Ella is chatting exuberantly away, bringing Dan up to speed on the improvements at the precinct.

Ella gushes, “The Department is expanding my lab.  Oddly, right into our current evidence room.  The remodeling will destroy that entire section.  Wonder where they got the money?  And whose priority was it to renovate evidence storage so completely?”

Dan glances at Lucifer out of the corner of his eye. Lucifer gets that panicked look when a man with a tough image is about to be found out to be a softie.  Daniel taps his bracelet, indicating he will keep the secret.

Dan grins, “That’s great news, Ella.  I’m happy for you.  No one deserves a bigger space and better equipment than you do.”

When Chloe, Rory and Trixie arrive, Chloe asks, “Better equipment?”

“Yes,” Ella chirps, “to fill my expanded lab.  They’ve demolished that wall that divided the evidence room from my lab.  I’m to have all updated new equipment and plenty of it. The evidence room is completely in another wing of the building.”

Chloe dumps Rory in Ella’s arms and co-parent glares at Dan.  Dependable Dan takes the hint, “Trixie, I have not yet seen the planetarium where they show the stars and explain how snow geese and other birds use them to navigate.”  Ella, with Rory, and a giggling behind her hand Linda tag along behind them.

Chloe grabs Lucifer’s hand and steers him into the nearby gift shop.  She jiggles the office door, but its still locked.

“Lucifer, can you open this, please?”

He brightens at being asked. “Of course, darling.”

The lock chimes invitingly as it opens.  Chloe races inside, still dragging Lucifer along.  She spins about, surveying the office and kicking the door shut with the heel of a sensible brown boot.

“Good, no windows.  Can you relock the office door?” as she slides her hand up under his tattered shirt.

“Ye,es,” his voice goes up an octave as Chloe begins kissing his stomach just above the belly button, having shoved the shirt up out of the way.

Between wet kisses, Chloe informs him, “You remembered, about the evidence room.”

“Room, yes, the room will stay locked until so uch.  Darling, here let me get the button undone for you or I’ll be indec undre, naked in front of children.”  Lucifer makes quick work of his trouser button before it snaps off like the shirt buttons did.  He winces, squiggles, eases the zipper tab down.

Lucifer guides Chloe to the sofa, shoving his trousers down and kicking them off.  His fantasies may involve her on her knees in front of him, but he wants only pleasure for her when its all real.

Lucifer sits on the sofa, reaching for the button on her pants.

“Oh!” Chloe gasps as he kisses her suddenly unclothed stomach.

“Is this not what you wanted?” Lucifer worries.

“I had this in mind.”  Chloe lays on the couch, her face on his upper thighs.  She huffs a warm breath straight at his cock.

“I can change plans,” Lucifer agrees quickly.

“Good, I was hoping to be less disheveled this way,” Chloe admits, laughing at herself.

Lucifer jests too, “I’d not be doing this correctly, were you not disheveled.”

Chloe licks at his jumping cock.  Lucifer runs a hand down her back and caresses between her thighs.

“Mmm, hmm,” Chloe encourages him.

Lucifer leans over and discovers if he stretches, his fingers can caress her mound.

Chloe sucks a little, to demonstrate her approval.  Lucifer glides one finger slowly inside her, using the others to rub her gently.

Round and round the pleasure flows, til Lucifer slides another finger into her.  Chloe comes on a hum that vibrates through Lucifer, setting off his own orgasm.

When he finally surfaces from the pleasure, he can only purr again as he can feel against his thigh Chloe swallowing the last drop.

He rumbles, “I never knew construction could be so incredible.”

Chloe wipes her mouth, giggling, “You are so silly, sneaking around to fix my embarrassments.”

“Yes, I’ve finally figured out that to give you the extravagant gifts you deserve, everyone must benefit.  Selfless to a nauseating degree.”

Shaking her head, Chloe climbs off his lap and begins putting her clothes back on.

“If I’d been truly selfless, or listened to you, the whole thing with Cain wouldn’t have occurred.  Or the aftermath,” Chloe admits in a creaky voice.

“Now, darling,” Lucifer stands as well and reaches for clothes, “we’ve been over this.  It was my fault as well, for not finding a less dramatic way for you to discover the truth.”

“The truth is he was a conniving jackass, with no skills whatsoever,” Chloe gestures towards the couch, obviously referring to intimate abilities.

Lucifer, a tiny bit sulky, whinges, “The evidence room encounter made quite a lot of noise.”

“Yes, I realized too much later that was deliberate.  Scumbag wanted everyone to know, to shame and claim me.  All I got out of it was an enormous headache and a few bruises.”

“Bruises?” in deep darkness King of Hell tones.  Lucifer’s focus narrows to Detective only.

“Yeah, a few,” Chloe inspects the ground beneath her boots minutely.

“Why, no, never mind.”  Lucifer assures her,  “I’ll not quiz the victim.”

“Smart man.  I played along with him, partly because some part of me did listen to your what I thought were over the top warnings about the kind of man he was.  Dangerous, vile, disgusting and if you don’t mind, NOT worth discussing further, especially here.”

Lucifer strokes Chloe’s hair gently.  “No no discussions, just punishments.”

“Good then, could you make sure neither Trixie or I appear in them?”

The earth rumbles beneath them, “Your wish is Hell’s command, my dear.”

Chapter Text

Holding hands, a further bedraggled Lucifer and Chloe, blinking rapidly to aid the shift from erotic romantic encounter to everyday life, exit the gift shop.  A clearly upset Trixie barrels towards them.

The sobbing child buries her face in her mother’s stomach.  “Mommy, I don’t want anybody to die again.  Daddy, Lucifer, is all this real?”  The depth of Trixie’s upset makes it hard to discern the question.

Eve comes hurrying up after the distraught girl.  “Trixie was a watching a movie, with a young woman in it, with sparkly red shoes and a checked blue print dress.  Then there were flying monkeys who kidnapped the girl and her little dog too.”  Eve asks anxiously,  “Were they some kind of Hellbeast, Lucifer, to frighten her so much?”

“Will I wake up, Mommy, like Dorothy did and everything will be without color because Daddy and Lucifer are de, aied again?  I saw a workman, and he looks like Lucifer like the Scarecrow is one of the farm workers,” a frantic Trixie babbles.

“Oh, Monkey, no.  I think they are both staying,” Chloe tries to reassure, but her tone is too uncertain to satisfy her worried daughter.

“But for how long?” The anxious child wails.  “Am I not a good enough girl for Daddy to be able to stay?”

“Of course you are Urchin,” Lucifer is certain.  How does one explain to a child she is caught up in a celestial battle, of literally Biblical proportions?

Eve suggests, “Little one, the rewards are worth the struggles, yes?”

Trixie nods through her tears.  “I didn’t mind being kidnapped, once Daddy found me and I could talk to the actual him for real.  Oh, Dorothy couldn’t go home til she faced the wicked witch.”

Chloe smooths her daughter’s hair, then hugs her close.

Lucifer looks about him and asks, “Where’s Maze?  I don’t hear the smashing of telly destruction.”

Snapping her fingers at remembering, Eve tells them worriedly, “Maze is trying to distract Ella from the sifting through the documents of rogue priests and busybody angels.”

Chloe and Lucifer exchange an “Oh bullocks” look, no one wants Ella to find out ‘its all true’ from their enemies’ writings.

With a soft hand on his beard, Chloe suggests, “Love, you are no match for that activity.  I will likely end up lying straight to Ella’s face.  You should show Trixie the truth of the workman, before she is surprised by it, like I was,” she pins Lucifer with a protective Mom glare that matches the sharpness of the last three words.

“As you wish, Detective,” Lucifer doesn’t cringe, but it’s a close thing.  “Come along, child, I shall be your ‘civilian consultant’ and you may be a world class detective as your parents are.  We will investigate this workman together.”

As Chloe opens her mouth with objections, Lucifer reassures, “He will not catch sight of the child, Detective.  We will use the migratory duck blind and investigate him without being seen ourselves.”

At Chloe’s nod of approval, Lucifer extends his arm in a courtly manner to Trixie.  Praising Daniel to his daughter was not such a horrible task, especially when the Detective gifts him with that warm beach smile, sea green eyes glowing with approval.  He watches, a little longingly, as Chloe and Eve rush away to avert another disastrous reveal.

Trixie runs to Lucifer, sobbing, “Did you get better again, again?”

He tries not to flinch when Trixie wipes her wet sniffly face on the remains of his shirt.  Lucifer can feel the armor he wears against other people’s distress fail him completely in the face of Trixie’s anguish.

“You were hurt and wearing different clothes.  Even though you sounded funny, I knew it was you.  The lights flickered and people were afraid,” Trixie sounds uncertain to Lucifer’s experienced ears.

“Were you afraid, child?”  Lucifer gently interviews Trixie, trying to determine if Michael, twin, Angel of Fear, employed his powers to frighten the girl.

“Noo, I knew you were trying to scare away the men hunting me and Rory away from us.  It worked too, they ran down the wrong tunnel.”  Distraught and upset, Trixie imitates her mother and focuses on the case.

“But, I knew it couldn’t be you when he lied and said there had been a cave in.  Plus, he was wearing dirty torn up workman’s coveralls.  His hair was all curly, kinda like yours when you make breakfast at dawn cause Rory woke us all up.”  Trixie describes the scene with references she is familiar with.

“Child, I believe you met my twin.  Shall we go see?”  Lucifer holds a hand out to Trixie.

“A twin?”  The surprise of this shocks Trixie out of the sobs rapidly leading to hiccups.  On the short walk to where he left Michael, Lucifer does his best to distract Trixie from her upset by making absurd remarks about the exhibits on their journey.

Lucifer helps Trixie into the blind. set up so people can study migrating wild birds without disturbing them.  In this way, they can observe Michael without him seeing the child.

Trixie nods to Lucifer and whispers, “Yeah, that’s him.  Why is Daddy lecturing him?”

Lucifer dodges, “Wait here, Urchin, your Dad will come get you and take you to back to your sister and cousin, yes.”

“Okay, but will you thank the workman?  He spooked the bad guys so much they didn’t look behind and see us,” Trixie confides, confident Lucifer will convey her gratitude.

“If I determine assisting you, Rory and Charlie was his purpose, I will thank him.  Allright, Urchin?”  Lucifer waits for Trixie’s approval.

Trixie nods, and grins at Lucifer. “Deal,” and puts a hand out for Lucifer to shake.

He stills, there’s immense consequences for deals with the Devil.  Not for Trixie, of course, but to Lucifer himself.  Thank his twin!?, how can he? for all that heartache, of himself, the Detective, Dan and Trixie herself.

But there’s the child, confident every adult in her orbit has her best interest at heart.  Well, if Michael doesn’t already, he will soon enough.

And before he had to actually thank his twin, he’d determine Michael’s motivations.  The loophole he needs in order NOT to have to say thank you to his twenemy.

“Stay here child, I will have your father come fetch you.”  Lucifer grins down, winking elaborately, “Think he can do that or is it too advanced?”

Lucifer is relieved when Trixie giggles her answer, “You’re funny.  Of course Daddy can find me.”

After Trixie and Dan are out of earshot, Lucifer grills his brother, “Did you frighten the child, Michael?”

Michael freezes,  “I tried, Sami, not to look her or the the baby in the eye. But they were hiding right behind the men searching for them.  They, the children aren’t damaged are they?” Micheal asks in a rush as if he was worried about their welfare.  He tries for an excuse, “There was no chance to say ‘be not afraid’ to the little humans without tipping off the monstrous ones.”

Lucifer snorts, “Be not afraid’ never did work for us, did it?  And you’d be in a cell beside Cain, continuously dripping internal organs if there was ‘damage’ to the children.”

Maze strolls up to them, jerks a thumb at Lucifer, “He went for all the classic torments.  The Loop is on the Greek ones now.”

“Too much temptation for the Devil.” Lucifer shakes his head at admitting that in front of Michael.  “Cain thought he had Hell on Earth with Dad’s set and forget punishment.  The wrath of God Cain pretended not to fear.”  Brown eyes spark crimson, “The wrath of the Devil, he will fear every second to beyond the end of time because I am into the details.  Cain is experiencing what real Hell is every millisecond of his eternities in the Pit.” Lucifer stares into the distance, which darkens to an unsettling mix of gray tinged red.

Wide eyed, Michael stage whispers to Maze, “Can he do that at will?  Summon Hell’s atmosphere.”

Wanting to encourage Michael’s trepidation, Maze grins evilly, “Make a sunshiny  day dark.  Sure, absolutely.”  She chuckles at realizing a demon’s every desire, to frighten the Angel of Fear.  Absolutely worth still knowing and responding when Lucifer, her former lord, encounters an angel.

The angel of Fear does not like how the tables have turned on him.  He mummers to Maze,  “What fixes it?”

Chapter Text

Suddenly, Maze hisses at Michael, her gleaming, very sharp teeth all visible.  Swans sink lower in their nests, trying to hide.  The dark atmosphere shifts back to bright and blue sky as Lucifer spots Chloe and Linda striding swiftly towards him.

“Tective.” Lucifer straightens up, goes to pull at non existent cuffs.  “And Linda.  Ladies, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Chloe responds, “We came, oh don’t gloat, to give you a list of our suggestions for what should be done with Hoael and Jkarenel.”  She presents him with a page clearly ripped out of her Detective notebook.

“Surprise, paperwork,” Lucifer grimaces.  “Ah, well, I’ll have to be creative, Detective,” Lucifer smirks as he takes the sheet, “and include endless scribbling on scrolls as well as your and Dr. Martin’s written suggestions for H&J’s future.”

Lucifer swings about and glares at his twin, “Miguelito?  Your suggestion for their incarceration.”

Michael turns sharply when swans flap at the edge of the pool beside them.  He tips his head towards the recovering swans.

“Very well,” Lucifer agrees.

“Daniel?”

Dan, looking a little chagrinned, quick glances at Michael,  “Er, um, I rather enjoyed watching Michael struggle with the toothbrush, cleaning on his hands and knees.”

“That can be arranged,” Lucifer assures him.

“Which part?” Jkarenel whines apprehensively.

“All of it,” Lucifer smirks, enjoying his tormentors squirming. “You two struggling with cleaning using a toothbrush on hands and knees and Daniel watching from a cozy warm environment.”

Dan asks, “Will you keep H & J here?”

“Absolutely not,” Lucifer and Chloe chorus.

Lucifer inclines his head regally towards Chloe, “As she wishes, so it shall be DONE.”

Maze, Linda and Dan shudder in response to the tone of Command, even not directed at them.  Hoael  and Jkarenel have been bowled over by the power aimed at them.  Their chains have now tangled together, increasing their pain as they blow about like tumbleweeds caught in a great storm.

Chloe explains, “They must be separated, both from each other and other angels.  Just as you were isolated in Hell from your supposed family.”  She links her arm in Lucifer’s, touch reassurance to them both of their reunion.

Amenadiel inquires warily, “How are YOU going to punish them, Luci?”

“Wingectomy, same as Michael,” Lucifer replies in a clinical tone.   “I’ll be leaving the Detective’s bullets in, so they can feel the struggle of phantom limbs continuously.”

“Luci, why?” Amenadiel pleads.

“Please summon the Host, as witnesses, Amenadiel,” Lucifer requests, one ruler to another.  “Or shall I?” Lucifer, Hell in his tone, red flickering just in his irises, under a raised brow of inquiry.

Sadder still, “Why, Lucifer?” Amenadiel questions.

“To deter them, brother, from repeating mistakes.” Lucifer explains, jaw clenched so as not to rage at Amenadiel, who is clearly not seeing the whole picture.  He wouldn’t mind raging at Amenadiel, if he could guarantee that his Devil form wouldn’t overtake him in front of Chloe, Linda and Dan.  Hardly a good way to repay them for their efforts on his behalf.

In response to Amenadiel’s sputtering, Lucifer snarls, “Brother, H&J sent miscreant humans to take the children of angels.  OUR children.  Do you think it will matter to humans, angels or demons that your little Nephelium has no angelic powers?    I intend to protect your family as well as mine by being sure that the Hoards of Heaven as well as disobedient demons, understand the consequences of distressing the children.”  Lucifer’s eyes now flash crimson enough to tinge the surrounding area with red.  His voice rings deep with Command,  “And their mothers.”

To send him on his way Heavenward, Lucifer makes flapping motions at Amenadiel whilst smirking triumphantly at Michael.   Chloe has Dan and Maze cart Hoael & Jkarenel off while Linda is sent to check on the children, leaving only Michael with her and Lucifer.

Chapter Text

“Your Highness?”

Lucifer spins around, not believing for a second that Michael is addressing him with respect.  That’s confirmed when Chloe straightens up, looks Michael full in the face, “Speak.  I am granting the private audience you hinted at.”

Incredible, hot and regal.  With baby yuck on her, hair streaming out of the flying braid, torn beige blouse, sensible brown boots coated with bird guano mud from rescuing me.  None of this matters to her ability to command and investigate.

Looking anywhere but at Chloe, Michael whispers, “I,I  didn’t understand what a terrible thing I did to Her Highness, until Kinley’s cohorts made Scrappy, Miss Lopez, fear for her personal safety.  I regret my actions, Your Highness, Lucifer.”

Lucifer demands, “Is that an apology, Michael?” with just a touch of Hell’s rumble.

“Yes?” Michael shrinks back.

“A proper apology, Michael,” Lucifer snarls. “Look her in the face when you say it.”

Michael shifts his gaze towards a red eyed Lucifer, but doesn’t look at him fully either.

“Michael, if you don’t mean it, don’t say it,” comes Chloe’s calmer voice.  “Perhaps you did not fully comprehend the danger to Ella.  Or the evil of your trickery impersonating your brother to take advantage of me.”

I remember that glare.  It’s a good thing she can’t smite people.  I hope that’s not a skill she develops.  Still it is fun to see her terrorize the angel of fear.  The ultimate payback trick.

The battered angel flails and his voice crackles with remembered helplessness as he informs them, “I knew their intent.  To make her fear and laugh at it.”

“As you laughed at me?”  Chloe snaps.

“No,  humph, certainly not after you shot me.” Michael confesses the truth wryly.

Lucifer grins so all his teeth glitter. “She does know how to put an angel in his place.”

“Sa,a” Michael shakes his head. “Lucifer, where will you ‘place’ the human scumbags that threatened Miss Lopez here?”

“Where do you think they should be mewed?” Lucifer asks, amused at his previously uncaring brother’s concern for one single human.

“Somewhere very, very cold. Their previous gig was at a ski lodge and they were fearful of being sent back to complete the job.  Got a lot of images of holey shoes and thin jackets in near blizzard conditions.  Uninformed bigots.  They kept talking about ‘hot Latina’ blood.  Somehow, they insulted Scrappy and made her fearful at the same time.”

Michael straightens up, as much as he is able.  “I apologize Your Highness, for attempting to trick you and taking liberties.”  He glances from her to Lucifer.

Lucifer looks to Chloe and she gives one sharp nod in return.

“Scumbags to Siberia, then,” Lucifer decrees.

“Could, may I speak with Lucifer, alone?” Micheal asks.

Chloe looks to Lucifer, who nods slowly.

“Attempt any trickery and Maze and I will use you as a test subject,” a hissing Chloe threatens.  “To find out what ice cold demon steel does to angel tongues and toes.  We can make you limp on both sides.  Maze wants to discover if you can be made to hobble in your sleep.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

Look at her walking away, post threatening my oftimes dickhead twin.  She’s plotting to protect me.  That’s truly the miracle part.

“You understand, I’d really rather trail after the Detective,” Lucifer grouses.

“Yes,” Michael nods.

“S P E A K”

Lucifer employs his mojo, hoping for the truth and a swift end to dealing with his siblings.  He’d really rather be following the Detective, admiring her end.

“I, I didn’t mean to read her, Lucifer, Miss Lopez.  I was trying to discover which part of tunnels underground the lead, smartest honcho dreaded most.  Michael puts hands out in a gesture of surrender.  “It just spilled over, the fear impel.”

“And?”

“She, she’s afraid of Pete escaping,” Micheal confesses, glaring at his brother.

“What has she to dread?.  The miscreant is in human prison well locked up.” Lucifer refutes.

Anger in his tone, Michael snaps back, “You, King of B&E, lock picker extraordinaire, who buys everything you desire, is depending on, how did you phrase it? ‘that corrupt organization’ to successfully keep confined a hidden serial killer of many years?  You never do think about contingencies, do you?”

Lucifer stalks menacingly around his detractor, a wolf looking for a weak spot in a enfeebled cougar.

“Did you do any advanced planning to ensure Ella’s safety in case of unexpected events?  Shite, Lucifer, an earthquake could set him free.” Michael demands, spinning to stay face to face with Lucifer.  “Or just FLY by the seat of your pants no worries about any one else paying the price?” 

For Lucifer, memories of Joan and Daniel’s deaths surface.  Further back in the mists of time, recollections of siblings who died or Fell or had injuries forever from his Rebellion haunted him, drifting out from where he'd tried to stuff them with endless distractions.

At the familiar sentiment, Lucifer is brought up short.  Certainly, the Detective had brought up this less positive quality of not thinking through the consequences to others frequently with great exasperation.   And he had agreed to attempting to consider the impact of his actions on the future of himself and others.  He’d been so long without hope of influencing events.  Learned helplessness was the personal demon he’d yet to conquer.  The past few trips to Hell had been of his own free will.  Still the most miserable bits of his long useless existence. Hope was an elusive emotion, but the Detective and the children deserved his best play at it.  This blip of his long life mattered to them.  But was Michael! the correct person from whom to take advice?

As swordsman, Michael did show the most interest of any angel in tactics and contingency plans.

“No, barnstormer, have you have suggestions then?  Its not like any of us,” Lucifer gestures to himself, Micheal, then the sky, “ever really had to consider that a plan wouldn’t work because we never knew what it was.”

“Do to Pete what you are doing to me.” Michael answers.  “Maybe not the Demon shock collar chain in a human prison if he must stay there.  But certainly set someone to watching the camera feed, interview random people who come in contact with him.  I’m sure some fellow prisoner or another can be bought to monitor him inside.”

At Lucifer’s considering hesitation,  Micheal desperately suggests, “If you don’t have enough people to watch him, put the stupid collar back on me.  The thing that’s important here is protecting Ella,” Michael concludes impassionedly.

Lucifer holds up a hand to stop his twin.  Images flash thru his mind, his laying on the floor of the hanger, bleeding out after Malcom shot him, begging his Dad to protect Chloe.  Lucifer’s own “That’s all the matters” so similar to Micheal’s ‘that’s what’s important here.’  The parallels between his jumps in front of knives and flying axes to protect the Detective and Michael’s willing launch to block a flying Devil forged Morningstar from impacting Ella isn’t lost on Lucifer, even if he might not want to acknowledge it.

“Very well, electronic surveillance, a man in the inside,”  Lucifer rubs his hands together, joyfully contemplating the devious needed to do this undercover.   “I’ll start keeping tabs on the case so no evidence goes missing and the prosecution assigns their best people.  Anything else?”

“I might be the Angel of Fear, but I hear you abandoned the ‘be not afraid’ tack many centuries ago.”  Michael suggests,  “Just a little tiny dose of what faces him, in his afterlife, should he not make this as easy as possible for Ella by confessing.”

“You wish to prevent Miss Lopez from having to testify?”  Lucifer raises a brow, clearly not completely on board with the idea.

“If possible, and she wants that?” Michael knows Lucifer values free will, sometimes to his detriment and everyone around him.

“Yes, I see.”  Lucifer straightens, indicating the seriousness of their conversation,  “You’ve a bargain with the Devil, Michael, for the good of Miss Lopez.  Kindly remember that she is my priority here.”

Michael sighs, “Right, do I get the chain with the barbs or without?”

Lucifer grins icky, “Ready for it, are you?”

“No, but I know you and your bargains.  I did say it.” Michael concedes.

“As it happens, Michael, I do have enough resources to monitor both you and Petey boy without having to resort to a shock collar for you.  Your behavior,” Lucifer grits his teeth, “and thoughtfulness towards Miss Lopez has indicated that the training device is not required at this time.”

“Really, you are not going to put it on any way?”  Michael’s disbelief is written all over his face.

“No, Michael, I’m neither Father nor Mum in their warring days, damned if you do or damned if you don’t.”

Michael tips his head and asks in disbelief, “Are we getting along then?”

“Just barely, Michael, just barely,” Lucifer shakes his head at himself and the concept of an accord with his brother.   Perhaps a warning to both of them is in order. “And I am second guessing myself the whole time, so don’t step outside your defined boundaries because of the favor you have been granted.”

“Does that mean I can lose the toothbrush for scrubbing?”  Michael tests Lucifer’s generosity.

“Now you are pushing my patience, Michael.”  Lucifer lectures, “Détente is a slow carefully built structure, Michael, in order to be solid.”

“The ‘rents’ just moved right back in with each other.” Michael counters, gesturing skyward.

“The ‘rents also dragged all of us, their children, into the middle of their relationship problems.  I’m told this is unhealthy, unfair and unwise vehemently by the Detective and the Doctor.”  Lucifer wishes fervently,  “We can only hope God and Goddess stay in her new universe when they blow hot and cold with each other now.”

“May the Force be with us,” Michael deadpans, spreading his fingers in a clumsy version of the Vulcan hand gesture of ‘Live long and prosper.’

Lucifer guffaws long and loud at his twin, mixing the space opera metaphors learned from Ella to ward off their parents.  Unexpectedly sharing a joke with Michael is balancing out the feeling of dread at what he will have to do to those other siblings.

Chapter Text

After the Host and the Hoards witness Hoael and Jkarenel’s wingectomies, along with Lucifer’s listings of his Earth family’s decrees about the punishment of those who kidnapped his child, he sends anxious angels back to Heaven and returns cringing demons to Hell.

All the in the know adults return to where Ella and Linda were watching the children.

Trixie, daughter of detectives, puts together from her parents, Charlotte and the celestials’ odd chatter in hushed tones what they had most recently been discussing.  An incarceration location for the angels abhorrent still had not been determined.

Chloe had sent Lucifer, with his incessant hand washing, outside as they tried to figure out a ‘safe’ placement for Hoael and Jkarenel, after his distressed vibe and the intense chemical smell from the soap had disrupted Rory and Charlie’s recovery.  Ever loyal, Maze wandered out after him, claiming disgust with the fussiness of babies.  (Everyone knew her soft heart for the little ones meant she suffered when they did.)  Dan and Trixie had followed Lucifer and Maze outside so Trixie’s recovery wasn’t impeded by blubbery babies.

“I shan’t quarantine them in Hell, Maze,” Lucifer yells at his second, still snappish from inflicting the wingectomy on his siblings.  “They are angels still, able to take the Throne no one wants.  Besides, for them its supposed to be solitary confinement,” Lucifer continues more softly, calmed by remembering his partner’s fierce objections to his being banished from any happiness or care.  And Chloe’s determination to see his siblings cast out where they couldn’t threaten his found family time now that he was returned to her.

“They, H & J, should be sent to Hydra and Kerebos,” Trixie gestures to the blue sky above them. 

At the innocent chirp of a child’s voice never heard in Hell, Lucifer looks up from examining his hands and shoes for blood.  There are a few puffy white clouds, nothing as threatening as an open mouthed serpent or a dog with many heads.  No thunderous disapproval, no stony faced Goddess, no body to drag to the forest and weeping bury alone.  Lucifer shuddered his relief at the realization he had not had to kill his siblings this day.  Maim viciously, yes, end their existence not so much.  He directed his attention to Trixie’s soft voice, explaining patiently to her father how far it was from Earth to those satellites.

“What are Hydra and Krbos?” Dan questions his daughter, who is holding his hand and leaning against him.

Lucifer answers, “Two of the mini moons of Pluto, Daniel.  Your daughter is pointing in the exact correct place in the sky.  The English pronunciation of the dog’s name is Cerberus.  Both just large frozen rocks, twisting in orbit around the Roman king of Hades, Pluto.” Lucifer explains.  He looks down to Trixie, “But why, child?

“So they know even the legends of you are bigger than they are.  Even if you do look more like a cleaned up homeless magician right now than King of the Underworld.” Trixie grins like she’s winning Monopoly.

“Ah, I quite like that,”  Lucifer preens with the compliment.  “May I borrow your space books, Urchin, to calculate the worst placement for them on the satellites of Pluto before their one way journey to a cold, but still Stygian destination.”  Lucifer clearly relishes the opportunity to make Underworld references with Trixie who understands them without being afraid of him.

Maze gloats, “Lead and demon steel bullets leaching into fragile angel birdie body, toothbrushes for scrubbing ice on an endless 12 by 6 mile frozen rock, what more could there be to torture your weird wingless siblings, Lucifer?”

“Ah, Michael made the suggestion that they be accompanied by creatures that have flight,” Lucifer informs them.

Maze pounces on the statement, “The winged chimera, famous for swooping into Hell Loops to snatch quills by slicing the hands of the deceitful who mislead others with the written word.  Regretful scammers and swindlers there be.”

Lucifer nods in agreement with his former left hand demon.  “I’ve not forgotten you Michael, or to what I agreed.  During the next few lengthy rotations of Pluto around the sun, I will figure out a video feed of swans, geese in formation, and a singing yellow warbler.  Will that suit?”

There’s a pause while Michael gapes in amazed at being asked his opinion.  “Yeah, sure, fine.”

“All settled then,” Lucifer gloats.  “I just have one more punishment to add and we can be on our way.  Mazikeen, you have that clicker, do you not?”

As Maze nods enthusiastically, Dan suggests to Trixie, “Lets go back in and let your mother know H and J’s destination, yes?  Perhaps that will calm her.”  They walk to the building, still holding hands.

Lucifer shakes his head at Maze to stop her from tormenting Michael with the clicker.  The Devil holds a finger up until he sees Dan in the window, giving a thumbs up.

“The big bad Devil, tamed, by a squirt’s sensibilities,” Maze teases.

“Mazikeen, supreme torturer of the damned, waiting for that same squirt to clear the area before,” Lucifer lets a slow, reluctant breath out.  “Before we teach the guilty the folly of misdeeds against the Devil’s chosen family.”  He is growling by the end of the sentence, once again resolute in his quest to punish evil.   Determination in every stride, he stalks to where Hoael and Jkarenal have been temporarily detained.

His grin is all sharp teeth as he holds the button down, the way he did to Bobby B.

Maze sniffs deeply, enjoying the scent of fried angel robes smelling enough like brimstone to remind her of home.

Michael has jaw clenched against the phantom pain of remembering his learning curve with the electric fence.  He’d never visited Hell, to experience the necessary ruthlessness of its King.  Was this really what his fun loving twin, full of compassion in Heaven, had become?  What had Dad done?  Michael looked down at his right hand, twitching in sympathy, the uncontrolled motion setting off the constant since the Fall ache in his right shoulder.  Really, what had Dad done to all of them through inaction?

When Lucifer finally releases the button, Hoael & Jkarenel’s bodies continue to shudder and twitch.  Their ragged robes sizzle from the electricity.  “Enjoy the heat while you can.” Lucifer taunts.

The defeated angels look up, eyes wide with trepidation, once they stopped involuntarily blinking.

The Devil is all sharp angles, in spite of his disheveled appearance.  There’s no trace in his manner of the afterglow from his debauchery with the Detective.  Only the ice hot determination of the Devil, hissing punishments.

From hands chapped with too much scrubbing with harsh chemicals, Lucifer tosses toothbrushes at both of them.  His fingers are cracked almost to bleeding, like Michael’s.  Can’t wash away some sins, no matter how much water used or scouring you do.

He demands of his brother, “Why, Michael, why ask for mercy for H & J?”

“Because, as you once said, there’s been enough killing.”

The twins exchange a look, the only angels to erase their siblings from existence all together.

Lucifer announces to Hoael and Jkarenel,  “Because Michael was one you wronged, I am taking his suggestion into consideration.  In case you forgot what I said before employing the Sword, while birds chirped happily in the background, flapping their wings, you will be grounded with demon chain and set to scrub the ice beneath you,” the Devil details their punishments once again.  With his stomach queasy at the thought of cutting off wings, Lucifer suspects he might have omitted the minutia of their marooning.

Hoael & Jkarenel protest.  As they fuss, Lucifer watches his brother, then guides him out of the hearing of their siblings and Maze.   “Why else, Michael, you always have a deeper play?”

“Sammi, do you think that if Espinoza and Ms. Richards traveled from Hell to Heaven and back to Earth, that its possible well, Remi could too?  Michael supports his theory,  “As Father indicated?”

At Lucifer’s glare, Michael adds, “And Uriel also.  Maybe the Flaming Sword isn’t the end we’ve been led to believe.  Father seemed very enthusiastic about us getting along and showing goodwill towards the huma, people.”

Lucifer huffs, “Don’t take advantage, Michael.  You have none.  I’m getting these arrogant angels out of here now.  But with a little more awareness of the conditions of their destination than I had when I Fell.”  As Lucifer glares at it, Michael winces and grabs for the shoulder injured at the start of Lucifer’s Fall.

“Good, you remember the damage I can inflict upon you, even as I lo, experience a temporary setback.  Whilst I transport our siblings to the outer reaches, Mazikeen will be your warden.  If anything untoward happens here, Pluto has a few other tiny satellites orbiting, just waiting to serve as lockup,” Lucifer warns, a glinting of deep red fire in his eyes.

A wide eyed Michael nods.  “Now I understand why the human ‘miscreants’ flee towards the LAPD, not away from them, when you are on a case.”

Lucifer makes one quick gesture for Michael to proceed him back to where Maze has been on guard.

“The appropriate cooler, that’s slang for prison,” Lucifer taunts the restrained angels, “has been decided upon for you.  I will transporting you to Hydra and Kerebos, where Sol, no matter how high in the sky, is just a pinprick of light providing no warmth.”

“Mmmummph, nnnaaa,” is accompanied by head thrashing and attempts to wriggle out of barbed demon steel chain.

“Ah, don’t fret about needing sunglasses as Pluto circles the closest to Sol that it can on its ellipse,” Lucifer mocks.  “I plan to place you so the sunlight is blocked by Pluto when the planet and its moons draw close to Sol.”

Maze adds, “Whilst we partake of all Earth’s pleasures, wine, women and song.  Right, my lord?” she asks slyly, knowing that title of Lucifer’s will further torment the angels.               

“You will experience every occultation of the moon in the slow motion of the long cycles of dim light and, ha I can say this, Stygian dark,” Lucifer bedevils them.  “The pace of time being so slow on the far flung satellites, compared to Heaven’s flow, will give you some small taste of the length of my stays in Hell.  Should you threaten my family again, your final destination will be there, slowly broiling in the Lake of Fire til you look back longingly on your time in the deep freeze.”

Chapter Text

When Lucifer returns from casting the children’s kidnappers onto Kerebos and Hydra, he lands where Maze continues to guard Michael, away from the others.  Feathery white wings glisten in the sun, beginning to drip sharp edged ice crystals that clink cacophonic.

The Devil makes one peremptory motion at his former underling to shoo her away from her detainee.  Maze growls at his high handedness, showing teeth.  Lucifer narrows his eyes, “This souvenir will not be to your liking.  Back away, Mazikeen,” he continues more gently.

Startled by his care for her, Mazikeen retreats a few steps.

Lucifer flaps and flaps great wings at Michael, covering him in tiny ice shards. These explode on contact, creating small clouds of smog colored glitter.  They pepper Michael, who winces with the impacts and brushes grey crystals off his once again smoking coveralls.

“WHAT?” he yells at Lucifer.

“A taste of the pleasures of the Underworld satellites,” Lucifer drawls sarcastically.  “A sample of what awaits you, should I find that you did have a role in today’s potentially catastrophic events against the children.  Or should the Detective frown and mention your name,” Lucifer snaps pettishly, still shedding ice pellets by ruffling his wings.

Maze scuffs a boot at the crystals, which tinkle dischordantly as they shatter into smaller bits. 

“What crazy compound is this, Lucifer?” Maze grimaces in distaste.  “Decker only drenched you with salt water to rinse off the Kinley created poison.”

“Earth seawater mixed with the ice of Hydra.  ‘Pparently, Dad frowns on planet hopping from contaminated salt water to pristine Plutonian satellites,” Lucifer grumps, shooting a glare at the sky.

Michael huffs, trying not to laugh.  In response to Lucifer’s glare, Michael              “Everything is NOT about you, all the time.”

 “Lucifer, LUCe ifer, where are you?” Ella’s voice echoes off the surrounding buildings.

The Devil twits his twin, “’Pparently, Tis.  All about me.”  He booms back, “Yes, Miss Lopez, we are on our way.  I spy the food trucks have arrived.”

“Let’s get back to our women, Maze,” Lucifer winks.  “There’s whiskey and wine on one of those culinary conveyances and I can provide the song.”

“Hide the wings, Lucifer, wet or not,” Michael implores.  “Scrappy is faster than anyone thinks.  And probably headed this direction at top speed.”

“Bollocks, damp feathery menaces tucked in the pocket dimension.  As unpleasant as paperwork.”  Lucifer shrugs shoulders and mighty wings disappear with one last spray of melting crystals.

Ella shouts, “Is Miguelito with you?”

Maze cautions, “Let’s get out of here.  Ellen is sharp enough about her chemicals to notice something off about these brackish puddles. They’re not entirely terrestrial anymore,” Maze warns.

After simultaneously shaking their heads, the twins get a move on in the direction of Ella’s shouts.  She greets them with a cheery, “Let’s get this party started.  Follow me to the festivity fixings.”

Chapter Text

When Lucifer, Michael and Ella near the food court turning impromptu party site, a gleeful Lucifer migrates straight to Chloe.  After the third time she rolls her eyes at his antics and he catches an elbow to the ribs, Lucifer darts from one food tray to another, leaving before others can reject him.  Chloe glances towards him between preventing the other adults from over sugaring Trixie.  Lucifer never sees her looks of longing, too busy making sure Chloe doesn’t catch his furtive peeps in her direction.

Ella lectures on the best foods to consume after stressful encounters.  No matter how much she mentions the benefits of fruit, everyone snatches at the cinnamon rolls and garlic knots between set up tasks.

Trixie uses the different sized fruit to demonstrate the solar system to Charlie.  “Mars is the fourth planet out.  Its nicknamed the ‘red planet.’  Mars is the Roman name for the God of War, he’s called Ares in Greek.  There’s less atmosphere on Mars, so we will have to live in habitats when we first colonize the planet.”

From the edge of the food court, Michael watches the action.  Mostly Ella’s movements as she sneaks shredded bits of unfilled corn tortillas into her mouth.

Dan wonders why Charlotte did not request a waffle truck with all the fixings.  “Because I want your waffles,” she replies suggestively, running one elegant finger down his arm.

Dan shoots her a dark look.  “I’d rather put the toppings on you.”

Eve coughs, Maze outright laughs.  Eve grabs a juicy red apple, taking a slow bite. Maze growls, “Careful, darling, the party might find its hostess AWOL.”

The other couples cozy interactions make Chloe wonder where it all went wrong for her and Lucifer today.  Oops, she still has the dratted Key.  Playtime is over.  A little flim flam later, and now Amenadiel has the Key, no one the wiser.

A male voice yells, “Boss, Boss, where are you?  Mazikeen?”

“Patrick?” Lucifer and Maze chorus, looking puzzled.

Eve shouts, “We are over here Patrick.”

“Boss, a delivery came for you.  The bakery wouldn’t send its driver towards this weird weather, so I figured I would bring it myself with the power mum latte you requested from Lux.  What happened here?  What kind of bird loses those giant feathers?” Patrick wonders.

“Never mind, Patrick, its naught now,” Lucifer waves away his employee’s concerns.  “I appreciate the delivery of the misdirected items for our party.  I’ll dispense double your regular bonus tomorrow,” Lucifer promises.

“Right, won’t breathe a word of it,” Patrick winks, “No one would believe me anyway, cause I sure don’t know what I saw.  Its dusk with long shadows, all pink sky at night and half the safety lights here are blinkin and fritzin.”

Eve offers, “Here, I packed up some pizza and desserts to take with you.”

Patrick grabs the food and hightails it out of the zoo, muttering, “Crazy plus insane amounts of money equals eccentric, not loco.  Eyes open, mouth shut, don’t think too hard as delivery dude equals paying Gran’s way to stay in her house that she raised you in and the nursing she needs.”

“Lucifer,” Eve chides, “I thought you paid for the nurses.”

“I do.”  Lucifer sighs at the need to defend himself and come clean,  “Patrick was lead to believe ‘Gran’ purchased long term care that covers some of the cost.  The idea of a caring grandparent was a novelty I couldn’t resist.”

Dan starts to rummage in the packages and Lucifer swipes his hands away.

“Not for you, Daniel, but for the Detective,” he scolds.

Calmer now that the Key is out of her possession, Chloe loops one arm around Lucifer and opens the packages he so carefully holds with the other.

“Oh, lemon bars and my decaf latte,” Chloe washes down her first bite of lemon bar with a sip of the drink.  Lucifer tentatively melts into Chloe’s hug, brightening further when she offers him the cup to drink from.

“Decaf latte,” Dan shakes his head at Lucifer. “Even I know Chloe takes hers leaded.”

“Daniel,” Lucifer lectures, without moving out of Chloe’s embrace, “Caffeine is not on the approved list for nursing moms.  Rich organic coconut and almond milk and cane sugar caramel are.  All the nutrition that active mothers and Neph baby need,” he brags to Ella cheerfully.

“Gotta admire your dedication, buddy,” Ella grins.  “You do realize that most of the modern secular world will not have the background to catch what a ‘Neph’ baby actually means.”

“Yes, Miss Lopez.  There are as few as educated as you, with your open mindedness,” Lucifer glances from Ella to where Michael slumps, all of his remaining energy focused on the bubbly woman.

“That drink is really rich, Chloe,” Ella peers into the cup.  “I see bananas and fresh pineapple.  Lots of nutritional calories in there,” she winks.

“Nursing does have its benefits,” Chloe agrees, taking another huge sip of the not latte.”  She grins at a radiant Lucifer, just poking her tongue out to swipe the froth off her lips.  Feeling devilish, Chloe whispers to him, “I like it thick and creamy, made specially for me.”

In rumbling tones, Lucifer mummers back, “I don’t think the gift shop has recovered yet, but I’m straightening up quickly.”

Grinning, Chloe returns to her drink, trying? to distract her friends from her PDA by commenting, “Its almost thick enough to need a straw.” 

Linda coughs, agreeing, “Nursing a baby lets you eat enormous amounts of rich food where ever you are on Earth.”   Lucifer watches as a realization crosses her face and she pulls Amenadiel down to whisper it to him.

Now Amenadiel is wide eyed too, staring at Lucifer, but tipping his head to where Dan has retreated to Charlotte’s side.

Michael coughs halfheartedly, obviously trying not to jar his body too much.

Ella rifles through the other drinks, “Lucifer, I know Miguelito is on a strict diet, but maybe he can drink one of these.”

Smiling, the King of distraction replies, “Yes, Miss Lopez, he may choose from what you offer him.”

Lucifer glares at his twin, giving him a thumbs up to indicate he may accept Ella’s offering.  While she is otherwise occupied, he escorts Chloe closer to Amenadiel and Linda.

As Chloe sips on her ‘mom’ shake, a troubled, but soft spoken, Linda wonders, “How will we explain Dan and Charlotte’s sudden reappearance on Earth?  After all this time, what legitimate sounding excuse can we give for their absence?”

The celestial insiders pause, exchanging pondering glances.  Several heads are shaken as they rack their brains, but no ideas are spoken.

Trixie pipes up, “Daddy could say he was in witness protection.”

Except for Lucifer, all the adults nod agreement.

Chloe smiles, winks in her awkward way and says, “You, Mr. won’t tell a lie, may say you heard rumors of witness protection.”  She leans down and kisses Trixie’s forehead.  “No need to tell anyone where the rumor started.”

With that dilemma solved, party preparations begin anew.

Everyone except Michael divvies up the food truck smorgasbord.  He mostly watches Ella wielding the pizza cutter she’d charmed from Maze.  The demon had been so forceful with the implement that she’d sliced the cardboard pizza box into triangle shaped cut outs.  Trixie had laughed at the expression on Dan’s face when he bit into a slice with cardboard triangle still underneath.  With the childish laughter tinkling in their ears, all the adults are feeling generous.

“Detective, may Michael partake in the celebration?” Lucifer asks as they set out napkins and plastic silverware.  It’s a testament to the stress of the day that Lucifer does not comment on the absurdity of plastic ‘silver’ ware.  Another indication was the Devil had forgotten to request actual silverware and instead had to rough it with the cheap plastic implements from the food trucks.

“In what way?” Chloe asks cautiously, aware of Lucifer’s easy forgiveness towards those he considers family.  Look, he’d already forgiven her for sniping at his enthusiasm for partying after a stress filled day that ended in jubilant reunions.   Laying a soft hand on his active one stops his jittering.  She steps into his space, glowing approval apparent as he leans down to mummer his request.

“He is looking rather longingly at the food.  Hasn’t asked me, but I thought perhaps?” Lucifer gestures at the spread, pizza, Javier’s takeout, Fruits Extraordinaire, gelato, chocolate pudding cake.

Considering, Chloe bites her bottom lip, “Yes, if Dan agrees and there’s no dessert.”

With little subtlety, as usual, Lucifer pulls Dan aside and asks the same question.

Dan cautions, “Yes, but no knives, not even plastic.”

At Lucifer’s puzzled look, Dan explains, “I knocked a plastic knife straight out of Malcolm’s hands. Hid it under my boot right in front of his nose, then sliced at the zip ties attaching me to a pole til I got free.”

“Of course.” Lucifer nudges Dan and whispers to him,  “I’ll just have Maze demonstrate her knife skills on his plate if he needs something cut.”

“Tell her little tiny pieces,” Dan suggests.  “Can’t sit next to Trix.”

“Certainly not.”  At the Devil’s vow, the sky darkens more swiftly than just for sunset as the sky turns from pink to ashy red.

“Not flinching this time, I see.”  Lucifer approves of Dan’s protectiveness.

“Nope, that’s my daughter you are instructing the universe about.”  Dan has eyeballs going in all directions, but still grits his teeth and endures the reverberations of the decree of the brightest of angels.

Chapter Text

The bracelet bros then strategize until they have everyone seated around the food court.  Micheal and Ella sit furthest from the spread, chaperoned by Eve and the ever watchful Maze.  The tip of her curved knives had chlinked against Michael’s plate allegro agitato.  At least until Rory’s fussiness at the rapid plunking noise had Chloe, future Queen of Hell, glaring at the demon demonstration of tempo both fast and agitating.

Far enough away from Michael that low voiced conversations can be private, the rest of the celestial in the know begin to plan for the logistics of Dan and Charlotte’s return.

As they discuss the practicalities involved in convincing the world that Dan and Charlotte were in witness protection, Lucifer weasels his way into taking care of all the financial bits of a new home, vehicles and reimbursing life insurance and officer death payouts.

The conversation then veers to the recent past on Earth as Dan and Charlotte are brought up to speed about recent events, space camp, baby Rory and time travel. Dan was most disbelieving of the story of Michael, seemingly freely, admitting he’d bamboozled a grieving Rory of the future in Hell loops showing a past without Lucifer.

Charlotte had proposed that Rory had misunderstood the length Lucifer’s absence at Chloe’s deathbed.

“But, Detective, Chloe, why would I leave you at your, er, your, when you need me?  IF you still want me in fort,”  the rest of Lucifer’s sentence is muffled when Chloe shoots up out of her seat and slaps her hand over his mouth right in the middle of the number.

“Don’t tell me the exact years, months, days, hours,” Chloe insists, eyes flashing.  “I can keep track of it just FINE myself. After you left me YET again,” Chloe snarls.  “Beautiful sunrises of red and blue mixed together peacefully taunted me.  They could be together twice a day sometimes if the light was right at daybreak and dusk, as it is now.”  Just shy of wailing, Chloe flings her hands to the wide open sky.  “I had to wait through a ‘blip?’ (the lightbulb above Lucifer’s head busts) that was going to last as long as I had already lived.  What kind of future did you choose for me, Lucifer?  And Rory must have known how miserable I was without you.”

Lucifer remembers that awful despairing tone from Chloe finding out she was his Miracle and her attacks on him after Dan’s death.  He stands, stepping over the bench.  Possibly he will need to decamp quickly.  Either away from the Detective or after her.  He knows from the Hell loops of neglectful husbands that swift action is needed when a partner is this upset.  There are plenty of guilty husbands in Hell whose biggest regret is not finding out what “FINE’ actually meant.  He’ll have to start a support group next time he’s down south, if not to free them, to learn further from their mistakes.

Chloe shivers, its not meant for humans to know the exact date of their demise, or the suffering in their future.  Even though the Bible verse was about knowing when the world would end, Chloe thought it was good advice for one’s own death. 

She quotes straight from the Bible, “But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Ever the lecturer, Amenadiel preaches, “That verse from Matthew is about the end of the world, Chloe.”

“Amenadiel,” Linda glares. “She’s making a point.  Chloe, that’s awful.”

“No more,” Chloe implores. “No more vows about actions in the future.  There may be a very legitimate reason you are not with me, at my, you know.”

“But what could that be, Detective?” Lucifer objects.  “What’s more important than you?”

“I dunno, Lucifer, the fate of the world, of the universe.  I don’t want the world ending when my two girls are still on it.”  Chloe speculates,  “Maybe humanity has made a true mess of the environment by then and you are up there in space flapping more oxygen into the atmosphere.”

Lucifer looks over Chloe’s head to see Amenadiel stiffen.  His eyes glaze over while glancing at Trixie, napping at Dan’s side.  AmenaGod coughs, “AA, resss.”  He gives his brother the same look of spooked recognition as when Lucifer told him Mum had escaped Hell.

Chloe continues her rant, “Its ridiculous to base our whole future on the hysterical outburst of one upset teenager.  Who we know was emotionally tortured by Michael,” Chloe jabs her finger at him, on the opposite side of the food court. The disgraced angel chokes on his drink, looking wary and surprised.  Chloe draws in a deep counting to ten breath  “just prior to her appearance in the Penthouse. And the results of a panic room visit,” Chloe shakes her head.  Even when they were in the panic room, it seemed like an absurd idea.

“But I did disappear at Swanson and 10,” Lucifer contends.

Chloe rolls her eyes, “Yes, I know you were F.I.N.E. til Swanson and 10.  Self actualization?  Ring any bells?”

“Oh, I suppose I should have inquired further?” Lucifer runs a hand over his beard, shoulders slumping downwards.

“I’m the one asking the questions here,” Chloe asserts.

“Very well, Detective,” Lucifer nods, smart enough to agree this time, not like their first meeting at the piano at Lux.

“Did you miss me?  I missed you, you know.”  In spite of the tears, Chloe stands still, unwilling to be that vulnerable and take the first step towards contact.

Lucifer shifts towards her, mumbling in her hair, “Did not think I was worth it, you know.   That constant struggle you have to civilize me and endure the celestial craziness.  Thought the blip would be like all the times I was chased back to Hell.  You brought so much light to my life I couldn’t comprehend how bad the return to dismal Hell might be without you all that long time.”  Lucifer brings her hands to his mouth and kisses them gently.  “Still adapting to the idea someone wants me, not a favor or a king.”

At her smiling welcome of his tentative touch, the angry red in the sky brightens to opalescent pink, matching the sparkle of aquamarine sky and cerulean clouds.  

Dan mutters to Charlotte, “Who says he doesn’t affect time?  Looks like dusk spun backwards its so much brighter now.”

Lucifer looks at his friends for the loophole in his vow to is daughter, “But how do I undo my promise to Rory?”

Linda interjects, “Lucifer, your vow is based on a lie.  Not Rory’s lie, but Michael’s of the past.  I think.  You say you want to break the pattern of your family’s dysfunction, here is the opportunity.”

“Detective, the imp will still believe I deserted her.” Lucifer clearly wants Chloe to have a fix for this.  She is after all, the person who saved his home,  protected him from his own worse impulses, and camouflaged him when it seemed the Devil face was permanent.  The first since the Fall to succor him.

“Yes, Lucifer, she will.  I’m not sure we can change that, in the future past.”  Chloe reasons,  “But she must have remembered feeling loved by you, or she would not have forgiven you so quickly.”

Chloe, darling, she shares the quick to forgive with me.  But that is not something I need to remind you of now, it makes you sad to remember your attempt to poison me.

“Yaaar, gulp,” Trixie yawns.  “Daddy, can we go home now?” Trixie peers at Dan between blinks.

“Go home,” Charlie echoes, face scrunching up while arms flap wildly.

Linda begins packing up toddler items and some of the fresh fruit.

“But Linda,” Amenadiel objects, “we need to understand the implications of.”

“The only ‘implications’ you need to worry about this moment is Charlie’s impending meltdown,” Linda threatens.

Lucifer grins and lectures the Eldest, “Children’s immediate needs before existential crisis, brother.”  And spoils the know it all attitude by glancing at Dan for confirmation.

“Every time,” Dan winks.  “Even if your immediate crisis is homelessness.”

Trixie snuffles, “I can’t go home with you?  Where will you stay?” she worries.

Lucifer intervenes, “Nonsense, Daniel, Charlotte, you are in no way homeless.  I’ve plenty of properties for you to choose from, separately or together.”

“Daddy, pick the one with the giant telescope.  Lucifer bought it ‘specially for me to see Mars, but we never got to go.  Daddy, can we please?” Trixie begs.  “I wanna look through it tonight.”

Dan looks at Lucifer, who nods.  “Certainly,” Lucifer assures as he turns away to fuss with packing for Rory.

“Lucifer?” Dan presses.  “Did you not want us to go there?”

“Of course, Daniel.  We will do as the child desires.”  Lucifer doesn’t look Dan in the eye.

“That’s not an answer,” Dan objects, stepping into Lucifer’s space.

“Its not important,” Lucifer continues to evade.

“Dude, come on.  I’m no mind reader and I’m beat,” Dan protests tiredly.

Lucifer looks up, centuries of not being included in family events in his eyes.  “I’d hoped to be there, that first time she found Mars.”

“Of course,” Dan assures.  “The telescope can wait til tomorrow night.”

“Daddy,” Trixie whines, “Tonight we could see.”

“Trixie, we will wait til tomorrow night,” Dan says firmly.  “Make a Telescope Taco Tuesday party out of it with your Mom, sister and Lucifer.  Besides, you will want to be fully awake to handle such high level equipment.”

“Lucifer, will you bring fancy chocolate cake?” Trixie’s eyes sparkle at him.

The Devil brightens to rival the sun.  “As you wish, Urchin.”

The adults begin to place food in takeout containers for the journey home.

Minus Lucifer, who ducked actual domestic work in the guise by explaining how much sunlight Mars receives to Trixie, Charlie and Rory.

Eve pulls Chloe aside, “Men haven’t changed in centuries, you know.  Adam thought I was powerless.  Michael thought you made him choke because you swapped mojo with Lucifer.  I told him that was ‘Mom’ power and you didn’t need Luce at all for it.”

Chloe hugs Eve, “Thanks tribemate.  The lightbulb had to be Lucifer, though,” remembering, Chloe gets a little wide eyed at proof of the Devil’s power.

“Naw, I told Mikey boy you made Luce’s head explode,” Eve winks at Chloe.  “The sky only lit up when you accepted his comfort, you know.”

With Eve looking a little rueful, Chloe hugs her again, “But only with Maze can you continue to have wild adventures.”

As they pack up the food, Michael finds a private minute with Lucifer.

“Right, so, I ‘ppriciate your letting me share the meal.  Begin to understand why you are so enamored of Earth,” Michael address the ground beneath him, intermittently glancing up at Lucifer.

Something in his brother’s attitude reminds Lucifer of himself, watchful of Amenadiel and Mum, hoping for an ounce of care from those who used to be his family.

“Yes, I must say ‘Thank you’ as well.  So far, it appears your purpose, encouraged by Miss Lopez, was to assist the children in their escape from pesky priests and Vatican villains.”  Lucifer can’t drop the habit of disguising his emotions with distraction, such as alliterations.  He turns serious again though to encourage Michael on the right path,  “There are few people whose advice I would recommend following more than Miss Lopez.”

The gathering stormy clouds on the horizon have the celebrants quickly exiting the park, leaving Michael alone to clean up the detritus of the after party and the battle to protect the children and Ella.  The humans he’d once thought of as just a key to his defeat of Lucifer.  No way to clean up his shame, killing Remi, molesting Chloe and tearing apart families.

Chapter Text

As celestial and human winners of the recent battle traverse the white concrete path to the entrance to the parking lot, full of sparkling new family cars, Charlie wails sharply at the loud boom of thunder as the temperature drops.  Amenadiel, laden with all the trappings of toddler life, stumbles.  Dark grey wings whoosh out to help him keep his burdens and his balance.  The recently adopted condor plushie’s attempt to fly is unsuccessful and it plops to the concrete.   Full blown toddler meltdown begins as Amenadiel swings about in circles, trying to balance the packages and not step on the fallen black and white toy with the red face.

Lucifer sets the baby carrier on the ground next to Chloe and goes to help Amenadiel, laughing all the way.  He gets whomped by a giant grey wing for his trouble.  The impact startles Lucifer enough that his wings come out also, but bladed and icicle sharp.  The Devil is defensive quickly from too many centuries fighting his brother.   Not aware of what the glinting of feathers means, Trixie ducks in to save the stuffie.   

Ever sharp eyed in a battle situation, Maze dashes after Trixie and takes the strikes of razor blade tipped feathers.  “WINGS UP,” the demon bellows as the girl in her arms leans down to grab the condor.  Startled, both angels comply and Maze continues her run of out combat range.

The demon carries Trixie super swiftly over to Charlie, now flapping his arms and yelling, “Frwy, Frwy.”  Trixie  swishes the stuffed bird up and down a few times and has it land in Charlie’s arms.

“Thanks, Trixie,” Linda puffs. “I thought Charlie was going to take off,” as she glares the angels.  The doctor addresses the contrite combatants crisply,  “Could you put those feathery menaces away before he jumps out of my arms?”

Two abashed angels obey the MOM voice immediately and wings are furled into the pocket dimension.  Just in time too, as Ella steps out of the restroom, curiosity apparent.

“Amenadiel, what on earth did you trip over?” Chloe wonders.

The angel catches his balance.  “There’s something stuck on the bottom of my shoe,” he complains, shaking one foot.

The entire party looks on as a half inch sized piece of brown mulch drops out of the treads of his shoe onto the white path.

Maze shrieks in glee, “Low, low Bridge.  Mulch on the ground is about as low as you can go as a tripping hazard.” Lucifer freezes for a hot second in realization.  Yep, Daad for sure wants him and his twin to work together, and apparently with Amenadiel also.

“That was one time, Maze.” Amenadiel asserts petulantly.

The demon snorts, “Definitely closing time for you.”

For once, Lucifer is glad someone is stealing the show.  Maze guffawing and flailing her arms about in imitation of Amenadiel keeps everyone’s attention. Charlie cheers Maze on, “Frwy, frwy Auntie Maze.”  Lucifer has a minute to contemplate the implications of Amenadiel’s near accident and God goading him and Michael to clear the path.  Perhaps not goading, but certainly some cryptic messaging about the twins having the same goal or working for the same purpose to avoid some kind of catastrophe.  Lucifer sighs, back to puzzling out Dad’s plan.  No rest for the wicked, even retired.

A gentle hand on his arm startles him.  “Apologies, Detective.  Detective,” he repeats, a wealth of relief in his tone.

“Lucifer?” Chloe questions.

“I’ll be requesting your services as ‘Celestial Consultant’ later,” the Devil grins softly at his partner.

“Okay,” Chloe nods, smiling back.

As they start walking again, Ella comments, “Wow, what a mess.  There must have been quite a downdraft to knock all these tree limbs down.”

“A beautiful disaster,” Trixie jests.

Lucifer waves a hand and the Karaoke version of Kelly Clarkson’s song echoes from the speakers.  Trixie giggles and winks at Lucifer as she starts to sing along.       Lucifer’s tenor voice joins her in a duet.  Everyone more cheerfully trudges the last few steps to their vehicles and the end of this very long day.

The group sees Linda, Amenadiel and Charlie safely to their new van.   Ella gets into the driver’s seat so Amenadiel and Linda can concentrate on calming the overstimulated toddler.  There are debris all over the parking lot from angel arrivals, fights and departures.  Ella drives carefully to avoid the detritus, maintaining a slow swervy speed in hopes the motion will lull Charlie to sleep.   Maze hops on her new motorcycle, Eve behind her, waving as they weave in and out of the rubble in the parking area.  The demon demonstrates her prowess on the motorcycle by making Eve squeal with close calls.  Not because close calls take time and she is reluctant to leave her friends.

As Lucifer assures Trixie he will call if Rory needs her, Dan pulls Chloe out of Trixie’s hearing.

Dan questions Chloe, “Lucifer sure looks like he is forgiving Michael.  Is it a bluff, or for real?”

“Real, as far as I can tell.” Lips pursed tight, Chloe shakes her head in worried disapproval.

Dan has concerns and enumerates them via a lecture, sounding vaguely like Amenadiel, only with improv and surfing references, instead of historical ones.

“Yes, I know all of that, Dan. And you and I know from personal experience that Lucifer forgives generously.  No self preservation crosses his mind most times.”  Chloe pointedly reminds her ex.

“What’s our play, then?” Dan must have learned something in Heaven, or from Charlotte, and asks rather than launching into disapproval.

“Stakeout?” Chloe winks.

“Lots of surveillance,” Dan agrees.   “I can do that remotely on Earth, same as I did from Heaven.  I’ll just tell Lucifer I want to continue to supervise Michael’s incarceration, for everyone’s safety.  And to be able to assist him in his ‘redemption?’” Dan winks back at Chloe.

They rejoin the others so Chloe can kiss Trixie goodbye before her daughter hops into Dan’s car, chattering all the way to Charlotte about her son’s soccer prowess that Trixie had followed.  Once Lucifer and Chloe start towards their new vehicle, Dan drives slowly around tree limbs and blown down signs.