Chapter Text
Right away, Chloe picks up her walkie talkie. "Six-four-nine-eight-three, I need an RA to Skid Row for a female, thirty-four, conscious and breathing, with lacerations to the abdomen, cheek, and thighs."
"Help is on the way."
Chloe switches off the device and puts it into her breast pocket. "Oh my god!" she exclaims while carefully peeling the duct tape off Ella's lips. "I'm so sorry it took this long..."
"I apologize, too...not even Maze-" Carol starts as he starts to free her from her binds. She puts up a hand and shakes her head.
"Stop, you guys, it's neither of your faults," Ella mumbles weakly. "Is...is he gone?" she asks in a shaky voice.
"Yes, you're all right now," Chloe assures her.
"I'm incredibly grateful. Gracias a Dios, I've missed you all so much." She whimpers.
Chloe smiles at her tearfully. "We missed you bunches as well!"
"It was too different without you there," Carol agrees with a soft, yet sad grin. He looks upwards. "Excuse me, I'll get my bolt cutters, water, and a bunch of rags!"
While he does so, Chloe presses her hands to Ella's gaping wounds as best she can to temporarily stop the blood flow. "Oh, god, it hurts..."
"I know, just try to breathe..."
Carol returns in a few moments and gets rid of the chains. He tends to her injuries, successfully sopping up the crimson liquid. "Here, drink this." He hands her the bottle of water and Ella practically gulps it down. Then, she gets up and staggers, but almost collapses. Chloe and Carol catch her right away, one on either side.
" I'm the moron who chooses dangerous assholes to fall in love with," Ella mutters.
Chloe sniffles. "Babe, he tricked you...it's not like you could read his mind. You fell hard...and he took advantage of your big heart. You're so sweet, and I wanna kill him for doing this shit!" She gazes at her close friend sympathetically. "I really thought he was the one for you as well. Until he was discovered to be a serial killer and then stole you away from all of us."
"I can't believe this happened to both me and you, except you were never gagged and bound for half a decade..." Ella's glassy eyes dart to the steps with a somber expression. "I don't think I can...too damn steep."
"Do you want me to assist you?" Carol asks her gently.
She nods. "Please. Um, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I'd be more comfortable just using the bathroom in private once we get up there, though."
"Of course, I understand! I'd never invade your privacy." Carol lifts Ella and she holds onto his shoulders as he carries her up the stairs bridal style. "I'll talk to the coroner and the EMTs once they get here."
"Okay, thanks," Ella tells him quietly.
"No prob!"
Moments later, Chloe and Ella gaze forlornly at the closet she's been forced to share with Pete all this time. On the bed are black sweatpants, a cute purple T-shirt with a frowning white cake and the words you still want a piece of me , her Forensics jacket, and dirty white sneakers. Tears cloud Chloe's vision again as she realizes this outfit was the last one Ella had been seen in. She's so lucky to have her girl back.
The moment the ambulance arrives, the EMTs wheel out a stretcher. A man offers a trauma blanket to Ella. She flinches away from him and hides against Chloe. Her heart breaks at Ella's reaction and she wraps the long piece of fabric around the younger woman. Ella lays on the stretcher in a ball and a female paramedic loads her into the ambulance as she stares blankly, almost catatonic. Chloe follows and sits with her. She gets ice for her bruises and black eye and gauze is being taped onto her bloody wounds.
"What's your name?" the lady asks.
"What?" She knits her brows in confusion.
"Your name, miss?"
"Ella. Uh...Lopez."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-four."
"Do you know where you are?"
Ella nods. "An ambulance...near Pete Daily's house, but I dunno the address...I-I forgot it." Her voice trembles slightly. “Near Tenth and Swanson, I guess…”
"What day, month, and year is it?"
"No idea...umm, I think he told me April ninth, twenty something."
"Are you on any medication?"
"No."
"Do you have any known medical conditions or allergies?"
"Mm-mm." Ella shakes her head no. "I'm really tired though...I've had enough questions today."
"Very well."
Chloe smiles down at her while stroking her hair. Ella's eyes drift closed.
"Honestly, I'm just overwhelmed with happiness," Ella murmurs as she lies on her side in a hospital bed. Her room is adorned with flowers and she's just thankful none of them are white lilies. Those traumatize her so much now. She turns to her grandmother, the one she'd gone to the opera with before she'd been kidnapped. "All I wanna do is go home with you, Abuela. The police took my statement...did you call Tía Rosalita and Ricardo and Jay and-"
The older woman squeezes her hand. "Sí, they're coming, querida. Your other two hermanos are on the flight arriving from Detroit. We all prayed for you to survive. God truly is good!"
Ella offers her a soft smile and glances over at Chloe and Carol in the corner of the room. Carol talks to doctors while Chloe texts on her phone. "I dunno if He had anything to do with it. The LAPD, Maze, and other departments all over the United States worked tirelessly to save my butt, that's all. Whenever someone got close, that pendejo monster took me everywhere there was to go."
Her grandma strokes her hair back from her forehead and kisses it. She beams, but then suddenly looks around again. "Espera...um, it seems like I've had quite a few visitors, what with all the bouquets and small get-well notes. Was I really sleeping for that long?"
"Only for a couple hours," Chloe informs her. "A lot of people here love you, though, Ella!"
"Miss Lopez! Glad to see you're awake." Groaning slightly in pain, Ella sits up on her elbows to see Lucifer striding in with a grin. He first leans down to press his lips to Chloe's cheek and then takes Ella's abuela's place beside her bed.
She smiles at her big brother figure. "Hey, dude, I apologize I'm not in a hugging mood, but I'm happy you're here, too."
"Oh, you don't need to be sorry!" Lucifer assures her. "I'm just relieved my fiancée and her co-workers were able to rescue you."
"Yeah, me too...hold up, buddy!" Ella gasps, realizing she missed a ring on Chloe's finger, but she can understand why she did. The danger is behind her and even though she has extreme post-traumatic stress disorder, she loves to revel in romantic news like this. "You're telling me...you and Chloe are engaged ?" This is like pain medication to her. She lives vicariously through Chloe.
"He asked me on the beach, and uh, Trixie and our youngest daughter Rory, were there. Trix filmed it as well," Chloe lets her know as she joins Lucifer.
"You two have a child ?!" she asks incredulously. "What the...I...I remember you kissed a couple times and took me for multiple rides on the ever-so-confusing Deckerstar rollercoaster that never became fully canon, but...what...what happened? You're really official ?"
"Yes, yes, it's hard to believe, but the Detective and I are as you would say, endgame ."
"Lieutenant now," Chloe teasingly reminds Lucifer.
"Sorry, honey, you know what they say about old habits!" He winks at her and Ella melts at their cuteness. She's never forgotten it. Even when they'd been partners and friends, their sweetness and devotion toward each other was incredibly strong.
"Well, congratulations on finally getting your shit together!" Ella gushes. "Also, your promotion, yay!" She grabs Chloe's hand and squeals at the gorgeous ring. "Okay, bestie, I better be your maid of honor, or else!"
Chloe giggles with a hint of tears shining in her bright sea green eyes with flecks of blue in them. "Why wouldn't you be? You're with us now."
"Trixie must be so big...and how old is Rory?"
"Two," the couple responds in unison.
"Aw, that's an adorable age! Can I please meet her and see my sushi shirt twin Trixie again?"
They nod, once again, in synch. "The girls will be out of school by three," Lucifer says.
"I hope to get pregnant with a third!" Chloe grins as she pats her belly for effect. Lucifer places his hand over hers.
"Yay!" Ella claps. "Oh, wonderful! I had a feeling you were destined to be a forever match. Ever since that day at the beach, then outside of the precinct after our former cabrón jefe tried to get in the way of such a terrific ship..." She raises her fist in triumph. "You were victorious! I wasn't sure if you'd stay together, but good thing you did."
Chloe remembers it exactly, and just by sharing a long gaze with Lucifer, she knows he does, too.
Lucifer stares into Chloe's eyes as he strokes her hair. His kisses trail from her lips to her cheek, then down to her neck. Her heart is beating so fast she thinks it may fall out of her chest.
"Chloe," he whispers against her neck. Then, they lock lips again. They're making out and moaning each other's names, when someone clears their throat-excessively loud.
"Oh!" she gasps, embarrassed. She smooths down her shirt, which has ridden up while he was holding her in his lap and rubbing circles on her back.
It's Maze, and she's not alone. "I guess you're fine, now, eh, Chlo?"
"Yep, Lucifer made it okay."
"I'm so happy that you found another girlfriend," Amenadiel said, clapping him on the back.
"I always knew you and Chloe made an excellent couple. We were all hoping you'd get together!" Ella laughs.
Lucifer gets up and takes her hand. He pulls her to her feet and their mouths press together again. Everyone groans because of the public display of affection, but Lucifer and Chloe can't care less. They're perfect for each other.
Chloe clears her throat, trying to get back to the moment. "Okay, so we need a code word for you if you ever feel like you're in danger and you're able to call one of us." She gestures between herself and Lucifer. "Like, ours is heart and soul."
"Of course it is!" Ella comments cheerfully. "Ummm...how about STEM?"
"That sounds magnificent!" Lucifer says, straightening his black tie.
"How come you're not involved in police work anymore?" she asks him.
"Ah, well, the captain caught us making out on the job and I quit so they wouldn't fire Chloe. She seemed way more passionate about it anyways. We can spend all the time in the world together when we're at home."
"Wow, what a sacrifice! That's so sweet and gentlemanly of you to do for her." Ella smiles at them dreamily. "I'm not even shocked, though. Whatcha gonna do for moolah now?"
"I’ll never run out, no need to worry. Not only am I still the nightclub owner, medical school took me a while, but I'm a doctor, starting in just a few days!"
Chloe stares at him proudly and Ella high-fives him. "¡Felicidades, mi amigo!"
He grins. "De nada."
"Where do you guys live?"
"The penthouse," they respond in unison. "I built a bunk bed for Trixie and Rory sleeps in her crib still, but in just a few years, she'll be able to take the bottom. It's in that panic room I built when we thought the world was ending," Lucifer explains. "A bomb shelter of sorts."
"Yeah, so we get privacy, but they're still with us," Chloe adds.
"So no more apartment number one-oh-three?" Ella glances over at the blonde.
"No...but we put Trixie's drawings and now Rory's, everywhere, so it still looks a little like an art museum!"
"Cool!"
Ella's next visitors are Maze, Linda, and Amenadiel. They grab chairs and surround her bed. "I really wish I'd found that cunt bastard myself," Maze grumbles as she pats Ella's shoulder fondly. "I hope Decker got to kick him in the balls, at least."
Amenadiel grins. "She was a little rough with him."
"Good!" Ella states.
"He's lucky he never met me." Maze smirks. "I'd have crumbled the sicko into fucking dust."
"All that matters is Ella's okay now and the cops put him behind bars! You've got plenty of bounties to hunt." Linda interjects. She turns from them to Ella with a warm smile on her face. "You just rest up, hon."
"I will." Ella takes a few deep, quivering breaths. "I just...I feel so dumb! How could I have fallen for Pete's nice guy act? It was like...love-bombing at first, and when I realized he was scum after finding his hidden room, I tried to get rid of him, but then he said he was actually feeling me..."
Ella shifts the media cabinet back into place. She turns and Pete smiles. She drops the keys and he picks them up. He raises his gaze to the wall outlet, which remains open. Ella glances toward it, then lowers her eyes. He's seething. His lips tighten. Pete rises and Ella shakes her head nervously. Her eyes fill with tears and she bows her head. He throws her to the floor, then brings his hands to her throat. She struggles as she chokes. She stabs him with a syringe and he slumps forward onto her. She shoves him off her, breathing heavily.
"I thought I got away," she continues. "Little did I know, this weirdo priest named Father Kinley bailed him out and he pursued me again."
"That same asshole tried to break up Deckerstar, it's no wonder why he'd screw up your life, too," Maze says.
"Thank Christ he's dead," Linda murmurs. "Ella, I'm incredibly sorry for what Pete did...you are never to blame for that! He was like, a master manipulator...a pathological liar. A sociopath."
"I was the only woman lucky enough to have her life spared." Ella gulps. "Maybe he cared for me...in his own twisted way."
"Nah." Amenadiel shakes his head. He and the other ladies are stone-faced. "Many predators like to play with their food...until their prey can't take it anymore."
"Never for a second think he had an ounce of love or respect for you," Maze puts in, her eyes narrowed and teeth gritted. "He's garbage!"
"I know." Ella covers her face and groans. "He's abusive trash and I hate him! He tried to break me, but he failed miserably! Plus, he's a serial killer!"
"Mm-hm!" Linda nods vigorously.
Ella bops her forehead. "What the hell am I thinking? I'm so-"
"You're not stupid, I promise," Linda assures her.
"He seemed so nice!" Ella cries as she clutches her heart, about to hyperventilate. "He really did..."
"Lots of those scumbags do," Maze points out.
"I never got to mourn Dan properly. Pete taunted me with the fact that he was killed by some gangster...and he showed me proof...I didn't want to talk to Chloe and Lucifer about this and dampen their good moods...he was her first husband, after all." A stray tear slides down Ella's cheek and she brushes it off. "Pete just made me watch the funeral from a distance. He laughed while I grieved. All I can do is take comfort in the fact that he's in Heaven with Charlotte, probably having waffles and screwdrivers every day! Not to mention, pudding cups galore!"
Amenadiel smiles at her sadly. Maze chuckles softly, but her eyes are somber. "Actually, Charlotte isn't dead."
Ella narrows her eyes at Amenadiel in confusion. "She's not? I didn't think she'd make it...but I'm glad she did."
"She was in a coma, but she woke up a few days after you went missing," Maze informs her.
"Oh, wow...faith in the Big Guy a tiny bit restored, but..." Ella blows out a shaky breath. "Dan. One of my best guy friends, gone."
"Well, I'm so very sorry," Linda murmurs. "If you need anything at all, Ella, don't hesitate to come to my office. You're always welcome."
"Gracias." Ella sniffles. "You know that handsome cop friend of his who replaced him on the force?" They nod. "I remember the last thing he gave me was Carol's number. He recommended I call him. Carol and I were friends for like, a month, before I was taken."
"Yes, he and I are both detectives...we work as partners, in fact," Amenadiel informs her. "You heard about Chloe's promotion, too?"
"Mm-hm. I always knew she'd do it!" Pride for Chloe surges through Ella.
A bit after they're picked up from school, Trixie and Rory walk through Ella's hospital room door. The teen holds her baby sister's hand as she watches Ella interacting with her aunt and four brothers. "I promise, I'm fine...I don't want to move back to Detroit, 'cause I got good friends in Los Angeles who can take care of me," she's insisting. "This is my home now." She suddenly notices the girls and smiles hugely. "Trixie! Hola, chica, I haven't seen you since you were this tall..." She hovers her hand about four feet off the ground.
"Hi, Ella!" Grinning, Trixie makes her way over to the poor woman in the cot. Ella exchanges hugs and cheek kisses with her immediate family and then they depart, waving at the kids on their way out. "This is Aurora...named after Lucifer's mom and the Disney princess because she sleeps good and she's a little beauty, but she's otherwise known as Rory."
Ella beams as Trixie helps Rory sit next to her. "Oh, wow! That's really cool." She glances over at the pudgy brunette toddler. "Nice meeting you, kid! You got your dad's dark eyes and hair and your mom's cherubic smile with dimples and everything!"
Rory looks at Ella curiously and keeps holding Trixie's hand. "Oh no! You have owies."
"Yes, I do. Your mommy is very brave, you know. She and other police officers saved me from a really bad man!"
The youngest child's eyes widen and her mouth hangs open. "Oh!"
Trixie lowers herself onto the chair beside Ella's cot. "I'm so happy you're alive...such a valiant rescue! After my dad died when I was eleven, I couldn't sleep well...I didn't wanna believe I lost him, too. I gave up on having a quinceñera...even if my mom and Lucifer can understand some Spanish and he's able to speak it well, actually, I..." The teen sighs and rolls her eyes at herself. "Never mind, it's stupid. A quinces is kind of like a sweet sixteen, isn't it? They'd know how to throw me one, duh."
"Sure! It was done in The Fosters ."
"Mm-hm! Anyway...I couldn't look at my sushi shirt without thinking of you...I wore it at school a lot until I got too big for it, and I was really disappointed. I always kept it in my closet and prayed that you'd be okay. I guess it worked, because you're here now! It just took too long for the holy dude in the sky to give you back to us."
"Aww..." Ella reaches up and touches Trixie's cheek sweetly. "Yeah, it did, pumpkin."
For the next fifteen minutes, Trixie and Ella take turns making themselves and Rory giggle while they narrate a silly story.
There's a knock on the door. "Hey, it's Carol...uh, may I come in?"
"Of course!"
Trixie gives Ella a mischievous smirk. "Te estas sonrojando," she notices aloud. "Just like I caught Mom doing when she talked about her first date with Lucifer..."
You're blushing
"Nena, por favor, shh !" Ella presses her index finger to her lips as he makes his appearance. She looks over at him, smiling as the memories of their first month of getting to know each other come back. "Hi..."
"Hey!"
She chuckles nervously. I've forgotten how cute you are ... " Supercop is a great movie!" she blurts out.
"Yes! It really is!"
"Thank y'all for saving me..."
"You're so very welcome!"
Trixie and Rory slip out of the room as Ella and Carol start to chat. "Well, I'm relieved that you're safe."
"Same! I hope Pete gets tortured in prison," Ella says while he sits near her. "To the point where he can't move..."
"I understand the feeling! I wanna go there and give him an ass-kicking myself," Carol grumbles. "He won't be armed this time."
"True..." Ella grins at the thought of Carol punching out her kidnapper. "I don't want you to join him, though."
"Can I at least be your ultra-protective bodyguard?"
"Yeah! I'll have someone with me at all times now...I can't be alone again. Sooo...I'll need to live with a female friend...my apartment's gone and my stuff is in storage, thanks to the gals. I'd hate to bother Chloe since she's got Lucifer now, plus the girls."
"I'm sure she won't feel that way...the guy's got a penthouse, he owns Lux and is filthy rich..."
"Mm-hm...he has so many properties, it's insane, I remember." Ella chuckles. "I feel weird asking...even if I could just take their gigantic L-shaped couch...see, I already asked my brothers, but they have no room, and my abuela's sweet and all, but she doesn't wear her hearing aid at night, obviously...so she wouldn't hear my screams."
Carol gazes at her sympathetically.
She thinks for a minute. "I could talk to Linda and Maze, too."
As if hearing her thoughts, Chloe and Lucifer step into the room. "Ella, you're welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to," Chloe informs her while smiling.
"I'll have the sofa!"
"Nonsense, Miss Lopez, I'll buy you any bed you desire and you can be next to where the girls sleep! I'm sorry for not offering earlier, but we thought your brothers would be kind enough to open their homes to you." Lucifer appears concerned.
"Nah, they just have one-bedrooms, it's not their faults, but ¡muchas gracias!" Ella beams at her favorite couple friends.
"It's our pleasure!" Chloe beams and clasps her hands together. She exchanges an excited look with Lucifer.
"Told ya!" Carol winks at Ella, who grins impossibly wider.
The living arrangements are indeed spectacular. Trixie and Rory are delighted to have Ella rooming with them.
Lucifer spins a wheel on the door of the panic room. Chloe and Ella head inside where the girls are building a block tower together. Lucifer follows. A lush carpet of deep red with a pattern of gold crosses covers the floor below wood-paneled walls. Leather furniture stands opposite a bar with many elegant bottles. The bunk bed is next to a queen-sized bed with red satin sheets and a golden comforter, similar to what Chloe and Lucifer have, and a fancy black headboard decorated with embroidered roses.
Ella gazes around with the same amazed expression Chloe had when she'd seen it for the first time. "Whoa...awesome!" she says through a laugh.
Smiling proudly, Lucifer presses his finger to the control panel. The light is red and shows that the room is locked. "Thank you! So, you can set this for however long you'd like to stay here. Chloe, Trixie and I took refuge in this place while she was pregnant. We got Trixie from Camp Quasar, and she watched us just hold each other for forty-five minutes while Unchained Melody played."
"It was tragic and romantic at the same time," Chloe remembers aloud. "Then, we snuggled with her...until the door unlocked."
Wearing a light pink flowered long dress and her hair down, Chloe's eyes shine as she embraces Lucifer. She's gasping in and out audibly a few times. He cradles her head. She closes her eyes. He smiles and rests his chin atop her head. They stand motionless in the middle of the room. He strokes her hair with his thumb; she rubs his back. They hold hands. He kisses each of her fingers. They press their foreheads together and look into each other's eyes. Lucifer pulls Chloe back into an embrace and presses his cheek to her hair. She stares over his shoulder with glistening eyes. Trixie smiles sadly as she takes their picture.
Lucifer presses his hands to either side of Chloe's neck. He strokes her shoulders and her hands are on his biceps under his dark suit. She kisses the tip of his nose and then his forehead. Chloe's eyes fill with tears as she hugs him tight. Her lips tighten as she looks into his eyes. He tenderly caresses her hair, and then the side of her face. They kiss. A tear rolls down her cheek. They're melted together as one.
Then, they cuddle Trixie between them and they all peck each other's cheeks.
"It turned out we were fine!" Lucifer declares happily.
"Cool!" Ella comments. "So no creeps can just come in here and steal me away?"
"No." Chloe shakes her head. "I promise, Ellie, you're good with us."
Ella throws her arms around them. "You guys are the best friends in the entire universe!"
They return her hug, and then the girls soon join them.
"I'll teach you karate if you want!" Trixie tells her cheerfully.
"Definitely, that would be great!" Ella says as Rory latches onto her, squealing. She kneels down and squeezes the little one in her arms.
The light above turns from red to green. They all move up the staircase to the exquisite door of the panic room. Lucifer spins the wheel and as the clock chimes, they step out into the penthouse living room. The phone rings and Trixie runs to get it. "Decker-Morningstar residence!" she chirps.
Chloe giggles softly. "She loves saying that. She's done it since the age of six."
"Cute!" Ella murmurs, beaming. "Maybe Rory will pick up on it?"
"Perhaps," Lucifer says.
Trixie places the phone onto the receiver. "Who was it, monkey?" Chloe asks.
"No one." The young teen shrugs. "Just weird static, probably some prank call. Or a wrong number."
"Oh, bloody hell!" Lucifer groans. "Again?"
Chloe frowns. "Yeah, at first we thought it was Maze being annoying and trying to torture Lucifer, but last time it happened, she was out bounty hunting, so not her."
Ella purses her lips and crosses her arms over her chest. "How many times has this nuisance contacted you?"
"Three now," Trixie responds, looking slightly annoyed. "I've questioned the dumbest kids in school, but nobody's fessing up."
"Suspects never want to, Trix. Our first mystery since I've been back! We're gonna get to the bottom of this!" Ella announces jovially.