Dissertation is all done so I'm back! If you haven't read any of the one-shots I did between this and Take It To The Limit you may be confused. And for the record I know you're all going to hate me by the end of this chapter but have patience, all will work out. But I need to set up the new villain so...sorry :D I know this isn't too long, it's really the other half of the one-shot Take It Easy. But this is starting off a new multi-chapter story. As I now feel like I have the time to commit to one again!

/

"Maze." Lucifer yelled as he flung the doors to the throne room open, his voice echoing throughout the palace. "Get down here."

He'd been careful to avoid anyone on his way back from the cells, not wanting to reveal his shimmer was back in place in case anyone pieced together that he was planning to return to Earth.

A moment passed before he bellowed again. "That wasn't a request, Mazikeen."

Slinking over to his throne, Lucifer threw himself down to think.

Getting Mum back to Earth would be difficult. He wasn't sure what exactly had happened, he wasn't in a position to find out in Hell, but he knew it was serious. Rumours had filtered down of plagues and floods, his Mother purposefully torturing his Father's playthings. Why was another question. Amenadiel claimed not to know, but who knew whether that was the truth.

Mum would prove a difficult opponent, one who would not return to Hell peacefully. Just like her son. And needless to say the situation would become increasingly complicated when Mother learned it was him who would be taking her back here.

They'd hardly ended things on good terms. What with her standing by as he was cast out. Granted his crimes had gone a little too far, but still. She was his Mother. And then he'd ignored her when she was cast out.

Regardless. This situation opened up new possibilities to him. He could leave Hell freely. With Father's permission this time. Although the truce wouldn't last forever. Father probably planned to seal Hell shut the moment Lucifer dragged Mum back down here. But plans could be made to circumvent that later.

For now.

"Mazikeen!" He roared.

"What's got your panties in a twist." His servants voice came from the shadows.

Lucifer snarled. "You took your sweet time, Maze. Something better to do?"

"Actually yes." She responded, stepping forward. Her blade glinted in the light. "I had work to catch up on."

"Well you're going to have to leave it to someone else. We're going back."

Her mutilated jaw snapped audibly. "What? We just got home. Speaking of which, why the Earth do you look like that?"

"Dear old Dad has a little assignment for us." Lucifer said, stretching out his fingers until they cracked.

Growling, Maze stalked forward. "You take orders from Him now? I thought this madness of yours would stop when we came back."

"This is of the upmost important Mazikeen." Lucifer taunted, waggling his finger at her in the way he knew made her tighten a hold of her dagger. "Someone let Mum escape."

Shock crossed her features for a moment before she schooled herself. "Amenadiel?" Maze hissed.

"Well he certainly wasn't guarding the gates properly. But she must have had some other help. Another demon perhaps. I'll need you to investigate."

"No." She said firmly. "You're vulnerable up there. I go where you go."

Lucifer leapt up out of his seat. "Touching. But we need to find out the source of this. I don't want an uprising while I'm away. This could all be a simple distraction." He grinned. It would be rather appropriate if an uprising was led against him. Although where he would be cast off to this time was a mystery. Maybe they'd throw him back into Heaven. At this stage that would probably be a greater punishment than Hell.

"I know the people most loyal to us. They will keep an eye on things while we apprehend her. We can investigate once we return." Mazikeen counter argued. "Do you have a way for us to get back up there?"

"Yes." Lucifer said cheerfully, holding up their escape.

"You got it back." Maze smirked.

"Dad left it for me in Mother's cell."

"How sweet."

"Are you ready?"

"My weapons are all still up there. Presuming Decker hasn't disposed of them all." Maze said, her lip curling at the thought.

"Don't fret, Maze. She wouldn't do that."

"Such confidence." She breathed. "Maybe she's already moved back on. Run right back into the arms of that thing she called a husband."

"Doubtful. That's a bitterness no one gets over."

"Like the bitterness over being deserted."

"I didn't desert her Maze. Now, enough chit chat. We have a goddess to hunt." His grin tested the fabric of his shimmer.

/ / /

Strolling into Lux felt more like coming home than landing back in Hell.

His confidence was upheld as his abilities continued to operate perfectly, the creatures turning towards him instinctively. Yearning to fawn over him.

Giving Chloe Lux wasn't done on blind faith. He knew she would be unwilling to part with the place, the last tie she had to him. As expected he was proven correct.

Nodding at what's-his-face, who Chloe had evidently promoted to manager (something that would soon be rectified by Mazikeen he was certain, as his demon peeled away from him, making a beeline for the bar) Lucifer soon began searching the bodies, curious whether she would be down here. He had presumed Chloe would stay away from the establishment, making use of the apartment only. But he hadn't been able to resist passing through the club on his way up. To see that his instincts about the Detective were still correct. Knowing if he was right about her keeping Lux, he still knew her.

Time moved very slowly in Hell compared to Earth. It had been months for him. Considerably less time for Chloe, but still a substantial amount had passed for her. While he was confident she would be happy to see him, their goodbye had more than demonstrated that, he was anxious to see her.

His Mother was not someone to be underestimated. It wouldn't take her long to establish that Lux was his, and when she found out he left it to someone else. Well, Chloe would soon become a target.

Lucifer brushed off every advance, making a line for the elevator when a flash of gold caught his attention. To his upmost surprise he found Chloe sat in the main booth, the one reserved for the owner and any guests. In the middle of the action and yet still removed, set back in the shadows, raised above the dance floor.

He stood for a moment. Drinking in the opportunity to study her again. His memory was impeccable, but it still paled to reality.

She occupied the booth alone, nursing a drink. Her eyes focused on nothing, her expression was aloof and no one bothered her as a result. Although that certainly didn't mean she caught no one's attention. Lucifer had to stop himself growling at one particular lowlife stood beside him who stared a little too long for his liking. Not that he was one to talk, but he had a right.

Everything about the club was the same, Lucifer wasn't surprised Chloe hadn't gone to any lengths to substantially change anything. And undoubtedly what's-his-face lacked the creativity or more likely the nerve to change such an award winning formula. Although he was a little worried over the state of their apartment, hoping he wouldn't be entering a shrine to the colour beige.

Undoubtedly she was still a Detective. There was nothing that could persuade her to give that up.

Lucifer shook himself. Enough guessing. Time to learn.

Straightening his cuffs he stalked towards her, sliding into the booth without her noticing as she stared off into the other direction. Or so he thought.

"I'm not looking for company. Go away." Chloe said coldly, in a manner that made him frown.

"Well." Lucifer started slowly. "I would have thought you would be slightly more happy to see me."

Slowly Chloe turned to face him, her face twisting in perplexity rather than happiness.

"Lucifer?"

"The one and only." He beamed, opening his arms, putting down her frosty reaction to shock.

When he didn't receive an answer his arms wavered, lowering back to his sides.

"Well I get that this is a bit of a shock, but aren't you going to say something?"

"I thought you moved?" She said, sounding confused.

Lucifer stifled a laugh. "Well I suppose that's one way to characterise it."

"Is everything alright with your family now?" Chloe asked, seeming friendly enough now but still lacking the warmth of love.

"My family?" Lucifer was truly bewildered now.

"Yes. You moved back home to help with your family. Olivia said there was a family emergency and you had to go back home."

"What the me are you talking about?" Lucifer asked. "Chloe?"

"Have you told her you're back?"

"No. I came to see you first."

"Well if you want to come back to the department you'll have to see her about being assigned a new partner. I was allocated a new one a month ago now."

"I don't care about that." Lucifer said, waving his arm. "Chloe. Why are you here. I thought you'd be at home."

Her frown deepened. "You sent a letter asking me to mind the place. So I come by once a week. I don't know why you were so bothered. James seems to manage it all just fine." She said, nodding towards what's-his-face (who was evidently called James).

"Don't you live upstairs?" Lucifer was genuinely concerned. Chloe seemed to have no idea that she was meant to be running the place.

Utterly mystified by his attitude, Chloe let out a short laugh. "Why on Earth would I live here?"

"Detective." Lucifer said slowly. "I told Amenadiel to give you a letter leaving Lux to you after you came back. Didn't you get it?"

"Came back from where?"

He blinked. "From Hell, of course."

Chloe's laugh was genuine this time. "Oh God, Lucifer. You're not still on that, are you? Well don't try dragging me into this. Now. Since you're back I'm gonna head home. Trixie and Dan are waiting for me."

She grabbed her jacket and slid out the booth.

"Detective Douche?"

"Don't call him that." Chloe chastised.

"Why is he at your home? Is he looking after the spawn?"

"Well he better be." Chloe smiled. "Hey, I guess I'll see you around."

She turned to leave but Lucifer stopped her by grabbing her elbow, his mind whirling but still able to savour having her in his grasp again. "Detective, please. What happened to you?"

Prising his fingers off her arm Chloe took a step back. "Let's try this again once you've sobered up, okay Lucifer? Maybe then we can catch up."

Before he could say a word she spun on her heel and marched out the club, leaving Lucifer feeling like the foundations of the Earth had dropped from beneath him.

Lucifer didn't know what he just left, but surely this was Hell.

/

As always let me know what you think of this and the new season of Lucifer. I get new episodes on Tuesday's in the UK. I know the season will introduce another brother of Lucifer's into the mix who I am planning to work into this. I know there are some overlaps with the first episode in this but I'm pretty reliant on the show at the moment for information on Lucifer's mother. I'm going to try to update once a week. I'm job hunting so until I get something I'll probably update more frequently. But I am also planning to write an original fiction piece so that will also take up some time. Anyways, I hope you're all well! Enjoy the weekend!