Chapter Text
“Lucifer!”
Having been fast asleep in his bed, the yell jolted Lucifer awake, sending panic whipping through him. Was he under attack? What was happening? Having been forced to show Chloe his true face -- after which he had been shot -- he just wanted some peace and quiet. Well, peace and quiet with the detective. He still couldn’t believe that she had accepted him for who he was the night before! His heart sang with happiness.
Propping himself up on his elbows, he saw Chloe’s little spawn racing toward him in the green Sol De Javier tee shirt he had dug up for her to use as a nightshirt. She scrambled on all fours onto his bed before she jumped on him, knocking him back down in the process, then wrapped her arms around his bandaged torso and gave him a big hug. Luckily his injuries felt much better after a night’s rest, otherwise he would have been screaming in pain. He let out a distressed yelp at her actions.
But... now what? Bloody hell, the child was clinging to him like a koala. What should he do? Would it be unmanly to scream for the detective to come save him?
“I’m so glad we got to stay over,” the little girl said, grinning at him. “Whatcha going to make us for breakfast?”
He found himself smiling reluctantly at her question. Hungry little spawn! He tried to extricate himself from her clutches. “Ah. Right. Brekkie. Well, what would you like?”
“Can we have chocolate cake? Can we, can we?” she asked, jumping up and down on the bed in excitement.
“I’m sorry, child, but I don’t have any cake.”
Trixie looked crestfallen, but not for long. Her face lit up like the sun as she said, “I know! You can bake one! Right now!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the little girl’s enthusiasm for dessert. Did he have the ingredients to make one? Rubbing his hand over his stubbly chin, he thought hard. “I think I might be able to make you what you desire.”
“Yay!” she cheered, jumping up and down on the bed again.
He hated to deflate her bubble, but he knew Chloe would not be pleased, and he had no desire to have her fist in his eye this early in the morning. “We have to check with your mother first, though.”
Trixie froze and pulled a face. “But she’ll say no!” Without warning she hugged him again and snuggled up on his chest, staring up at him with big, puppy dog eyes. “Do we have to tell her? Can’t you just make it?”
Oh no.... Not the puppy dog eyes....
Squeezing his eyes shut against Trixie’s charms, he shook his head. “N-no. Your mother will kill me --”
The little girl gave him a huge grin. “Mommy would never do that. She likes you too much. So can you make it for me? Please, Lucifer? Please, please, please?” Trixie’s arms gave his chest a squeeze.
Lucifer’s heart gave a jolt at Trixie’s words. Heat creeped up his neck and into his cheeks as pleasure coursed through his body. The detective liked him? A soft smile touched his face. She had said he was important to her....
“Pleeeeaaaase? Pretty please with whipped cream and a cherry on top?”
Lost in his euphoria, he didn’t hear a word Trixie said until she nudged him.
“Please, Lucifer? Please please puuuhhleeeeeeeze?”
“Huh?” Glancing down at the little girl, their conversation returned to him and he grimaced. Bloody hell -- after she had said Chloe liked him, there was no way he could say no to her desires.
“Fine. Let me get up and I’ll make it for you.” He frowned mightily at the girl, but she just giggled.
“Thank you, Lucifer!” With that, she climbed off of him and dashed out of the room.
Sighing, the Devil shut his eyes with disgust. Imagine -- the Devil being manipulated by a nine year old! Soft... he was getting so soft....
“Lucifer?”
His eyes snapped open at the sound of Chloe’s voice. Oh, how she made his heart hammer out a fierce beat! Lifting his head, he saw her standing at the doorway in one of his white silk shirts he had lent her as a makeshift nightshirt. He had to admit, she looked absolutely lovely in it, like an ethereal faerie. He’d never wear that shirt again -- he’d fold it up and tuck it away as a memento of the day she accepted him for who he was.
His eyes sketched over her features. Even with her hair of burnished gold in charming disarray, she was so beautiful that she took his breath away. For a moment he just admired her like a lovestruck teenager, before giving himself a hard shake. He had to get a hold of himself -- it was far too early in the morning to be making goo-goo eyes at his detective. Pulling himself to a seated position against the headboard, he struck a cool, confident pose. “Hello, Detective!”
Her face was filled with concern as she entered the room slowly, as if cautiously entering a lion’s den. He wondered why she was so reluctant, when he realized his chest was bare, save for the bandages. Was she afraid he was naked beneath the covers? Oooh, and what would she do if he was? Would they fall into bed and have mad, passionate sex? The thought filled him with such excitement that he drew up his knees and tented the blankets around his lower half. No need to let her see just how excited he was....
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she approached his bedside.
“Ah. Yes. Well, I’m quite recovered now, thank you.” His eyes glinted with humor as he gave her a saucy grin. “Come to have your wicked way with me?”
She rolled her eyes as she sat down on the covers beside him. “No. I didn’t want to disturb you if you were resting.”
Disappointment swept through him. He had been so sure she was worried about his state of dress -- or lack, thereof. He sighed. “Have no fear, your little human woke me up.”
“Oh. Sorry about that. She likes you a lot,” Chloe said, her eyes gentle as they gazed at him. Her face grew full of regret as she studied his bandaged shoulder and torso. Reaching out, she gently ran her fingers across the dressing on his shoulder.
“You could have died,” she whispered, her expression troubled.
His brow furrowed as he cocked his head. He didn’t understand why she was upset. “But I didn’t.”
“But you could have.” She looked down at her lap, her golden hair falling forward and shielding her face from his view. “This is my fault. I’m sorry.”
Lucifer was stunned at her statement. “Why is it your fault, my dear? You weren’t the one who shot me.”
Her head came up at that, and she stared at him fiercely. “You wouldn’t have been there if it hadn’t been for me. You should have saved yourself --”
“And leave you in the hands of that madman?” He snorted. “I would rather go back to Hell a hundred times over than let that happen.”
“Nevertheless, I can’t have you getting hurt because of me.” Chloe shook her head. “You have to promise me if something like this ever happens again -- if I’m ever in danger -- you’ll stay away and let the authorities handle it.”
Everything inside Lucifer screamed bloody murder. “No.”
She glared at him. “Promise me.”
“No.” Fear crawled up his spine. She had no idea what she was asking of him. Mum and Amenadiel had been behind her kidnapping. If he made this promise, he wouldn’t be able to protect her, and that was unacceptable. Taking a deep breath, he tried to reason with her. “Look, love, I’m immortal. I won’t die.” He gave her a smile. “I’m the Devil, remember? The worst that can happen is that I’ll get sent straight back to Hell.”
Lucifer blinked at Chloe’s horrified expression. Hadn’t he allayed her fears? Why was she looking at him like that? Was she terrified of him being the Devil, after all? Panic started to filter through him, revving up his heartbeat and making his breaths shallow.
“Detective?”
Her hand shot out and gripped his so tightly that he almost yelped. Her aqua eyes bored into his dark ones with intensity. “You are not going back to Hell.”
“But --”
She glared daggers at him. “No. You’re too good for Hell, Lucifer. I refuse to have anything happen to you that will send you back there.”
Lucifer felt a flush creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. Her regard for his wellbeing filled him with a warmth that had nothing to do with his state of arousal. It burst from his heart, permeated his bones, and spread throughout his body. He fiddled with her hand, admiring her long, sensuous fingers. “Detective... I....” He looked up at her. “No one’s ever....”
Her eyebrows raised. “What?”
“No one’s ever....” His voice petered out before he swallowed hard and said, “Well, cared.”
“I care.” She pulled her hand from his and caressed his cheek. “I care a lot. Please, Lucifer. I can’t have anything happen to you. It will... hurt too much.”
He gaped at her. “Detective....”
Leaning forward, she kissed him softly on the lips before pressing her forehead against his. “Please. Promise me that if I’m ever in danger, you’ll stay away.”
He felt the back of his eyes burn with the threat of tears. Bloody hell, no one had ever cared before.... The need to do whatever she wanted to make her happy welled up inside him, but he tamped it down hard. Although she unmanned him with her goodness, he was determined to not to promise. He couldn’t afford to -- she had to stay protected. Besides, he couldn’t stay away from her, even if he wanted to. She was his life.
“I... I can’t,” he whispered. “Please... please don’t ask that of me.” He looked at her with all the love he had in his heart. “Don’t send me away.”
Her eyes were filled with concern. “But Lucifer....”
“Please.” He cupped her face in his hands and caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. She was so beautiful, so close -- he couldn’t think straight anymore. What was he pleading for? He only knew that she was here, and he wanted to kiss her so badly.... “Please....”
He started leaning toward her, unable to resist the temptation of her darkening aqua eyes, her cheeks tinted a charming pink, and her full, kissable lips. He saw her lips part as he drew near, and a tender smile touched his face. Oh, just a little closer, now....
“Mommy! Is Lucifer up yet?”
Trixie’s yell from the other room had them breaking apart instantly. As Lucifer threw himself back upon the headrest in frustration, Chloe glanced in the direction of the living room, then gave a rueful chuckle.
“Yeah, baby, he’s up!” she yelled back, then turned to Lucifer, her eyes full of regret. “Sorry.”
He sighed. “Not as sorry as I am....”
She grinned at him. “You need to get dressed anyway.”
He glanced down at his bare chest. “What? Don’t you want to see my naked splendor?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Not with Trixie here.”
That had him grinning wickedly as he leaned toward her. “Which means... if she wasn’t here, you might want to --”
“Gotta go!” Chloe hurriedly dashed away, disappearing around the corner of the doorway.
“Wait -- Detective!”
But she was gone. Sighing, he threw the covers off, revealing his silk boxers. He didn’t even get to model them for her! Disappointment flooded him. Oh, well....
________________________________________
It was after they had finished eating breakfast -- which turned out to be chocolate cake for Trixie -- and were sitting in the living room, discussing what to do with their day, when Lucifer heard the soft ding of the elevator. The sound of high heels clicking against the stone tile had him turning to see who it was.
Mum.
“Look, Lucifer, you really need to come home with me --” Charlotte broke off as she took in the sight of Chloe and Trixie sitting on the couch with Lucifer. “Oh. Hello.”
The difference between the two women could not be more plain. Charlotte was dressed to kill in a low-cut red dress with a white bolero jacket, while Chloe wore a comfortable flannel shirt and jeans. Lucifer saw his mother scrutinize the detective before her mouth turned up into a smirk.
“Well, this is a surprise. You don’t look like his type at all.” The tall defense attorney shucked off her jacket and placed her hands on her hips as she modeled her cleavage. “He likes his women... well endowed. Sexy. Not frumpy.”
The fallen angel immediately rose to his feet as fury burned through him. “Stop it! Bloody hell, what are you doing?!” Then he realized that Chloe had also stood up, her eyes wide in a colorless face.
“Ch-Charlotte Richards,” she said, glancing at Lucifer, then back to the newcomer. “You’re sleeping with her? Defense attorney Charlotte Richards?” Her face spasmed as if in pain, then she was moving quickly, gathering her things and calling to her little human.
For a moment he was stunned at her statement. She... she thought he was sleeping with his mum?!
No! No, no, nonono --
“Wait, Detective --” He scrambled to reach her, but she pushed past him, her arms loaded with gear.
“It... it doesn’t matter to me who you sleep with. I -- we have to go. I didn’t realize you had... plans.” She glanced down at her daughter, who looked confused. “Do you have your things, monkey?”
“Yeah, Mommy, but --”
“Then let’s go.” She walked quickly to the elevator with Trixie in tow, skirting around Charlotte and giving her a wide berth. Frustration boiled up within Lucifer. This wasn’t supposed to be how things went!
“Detective!” he called after her, catching up with her just as she stepped into the elevator with Trixie. “Please, wait! I can explain --”
“No need,” she said, shaking her head. It pained him to see her face so white and pinched. She smiled at him, but the expression only made her look like she was going to throw up. “I... I get it. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Wait --”
But the doors had already closed.
Lucifer whirled on his mother, fury etched in every line on his face. Storming up to her, he snarled, “Bloody hell, Mum -- what was that?!”
Charlotte reached out and patted the lapel of his jacket. “Now, now, Lucifer, is that any way to talk to your mother?”
He wrenched her hand away from him and threw it back at her. “What do you want?”
Her mask dropped briefly, revealing her furious expression, before it slid back in place again -- polished, smooth. Emotionless. “I didn’t expect to see your human here. I thought she hated you...?”
“Well, luckily she gave me a second chance.” He headed to the bar and poured himself a Scotch. Downing it quickly, he turned back to his mother as she approached. “No thanks to you.”
Charlotte’s brows furrowed. “But... but she knows you’re the Devil. She doesn’t hate you?”
“No.” He took a deep breath as his expression grew soft. “She... she’s quite special, the Detective.” Looking down, he poured himself another drink and smiled to himself as memories of the previous night before washed over him. Charlotte’s harsh voice broke him out of his reverie.
“Well, it seems to me that she’s dumped you again -- look how fast she left the penthouse with her spawn.”
Scotch flew everywhere as the old-fashioned glass shattered in Lucifer’s grip. Turning to his mother, he snapped, “And whose bloody fault was that?”
Charlotte sighed. “Lucifer, Lucifer, Lucifer, when are you going to learn that humans are, by nature, fickle creatures? Let her go. Humans have terribly short lifespans -- fifty years goes by like a snap of our fingers. When she dies, you’ll be alone. You don’t want that, do you?” She reached out and teased the hair at the back of his nape. “Come home, son. Come home with us. Heaven is where you belong -- with your own kind.”
Batting her hand away, he took a step backward and glared at her. “You know my answer to that, Mother. I’m not going. Earth is my home -- deal with it.”
Her eyes narrowed as she tossed her thick blonde mane over one shoulder. “You should listen to your mother, Lucifer.”
He stood up straight and lifted his chin. “Nay, I’m listening to myself on this one. I know what I want... and Heaven isn’t it.”
Bowing her head slightly, Charlotte said, “Very well. I accept your decision.”
Lucifer suddenly felt as if the world had shifted under his feet. “You... you do?”
“Yes.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “You know your own mind. We’ll miss you.”
He gaped at her. He couldn’t believe it. After all this fighting, she was finally going to listen to him? “Th-thank you, Mother.”
“But remember,” she said over her shoulder as she sauntered away, “If you ever change your mind, I’ll be here in a heartbeat to get you.”
“Very well.” He watched her leave the penthouse, then sat down heavily on the couch. His head reeled. What had just happened? His mother was going to let him stay on Earth? Then... he could be with Chloe, without fear of what Mum might do! A slow smile lit his features. That was the best news he had heard all day! But --
Bloody hell... the detective thought he was sleeping with his mum! He had to fix this! Leaping to his feet, he ran for the elevator.
________________________________________
Charlotte Richards went directly to her office, mulling over what to do with her wayward son. Obviously he wasn’t going to join her and Amenadiel when they went to Heaven without a little nudge in the right direction. That meant dealing with the pesky human.
“Your brother is turning out to be more stubborn than expected, for the human woman has returned to him,” she told her eldest son after he arrived. She handed him a cup of coffee. “We need to do something to change the circumstances, or we’ll never get back home.”
The burly angel looked at his mother and frowned. “But what, Mom? He’s pretty set on staying as long as Chloe’s here on Earth.”
The tall, blonde woman turned to Amenadiel and shot him a predatory smile. “Well, Chloe is the key, isn’t she? The crux of the whole matter. We’ll have to take care of her, if we’re ever going to get your brother to come home.”
He gaped at her. “But... you heard Luci! He’d never forgive us if something happened to her.”
Charlotte’s eyes were as cold as a shark’s. “Don’t worry -- we’ll use her to our best advantage.” A slow smile touched her lips. “I’m sure we could arrange... something.”
“But he found out that you had a hand in Chloe’s kidnapping --”
She snorted. It figured Amenadiel would deny that he had anything to do with their plans.... He was terribly weak in character. “We had a hand in it, my dear. But don’t worry, we’ll be more discreet this time. I have a plan....”
The angel shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, Mom. Lucifer can get pretty angry --”
She dismissed his objections with a wave of her hand. “What can he do? I’m his mother. You’re his brother. He wouldn’t dare raise a hand against us, no matter what he threatens.” Her eyes narrowed. “I refuse to leave him behind in this filthy human waste dump. No. He’s coming back with us if we have to drag him, kicking and screaming....”