A/N: So I'm depressed there's a 3-week hiatus before the next episode, but previews look WAYY promising, and tonight's episode was the best one in a long time! I've been thinking about a theory for while, but the last two episodes have really made it seem like a possibility to me. I used some of the dialogue from the preview for the next one. I might continue this if people don't think I'm way off, but I don't really know how I'd end it. Let me know what you think in a review!

-:-

An Exceptional Human

Lucifer tossed his phone on his sofa with a grimace. The good doctor wasn't answering her phone. Fair enough. It was two in the morning after all. And he couldn't call Maze; he was quite sure she'd kill him if he asked another favor.

He couldn't be certain how many drinks he'd consumed. After the sixth, they all tasted quite like water and he did have an illustrious collection of booze.

He thought about trying the detective. He half walked, half staggered toward his sofa to retrieve the phone, and reached out...then withdrew his hand. What if she answered, and Pierce was there? At two a.m.? That would heavily imply they'd slept together. If he was being honest with himself, he had been surprised at the detective's admission that she had not slept with her immortal boyfriend. Of course he knew she was a woman who valued her career and she was not likely to fall immediately into bed with her boss, but Cain—Pierce—had millennia to perfect his game.

But so had Lucifer, and he'd never had the pleasure of 'knowing' Chloe in the Biblical sense.

He picked up the phone anyway. It wouldn't unlock when he looked at it—the facial recognition software clearly couldn't discern who he was because of his disheveled appearance. Useless technology.

"Hello, yes. Hello, Siri? Hello?" he said loudly. Nothing happened. He rolled his eyes and tossed his phone over his shoulder. It clattered against the floor.

"Sodding apples. Ruin everything."

He collapsed on the sofa, and tried very hard not to think of the detective on the back of the world's first murderer's motorcycle.

-:-

"Good morning, Decker," Pierce said as he passed by her desk on the way to the kitchenette. Chloe smiled and gave a little wave, her eyes lingering on his back as he walked away. She sneaked a glance at his rear and felt herself blush. Then she realized she had been so busy staring she hadn't said "good morning" back, and blushed harder.

"Who was that, Mommy?" Trixie asked, not looking up from the picture she was doodling.

"Oh, that's—that's Mommy's boss, sweetie. His name is Lieutenant Pierce." Chloe went back to filling out the lengthy paperwork on their last case, thankful again that she wasn't going to have to arrest her former roommate. At least, not for murder...this time.

"Why do you turn so red when you look at him though?" Trixie asked suspiciously.

"Well," Chloe cleared her throat, "he's—uh—you know, why don't I try Olga again? Maybe she'll pick up on the tenth try..."

"Is he mean to you? Does he think you don't do a good job?" Trixie demanded, looking indignant on her mother's behalf. She glared in the direction Pierce had gone, and Chloe got distinct Maze-like vibes.

"No, honey. He's a very good man. He's nice to me." She glanced up; he was headed back her way with two cups of coffee and a crooked smile. She inhaled sharply. He was so damned attractive.

He set one cup of coffee on her desk, then looked at Trixie.

"And you must be the infamous Trixie," he grinned. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am." He reached out to shake her hand. Trixie, delighted, offered her own to shake. "May I ask how it happens you're here with us today?"

"I killed a guy. I'm giving a statement," the girl said very seriously. Chloe strangled on a laugh.

"Uh, haha. No. No, uh, there's a power outage at Trixie's school. Lines are down somewhere. I've tried calling my babysitter but she won't pick up—and with Maze gone—"

"Relax, Decker," Pierce said, taking a sip of his coffee. "Trixie's welcome to hang out as long as she likes. Just as long as she promises not to go on a killing spree."

"No guarantees!" Trixie said, smiling and brandishing her colored pencil like a knife.

"Oh, my God. I'm never speaking to Maze again," Chloe sighed, rubbing her temples.

Pierce just looked warmly at her, then shook his head.

"On second thought," he said, picking up the coffee cup he'd sat on Chloe's desk, "maybe you don't need this." He winked at them both, and walked back to the stairs.

Chloe slowly exhaled to calm herself, then tried to focus again on her paperwork. It wasn't long before she felt the distinct sensation of being watched. She cut her eyes sideways to catch her daughter watching her with a smug smile on her face.

"You've got a crush on your boss! And you're red again!" She giggled uncontrollably. Chloe rolled her eyes and tugged playfully on the ends of Trixie's hair.

"Alright, alright. Maybe talk a little louder so they can hear you in Hawaii."

Trixie laughed even louder.

-:-

Lucifer watched the whole exchange from his chair across the room, relatively obscured behind the frosted glass office walls. He didn't hear it all, but he didn't need to. He'd seen enough.

Cain was proving himself to be a spear in Lucifer's side. Of course he knew to truly woo a woman, one must first win over her child. The disgusting depths to which he was going to obtain the one thing Lucifer truly valued...

Well, that just wasn't true. He had Lux. He had Amenadiel, and Linda, and Maze when she wasn't being a disgruntled little demon. He had his health! He had...booze. So much of that, it was a shame to be confined in this dull little office where drinking was disallowed.

He watched as the detective tugged on her laughing offspring's hair and determined then he would take the day off. He needed a break from watching the sickening display he'd been putting up with for weeks. He stood up from his chair and marched over to her desk, not bothering to conceal his distaste.

"Well, if no one's been gruesomely bludgeoned, stabbed or skewered today, I'm going to head home early." The detective and Trixie looked up at him. Chloe looked slightly bewildered. "I've been neglecting my duties to myself, it seems. Think I'll swing by Lux and see if anyone else is feeling like getting in a little Lucifer time." He rocked on his heels and chuckled. Trixie screwed up her face.

"Ew, Lucifer!" she gagged dramatically.

Chloe glared at him.

"Okay, well, have a nice time, then." She tipped her head toward her daughter and gave him a hard look that said, "thanks so much, now go away."

Lucifer straightened his shoulders and glared right back.

"I will. Don't want to be the only one missing out on mixing business with pleasure." He gave a tight-lipped smile.

Chloe looked like she wanted to say something, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. He turned on his heel and left.

-:-

Pierce smiled to himself when he felt someone slide onto the barstool beside him.

"I didn't think you'd show up."

"Because you knew I would, right?" she said, rolling her eyes and signaling the bartender. She must have been a regular, because he didn't ask, just started to pour her a drink.

Pierce chuckled.

"Come here often?"

Maze relaxed against the bar, leaning on her arm, her leather-clad form turned to face him.

"Just cut the bullshit. I know what you're doing. Offer to meet me in a place you know I come to a lot so I'll be comfortable. Feel like I've got an advantage." A glass that looked to have three or so shots of dark liquid in it slid down the bar into her waiting hand. She downed it in one. "I wasn't born yesterday," she said, laughing mirthlessly at her own inside joke. "So what's your plan for Lucifer?"

"Diving right in then. Fine by me," he said, taking another drink. He turned his own body to face her, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "But not here. I need this to stay between me and you. The fewer people who see us talking, the better."

Maze raised an eyebrow.

"Why meet here at all then?"

"Make sure you're not being followed," he offered.

Maze shrugged.

"Where to?"

"My place. No prying eyes."

Maze's eyes raked over his body. Her lips curled wickedly.

"Too bad," she purred. "I like an audience." She stood up and gestured to the exit. "After you."

-:-

Lucifer had greatly diminished the amount of liquid in his prized crystal decanter. It was around that time he realized he couldn't play more than a few notes on his piano. His hair was mussed, his shirt wrinkled and unbuttoned, his eyes glassy and red. He drained the dregs of his glass and sat it down so heavily it cracked against the lid of the piano.

All that nonsense about him being okay with Pierce—no, CAIN, moving in between himself and the detective—he had to admit that's what it was, utter nonsense. How could he be okay with it? She had been bloody destined for him, had she not? By his own Father, the Maker of Heaven and Earth? Of course, he'd chosen to release her from that contrived future when he'd realized any romantic feelings she would ever have for him would be programmed into her. Completely beyond her control. He could never trust it was real, no matter how badly he might like it to be.

So, billions of years of a perfectly lucid existence had been reduced to this by a human woman. Her lifespan was a drop in the ocean compared to his. True, she was the best human he had ever encountered, and he had no doubt that he would never come across another like her for all eternity—

—But. That was only because she had been manipulated into existing by his meddlesome, heavy-handed, controlling, omniscient Father.

She wasn't supposed to exist. She was an anomaly.

As was he, if he thought about it. Supposedly, and Amenadiel would protest, he was God's favorite son. And yet he had rebelled, abandoned his father and the Silver City. Tempted the first humans to sin. Sabotaged his Father's favorite creation. There was no other angel like him, no other human like Chloe.

In his drunken state, it made sense that he could only find happiness with an exceptional human. A special soul. Someone who was not what they were meant to be.

And she was fixated now on another exceptional human, who just so happened to be immortal, and who also would not be roaming the earth so many years after his birth were it not for divine intervention.

Had his father finally decided Lucifer would never accept his gift? So as punishment, Lucifer would be forced to watch the detective fall for another man? An immortal who could not die, who would live forever as Lucifer would, as a constant reminder of what he had lost?

He hung his head, digging the heels of his hands into his eye sockets. Maze had been right. Humans sucked.

Then, a thought presented itself. It was absurd, really. To think of revealing himself to her now, after determining to let her live her life on her own terms. It was counterintuitive.

But, equally nonsensical was allowing her to enter into a relationship with a man who would surely break her heart. If he cared about her at all, didn't she deserve to know the truth of what she was getting herself into with Cain?

He felt the resolve settle in. Nothing would stop him. She deserved to know. It was long overdue.

He fished his phone out of his pocket and, against all odds, was able to find his keys.

Tonight was the night. He didn't care if Cain was with her. He would make her see.

He would show her his wings.

-:-

"Interesting," Maze said flatly. "For such an old guy, you sure keep a lot of pet rocks. Tell me you didn't name 'em." Her eyes darted around the room, noting the odd decor, before settling on Pierce's face. "Speak, or I'll test them out on your head."

He chuckled.

"Tried that, too." He stretched an arm out toward the living room, then when she didn't move, he sighed. "Alright. You want details."

"All of them," she barked. "Leave nothing out. If it's one thing I can't stand, it's being left in the dark."

Pierce nodded.

"I'm assuming you're here because you've exhausted all other options for getting back to Hell."

Maze crossed her arms and stuck her chin out.

"Yes."

"I can help you. And you can help me."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

He paused, gauging how she would take his next words.

"Decker is the key to everything."

Maze growled in exasperation and threw up her hands, turning away from him.

"Somehow, I knew it would be about her," she said out loud to herself. "It's always about her."

"Hear me out," Pierce said, coming up closer behind her. "Hasn't it ever crossed your mind that she's more than just an engineered love interest for Lucifer?"

"You mean, like the anti-Christ?" Maze chuckled darkly, whirling around. "No way. She's too boring."

"I've done my share of investigating. I'm saying, you all assumed God had Amenadiel bless Decker's parents because He wanted her born to one day cross paths with Lucifer. Then, his favorite son could experience love and maybe even choose to return to the Silver City one day."

Maze snorted. "No chance in hell."

Pierce swallowed. "But he will go wherever Decker goes. You've learned that by now."

Maze's forehead smoothed, and a crooked grin slowly stole across her lips. For the first time, she seemed to give credence to what he was saying. He saw his window of opportunity and jumped through it.

"If you want to get to Hell, and Lucifer refuses to return, you have to give him a reason to go there. That's how Decker is your ticket home." He pressed his lips together, waiting for it to sink in.

"So, what, we send Decker to Hell? You want me to kill her?" She was thrown, but intrigued, he could tell.

"Not unless it comes to that. It could be unnecessary."

Maze traced her lips with her tongue and cocked her head.

"What's in it for you?"

Pierce took a deep breath.

"Like I was saying, you think Decker was put here for Lucifer. I disagree. God knew Lucifer would return to Earth and that I would eventually seek him out, hoping he could grant my wish to die. Lucifer can't kill me himself; we've tried that. But Decker...Do you know how rarely angels intervene in the affairs of humans?"

Maze's eyes narrowed.

"Amenadiel said that God had never asked him to perform such a blessing before Decker, or since." She looked off to the side, working it out on her own.

"And just as He had to know Lucifer would fall for her, He knew Lucifer would choose not to be with her, because of his obsession with destiny and free will."

"So you're saying...God meant for Lucifer to fall in love with Decker, break her heart, and..." she trailed off, meeting his eyes. A light dawned across her face. And he inhaled sharply.

"Decker would never go for me, if it weren't for Lucifer. She's hurt, she's dying for someone to open up to her. She's chosen me because I'm the opposite of everything Lucifer is. I came in at just the right time, just the right moment. Knowing what you know about God, do you think that's coincidence?" He was breathing faster now, waiting for her to validate his theories. She smirked.

"You think if she loves you, she can make you vulnerable, like Lucifer."

"Not exactly," he quipped. "I think if she loves me, if a divine creation of God loves me, then she could be the one who is finally able to end my suffering...to kill me."

The demon's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah, no. Decker would never do that. She didn't even kill the guy who murdered her father." Maze rolled her eyes. "Goody Two-Shoes."

"Of course she wouldn't. Unless I threatened someone else she loved." His voice was deadly serious.

Maze's face blanked. For just a moment, she looked nervous.

"Not the kid," he supplied. Maze relaxed. "Lucifer. It has to be him. A human has to kill me to save the Devil, because she truly loves him, the one person humans are supposed to turn away from. Because I murdered my own brother, the last person I should've ever tried to harm—but it is what it is. That's how I die. That's how I get what I want."

"Fine," Maze shrugged. "But how do I get what I want? Decker is a saint. Anything happens to her and she's likely to go straight upstairs."

"Guilt is what keeps you in Hell," Pierce insisted. "After she kills me, it'll consume her. No chance she gets into paradise. Hell, you might not even have to kill her. She might take care of it for you," he said flatly. "Better to make it look like an accident, though, so Lucifer doesn't kill you for taking her life."

"You've put a lot of thought into this." Maze grinned wickedly, impressed. "Getting her to fall for you, that's low. And...what if..." she paused for a beat, "what if something happens to Lucifer?"

"Then he'll die and go to Hell anyway. I don't care who gets hurt. Just make sure he takes you with him."

She seemed to consider this plan for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek. A darkness came over her face, and she apparently came to a conclusion. Pierce waited eagerly, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"How certain are you that this is going to work?" She asked, her voice low.

He smiled.

"As certain as I am that Chloe Decker wasn't put here to love Lucifer. She was put here to kill me."

-:-