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Wake up the dawn and ask her why
Rory calls them Mood Days. She'll say Mom’s in a mood. to T, who will nod, solemnly, her lips compressing into a thin line that tells Rory she's thinking about Him . T learned not to talk about Him when Rory was about 8, and was able to fully understand where her father was, or rather, wasn’t, and why.
She definitely understands, now. T used to tell her stories about before, how Mom was after he left her in the past — all the crying, muffled in pillows in the middle of the night Mom thought T couldn't hear. The dead look in her eyes that went right through her. The idea he did this to Mom before infuriates Rory, but Uncle A said she isn't old enough to learn how to fly, despite being 13, so she can't go find him. She can't do anything to comfort her mother but be there for her. T is only there on odd weekends and holidays, when coming back from college.
But Mom’s in a Mood, and Rory can't stand to watch. Her hands clench into fists at her sides as she walks into the school building, wishing she could skip. But Mom’s already pulled from the curb, eyes vacant, heading to work.
---
One of the perks of being a Captain is being able to call in if she has to. Her lieutenants can handle things for the day — she won't be able to. She'd been talking to Trixie — she can't call her Beatrice, no matter how old she gets — on the phone last night, the girl excited about the new semester classes that just became available for her master’s astrophysics program when she caught Chloe out of left field.
“I wish Lucifer was here — he probably knew more about this than anyone,” she'd sighed, then took a hurried breath in, “I'm so so sorry Mom! I didn't mean — “
Chloe felt like she'd been sucker punched in the gut, but plastered a smile on her face, hoping her oldest could hear it through the phone. “I don't know, sweetie, he may have just made them, but didn't know the math.”
Trixie laughed. “Probably.”
She kept it together for the rest of the call, but felt a thousand miles away. Trixie wished her good night and Chloe took a long shower, trying to drown out her crying.
She was in there far too long for Rory to think it was a normal shower.
Some days, reminding herself she'll see him again, and this is only temporary, isn't enough.
---
Rory decides to ditch first period and calls her sister.
“What the hell did you say last night, T?” she hisses as soon as the line’s answered. T doesn't answer right away, just sighs. “Oh, good, you're aware you messed up.”
“I can't help it, Rory. I miss him too. And it was just a slip of the tongue. I mean, Lucifer made the stars and — “
“Don't you say his name to me!”
T is contrite. “I'm sorry. It sucks when you can't talk about someone you love to your family!“
Rory groans. They've had this argument before. It isn't worth it. T knows exactly how she feels.
Sighing, she says, “Whatever. She's in a Mood today and it's your fault. Bye.”
It's a guilt trip she's laid before and will probably again. Maze taught her about torture like that.
---
Today, she holds it together until knocking on the door.
Linda opens to tears starting to fall, but Chloe isn't embarrassed anymore; after the first year, she lost any shame in crying. Linda helped her with that. Said she's grieving, even if the only thing she's grieving is time. Chloe’s come here in the middle of the night, a blubbering mess, a dream too close to reality that left her bereft when she ended up waking. Early in the morning after he's left, empty and lost.
Today, they're silent tears. Linda pulls her into a hug as soon as she sees it's Chloe and holds on a bit longer than usual before pulling Chloe through the doorway.
“I'll get the drinks,” Linda says. “Please, sit.”
Chloe sniffs. “Thanks.”
Linda smiles over her shoulder, “Anytime.”
The coffee table holds some math homework of Charlie’s, Linda’s neat handwriting along the sides. A practice sheet. Chloe pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and wraps it around herself, pulling it tight. She imagines it's his arms, wrapping around her from behind, height difference allowing him to engulf her.
She wasn't the only one memorizing touch that last night in LUX.
Linda sits down with a bottle and two shot glasses, handing one over to Chloe before sitting in the armchair. The layout of the house is different these days, but still warm and comfortable. She looks at the glass, but doesn't want to move just yet.
“Trixie mentioned him last night,” she says as explanation. “Just mentioned him, and I fell apart.”
“Chloe, you can't be so hard on yourself,” Linda says softly. “When was the last time he visited?”
Chloe sighs, thinking of the last time he snuck in when the moon was high, illuminating him in such a beautiful light. Rory was at a week long summer camp, and they spent two days remembering each others’ bodies, souls.
Lucifer was always apologetic when he had to leave, knew he had to leave to keep the time loop intact. He'd cup her face and put those errant strands of hair behind her ear, and whisper he loves her.
Chloe pulls the blanket closer around her, suddenly feeling cold without his body to keep her warm.
“Ah...that long?” Linda remarks, it sounding more like a statement. Chloe peers at her, making her friend chuckle. “Just a therapist, not a mind reader.”
No. I can’t read people’s minds - I’m not a Jedi...
The words come to the forefront of her mind, reminding her of their first case. Back when she didn't know how much that chance meeting would change her life.
“Amenadiel is, but I'm not!” laughs Linda. It's her nervous one, when she's uncomfortable but doesn't want to admit it. Chloe can't imagine a co-parent as God, but at least he can come down for the important moments, flying lessons, explaining angel things to Charlie.
Lucifer should be doing that for Rory. He'd love teaching her to fly.
“I know he's doing important work. I know that. And we promised Rory. But I just, I miss him.”
“But you'll see him again. Use this time to focus on the girls, enjoy your time with them.”
“Rory is so angry. I knew she would be, but I wasn't prepared for it to be so much. And I hate how much she hates him, not knowing how much he loves her.”
“I know. It's not fair. But Amenadiel says souls are ascending to Heaven at a steady rate, all of them thankful for the Devil therapist.”
Chloe laughs. “He's taken your job, huh?”
“In the afterlife, at least!” Linda nudges the glass towards her, and Chloe takes it, sipping the fine whisky with the experience of one who regularly savors it.
Having a warning he was going to disappear gave Lucifer time to set things aside for Chloe and the girls. Even if he isn't there physically, he's always been taking care of them.
---
Rory gives them a day before flying down to Hell.
They're going to need a room. For awhile. And she definitely doesn't want to walk in to that. Seeing them kiss was gross enough.
Plus, she needs time to process. T and her family won't be there until the day after, having to coordinate her job and kids before they fly in for Mom’s funeral. It gives Rory time to sit, playing with Mom’s ring in her hands.
Dad’s ring.
Her father, whom she spent her entire life hating, the weird guy who tries too hard and is utterly ridiculous. Who risked his life — was willing to give up his long, long life — for her, even though she first went there to kill him.
The dad who sacrificed everything he desired, because she asked.
What is she supposed to do with that?
It's too much, too heavy. Even though it just happened for her, it's been thousands of years for him. Rory has been in love in the past, been devastated by break ups, and can't imagine leaving intentionally, knowing she wouldn't see them for so long.
Well, a range of time, she guesses.
The ring slips onto her middle finger easily, the white stone smooth and cool under her fingers. Rory never heard the story about it, doesn't know where it came from, other than that it used to be Dad’s, according to T.
What a cute fucking kid she'd been. Ashley, her youngest, looks just like her.
It's just hard. Hard to come back here and feel...not angry. Peaceful. Proud of her parents.
Parents. Oh, Uncle A, they're probably naked right now.
Rory makes a face, and begins making calls.
---
Her parents, in fact, are naked.
Chloe is a corporal spirit, and here, can interact with Lucifer just as much now as she had on Earth. But mostly, they held each other while he told her what he'd been up to and she the girls’ big moments. He's so proud when he talks about his accomplishments, and it's from true positive self-esteem and not bravado.
She never thought she'd see the day.
Lucifer soaks up the stories of Rory’s best birthdays and her favorite Christmas, just before Trixie left for college. He almost cries when she tells him her daughter works for NASA and helps design rockets. How she's married and happy and never stopped loving him.
He's luminous down here, telling her how many less cells there are. The demons can actually have lives, and often ask about Maze and how she found love. Chloe laughs, imagining the horror that would be on Maze’s face if she knew. Lucifer kisses her after that, and the talking ends, again.
Most of the time, they spend time evaluating souls. She’s a consultant, just now how she envisioned. He's the therapist who turns to her when emotions are foreign, or humans have confused him again. Lucifer is just as adorable now as he'd been on Earth, perplexed even after all this time.
They don't need to sleep, but do, when they've done heavy work, and to give their minds a rest. It doesn't start as sleep, but often they exhaust each other and rest, curled with one another.
And the living quarters aren't what she imagined. He's recreated part of his penthouse down here, away from the ash constantly falling from a gradually-brightening sky.
Waking in Hell is odd, as there's no difference between day and night. Chloe stretches before turning over to find Lucifer watching her, head propped up on his hand.
“I'm sorry, love,” he says softly, running a hand up and down her arm.
Chloe frowns and turns over to fully face him. “What for? You weren't lying when you said we'd have forever, and now we do.”
“But you had to deal with it all alone,” he replies. “With Rory and her anger. And me, not there.” He's done this before, apologized for all she had to go through. But he didn't have to watch her age day by day. Didn't have to deal with a Small Human. Yet he feels he still needs to.
“Honey, we’ve had more time together than we ever had apart. And Belios told me you were mopey all the time when I was away.”
“Damn gossipy demon.”
“The point is, you had to live much longer without me than I did without you. We knew it was going to be hard. But look at all we’ve accomplished, all the souls we’ve broken free.”
“And this is more fulfilling than being a detective?” he asks with a grin.
Chloe smiles. “Oh, yeah.” She leans up to kiss him, his lips just as warm and soft as they've always been. Lucifer wraps an arm around her waist and begins to move closer —
When a throat clears. They break apart immediately, knowing no one should be able to get in here.
Rory stands at the end of the bed, making a face. She gives them a little wave. Beside Chloe, Lucifer stands and slowly approaches her, sheet wrapped around him — thank Amenagod.
“Rory.” His voice is soft, hand turning to place it on her cheek.
She lights up, tears in her eyes. “Hi, Dad.”
Chloe wonders if traveling to Heaven is like going to Earth. Will she stay solid if she goes? Her family is missing someone, but then, she's in no rush to see her other daughter so soon.
She can wait. This is enough, for now. She's learned forever exists. Chloe laughs with joy, tears forming in her eyes, and gets up to join her celestial family.