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Even after a month, it was still surreal to Chloe that the penthouse of a building home to one of LA’s hottest nightclubs was also serving as the Earth headquarters for the ruler of the universe.
Or whatever title Lucifer had decided to try out that week. Two weeks ago it had been “Almighty and Most High God” which Amenadiel and Chloe had banned it immediately.
She pulled into her normal parking space under the club and turned off her car. Chloe was back at work after everything over the past six weeks and was glad to have her job again, adding some normalcy back into her life. Trixie was back in school. She was beginning to see what her new normal looked like for now.
After she had finally convinced Lucifer to deal with his siblings instead of hovering over her and later hovering over her and Trixie, he had gotten caught up in one thing after another. First, it was important matters like determining what needed to happen to Michael after his reign of destruction on Earth. And after the big stuff was sorted, Chloe was witness to Lucifer’s constant complaints about the nonstop bickering of his angelic siblings that he was expected to sort out.
Chloe knew the job would keep him busy, but she thought it would be because he was off making sure the laws of time and space weren't broken or ending a plague or curing cancer. Not playing the middleman between his immature siblings who were all billions of years old.
Lucifer had been “away” for the past four days and Chloe knew it had been longer for him. Time worked differently when he wasn’t on Earth and she didn’t quite understand it. She hadn’t asked to accompany him on any of his “business trips” and she could tell he didn’t really want her to join him. Lucifer would do everything he could to ensure she never stepped foot in Hell, and he was at loathe to bring her back to Heaven, even for a quick trip.
The long elevator ride up to the penthouse gave Chloe a chance to check her makeup and pretend she was simply joining her boyfriend for an evening after a long week at work. They had tried to have dinner at her house last Friday, but an earthquake in India held him up and Chloe was asleep on the couch before he arrived. Lucifer had promised to make it up to her but she said she understood and that they would have next time.
And she did understand. She really, truly did. He was God. Chloe knew Lucifer loved her, but she wasn’t about to guilt him into taking time away from the running of the universe to order takeout and watch movies with her.
When she finally arrived at the penthouse, she saw Lucifer talking to Amenadiel, Gabriel, and Jophiel. Chloe thought she saw Saraquel and a few others gathered together near the couch. The ding of the elevator had alerted the angels to her presence. Seeing that it was her, they simply went back to their previous conversations. Chloe considered it to be progress that at least her presence went unacknowledged instead of being the subject of condescending looks. She had learned almost all of their stupid names and they could barely look at her. Many times, Chloe found herself understanding why Lucifer rebelled all of those years ago.
“We’ve been over this before. No, Gabriel, you cannot meddle with their social media! You’d have them more at each other’s throats than they are already! ” Lucifer’s voice rose among the steady volume of the multiple conversations taking place around him.
She caught Lucifer’s eyes when he saw her come in and he sent her a pleading look as if he was begging Chloe to save him from his siblings’ constant squabbles. Chloe held up the takeout bags holding their dinner as a silent offering. He grinned back at her.
Chloe put the bags of food down and went in search of utensils. She was on her hands and knees behind the bar wondering how it was so impossibly difficult to find two measly forks, yet she had found four different wine stoppers, a case of maraschino cherries, and a pair of very fuzzy handcuffs that she knew had not been used by her.
Eventually successful in her quest, she stood up and victoriously placed the located cutlery next to the food as she waited for Lucifer to finish up with his siblings.
More than ready to be done with the day, Lucifer started to shoo the remaining angels out of his penthouse, telling them he’d be back “home” in a few days. Amenadiel was the last to leave and confirmed plans to meet at Linda’s tomorrow.
She walked over to join him as the room was finally empty and it was just the two of them.
Chloe grabbed his fingers with hers and leaned up to greet him with a kiss. He pulled her in closer and deepened it; his hand cradled the back of her head. After a few moments, Chloe pulled away, her one hand still holding his as she pulled him toward the bar and the multiple bags of food she had brought with her.
“I thought they’d never leave,” she said, exasperated.
“You missed Zadkiel and Saraqael having a row about the Vienna Stock Exchange index,” he told her dryly.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Zadkiel?” she asked.
“Deep V-Neck? With the Wonder Woman bracelets?” Lucifer supplied, trying to be helpful.
Chloe shook her head. Too many angels. Too many weird-ass names.
Lucifer sighed. “He has the staff…”
Oh.
“Yep. Him. Okay.” Chloe quickly jumped in as she tried to change the subject from the chunk of a tree branch that had been shoved into her gut a month ago.
Lucifer was just as ready as she was to move on from the subject. “Detective, I smell Italian. Please tell me it’s Ristorante Brescia and not Olive Garden like last time.” He moved to pull the food out of the bags. “I can take you to Italy if you want.”
Chloe gently shoved him with her hips. “Jerk! You know it was Trixie’s turn to choose dinner. And I saw you eat at least four breadsticks, so shove it you snob.”
“I am a man of impeccable culinary taste, darling. Do not spread rumors,” he teased. He had finally finished pulling the food out for the two of them to enjoy.
“Are you thinking red or white, Detective?”
“Mmm… grab a red, babe,” Chloe answered. She wanted the warm, comfortable buzz that red wine always gave her.
Lucifer’s eyes sparkled, knowing the effect red wine had on her. “Should we just skip dinner and engage in a little marital relations?” he asked hopefully with his eyebrows raised.
“We are not married, Lucifer!” came Chloe’s quick response.
Lucifer tutted and wagged his finger at her. “I beg to differ, love. You’ve got my ring on your finger and are throwing yourself at me. Haven’t you heard of the Ten Commandments? It’s the first one and I have an example to set.”
“It’s the sixth and shut up.”
“Someone’s been reading my press,” he said, putting a hand to his chest in mock surprise.
“Insufferable ass,” Chloe countered as she walked over to where he stood and looked up at him.
Lucifer moved in closer toward her and they were nearly nose-to-nose as he told her, “You love me.”
“Starting to regret it.”
He took her head in both of his hands as he kissed her. Her hands were pulling at his hair as she pulled him closer. Pressed up against each other, they were interrupted by the loud rumbling of Chloe’s stomach.
Lucifer smiled against Chloe’s lips. Their foreheads were still touching as they both caught their breath. “On second thought, we best not skip dinner, I need my Detective properly fueled up for my plans tonight.”
“Oh really? Wouldn’t want to break any of your commandments.”
“I know the guy in charge, I’ll have a word,” Lucifer promised, speaking right into her ear. He spun his ring; it was around her finger where it had resided for the past month. “Or we could always have a quick little ceremony-” He trailed off as he started to place kisses behind her ear and down along her neck.
“Lucifer…..not now…” she pleaded. They had this conversation many times before. He thought they were already married and yet also continued to suggest outlandish wedding ideas he knew she’d never agree to. She wore his ring and referred to him as either her boyfriend, partner, asshole, or husband depending on her mood. Through it all, she hadn’t taken off his ring since he had placed it on her finger in Heaven.
“As you wish, darling. I’ll be back in a tick with a gorgeous red that’ll have you breaking at least three commandments. Five if I’m very good. Which I am.” Lucifer went down the steps to where she knew he kept a collection of wine that would be the envy of any sommelier.
Chloe heard the familiar gentle swoosh come from Lucifer’s balcony. She didn’t need to even look up to know it was another one of his siblings coming to interrupt their evening. When she turned around she felt her stomach flip. The empty wine glass in her hand slipped her grasp and broke on the hard floor.
She hadn’t met all of Lucifer’s siblings and knew the names of only some. Lucifer hadn’t introduced her to the woman standing in front of her, but Chloe had already met her once before. Chloe’s eyes widened and her muscles tensed.
At that moment, Lucifer reentered the room carrying two bottles of wine. “Darling, I heard a noise-” he paused as he noticed they were not alone. Lucifer smiled as he greeted his beloved little sister. “Azrael!”
He set the bottles on the bar and walked over to where his sister stood and gave her a hug.
“You missed it Azrael, the whole gang was here. Bloody circus,” Lucifer said fondly.
“Sorry Lu, can’t stay long but I wanted to say hi since I was in the area. Are Gabe and Sara still freezing you out?” Azrael asked him.
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “I wish they would.”
“That bad? Ouch, Lu. Can’t you like, banish them to Heaven or whatever?”
“I’m not Dad!”
“Jeeeeeez, calm down! I was just saying give them a holy time out or whatever and get them off your back.” Azrael gestured wildly, showing her impatience with her siblings’ behavior.
“Tempting, but unfortunately nope,” replied Lucifer, popping the ‘p’ in nope.
“Ugh, I didn’t think you’d be as boring as Dad with this stuff!”
“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed, warmth still evident in his voice.
Chloe watched the warm exchange between the siblings. It was unlike most of Lucifer’s familial relationships, excluding Amenadiel, of course.
Lucifer looked away from his sister and noticed Chloe’s stiff posture and the broken wine glass on the floor. “Oh bugger, I’ll grab another, love,” he said nonchalantly.
“Chloe, this is Azrael, she is—”
“We’ve met,” Chloe’s voice was strained. Her brain was screaming at her to move, to leave, to get out immediately. She held her ground, fighting against the strong impulses brought on by the presence of Lucifer’s sister.
Confusion swept over Lucifer’s features until realization dawned. She saw the look in his eyes as they filled with compassion for her. Nope. She wasn’t doing this. She would not be pitied. Not by him.
“Excuse me, please,” Chloe said before Lucifer could say anything. She regained control of her body and quickly made her way to the first room with a door. Without thinking, she found herself in his bathroom, sitting on the cold tile with her back against the door. Her ears were ringing and her fingers cramped as she worked to control her breathing.
Chloe closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. She knew Lucifer’s siblings. She knew Azrael was one of his favorites.
She also knew Azrael was the Angel of Death. Chloe had seen the look of sympathy in his sister’s eyes that day as she took Chloe away from Lucifer, away from her family, away from her friends. She could still hear Azrael telling her how sorry she was as Chloe watched Lucifer sob over her body after Michael had killed her in front of him. Chloe remembered the desperation she felt in that moment that existed outside of regular time and space as she begged and pleaded with Azrael to bring her back; her cries continued until her distress faded as Azrael brought her to St. Peter.
Chloe had been eager to let those memories fade over the past few weeks. She was happy focusing on her newfound peace in her relationship with Lucifer, providing Trixie with as much love and support as her daughter would accept and sorting out the practicalities that came with being a full-time single mother who was dating and maybe married to god depending on the day.
Chloe was brought back to the present by the sound of someone knocking at the door.
“Chloe? Are you alright?” asked Lucifer from the other side of the door. His voice had a slightly frantic edge to it.
She opened her mouth to answer him, but nothing came out. Chloe felt silly and embarrassed by her behavior, yet couldn’t bring herself to move as she stared at her hands. They were curled up and looked like claws. She could not make herself relax.
“Love, please… please just let me know you’re alright. I—I asked Azrael to leave, it’s just me,” he said. Chloe hated how desperate his voice sounded. She felt guilty for depriving him of time with one of his favorite siblings; one of only a couple he could actually tolerate.
After forcing herself to take a deep breath, she wiped at her cheeks. Chloe moved away from the door but stayed on the floor.
“‘S open,” she said weakly.
Chloe could feel his gaze on her as he stood over her. A month into this new world order, she had gotten better about not feeling so conscious of the fact that she was a human in love with the god of all creation. However, having a panic attack in a bathroom didn’t do much for her ego. Yes, her boyfriend was still emotionally stunted, but he was also god. She tried not to think about it too much.
Lucifer quickly sat down beside her on the cold, hard tile floor. His arm went around her shoulders and pulled her in closer to him. Content to let him take charge, she watched as he gripped her hands with his. The warmth of his hands helped to relax the tense muscles. She let her head drop onto his shoulder.
With his other arm, he lifted her up slightly to bring her into his lap as they both still sat on the floor.
“Doing better?” he asked softly.
Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded against his chest. Much of the tension that was within her body moments ago had dissipated.
He continued, “I forget that it’s only been a month for you. With all of my trips, I’d have to guess, but I think it’s been closer to six months for me.” He winced, feeling guilty that Chloe was still so much closer to the trauma and pain of that day than he was. In the beginning, they had been an inseparable duo, but circumstance and obligations had separated them as of late. Time heals all wounds, but hers were still fresh compared to his.
Chloe busied herself with a loose thread coming from one of the buttonholes of his shirt. “I was so surprised to see her. One moment it was just us, and then suddenly she was there.”
“Azrael does have that effect on humans. Don’t worry, she doesn’t take it personally, Detective.” He tried to inject a little levity into his voice.
“I’m sorry, babe,” Chloe said softly.
“No need to be, love.”
“When I saw your sister again, I was remembering those moments. For a second, I thought it was like before, and I’d have to leave with her again. Just like that day when I thought I was leaving you forever and you wouldn’t be able to-”
He made comforting noises and held her tighter. They had discussed some of what had happened that day, but not at great length. They had both been more than willing to put the pain of their experiences behind them.
Lucifer sensed her distress, so he spoke first. “I saw Azrael right before … right before I watched Michael … before he impaled you with Zadkiel’s asinine staff,” Lucifer told her. He saw her look up at him, waiting for him to continue. “At first I thought she was there to help us. To help me. Azrael’s always been on my side from when we were kids.” He paused and swallowed. “When I realized why she was there and that she wasn’t there to join our fight or vote for me but was there to take you from me, well… I … I …”
Chloe reached up to wipe the tear from his cheek. He moved to grip her hand with his. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it while he rubbed the smooth white surface of the ring.
“The world ceased to exist and no longer mattered. I felt betrayed and angry at her, that she would do this to me. She had no right to take you. But then I saw you fall, and the only thought I was capable of was how stupid I had been and why had I been such a prick and not told you how I feel and how I made you doubt my feelings for you.”
“Lucifer, I knew you loved me—”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t enough, Detective. You deserved to hear those words without having to die, go to Heaven, and be resurrected.”
Chloe hummed in agreement.
He grabbed her chin and tilted her face up and placed a kiss on her lips. “I love you, Chloe.”
“I love you too, Mr. G,” Chloe reciprocated. She snuggled in closer and wrapped her arms around his middle.
Lucifer placed another kiss on the top of her head. “Are you feeling up to dinner, darling? I’ll bolt the balcony doors closed. I swear, they’re all like a bad penny. It’d be so much easier if I banished them all to Heaven except Amenadiel and Azrael.”
Chloe knew that no matter how much neverending antics of his siblings only added to the stress of his new position, Lucifer would never actually be as harsh with his siblings as he felt his father was with him. Even Michael wasn’t banished from Earth; he was in Heaven with no mode of transportation.
“It’s only been a month, babe. It’ll get better,” she tried to reassure him.
He let out a sigh. “I’d much rather eat Olive Garden with you and the urchin than deal with that lot.”
Chloe’s insides warmed at Lucifer’s fondness for Trixie. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”
Contentment resonated through Lucifer at her words. "I believe I'm overdue for some time with your offspring, Detective."
"I'm guessing you've been getting Trixie's texts?"
"She really could teach you a thing or two about emoji usage," he teased.
"Seriously? All because I didn't know what the hell you meant the other day?"
"My me, are you a detective or not?" He tickled at her side and she squirmed in his lap. Nearly breathless, Chloe grabbed his hands to keep them still.
"You sent me a bunch of raindrop emojis, I'm not the psychic one!" she exclaimed.
"Raindrops? Raindrops?" he repeated incredulously. He couldn't believe his clever detective could be so clueless.
"You know, you could try sexting me like an adult," she suggested.
"Where's the fun in that?" Lucifer's eyes sparkled.
"Hmmm… think the fun's implied when it's sexting, babe."
Calling a truce, he wound his fingers through her hair as he kissed her. Chloe shifted so she was straddling his hips. The need for oxygen finally made her pull away. His hands made their way down her sides to gently rest on her hips as he looked at her. Chloe's eyes were dark with anticipation. It had been a long week for her, and even longer for him.
"We can reheat the food, darling."
"Took the words right out of my mouth," she said as she kissed him once again and tightened her hold on him, looping her arms around his neck.
Lucifer stood up, still holding Chloe as her legs wrapped around his waist. She made a pleased sound as he walked them to his bedroom. He released Chloe and let her fall gently to the bed. She looked up at him as he loosened his tie.
He grinned as he looked down at her. "Now Detective, time for some hands-on instruction. First up, raindrop emoji."