The elevator's doors opened to his old place. He had sent people to prepare the place, clean it up, and take off all the sheets covering the furniture. It looked exactly like before he left it, except for all the flowers he had had placed everywhere over the room. He felt comforted to be back after all that time and he wanted his new bride to like the place and feel at home too. She smiled up at him, happy.

"This place is wonderful my love! Flowers! You are so sweet!" Candy told him, radiant. She placed a kiss on his cheek, then almost ran inside to discover the place.

"I'm happy you like it sweet heart. It's our place now." he answered, taking their hand bags and walking slowly into the room. Their other luggage would be delivered later that day.

Obviously, she was not used at having so much attention and consideration. He thought this marriage was a fair enough bargain after all, him gaining a weapon against Chloe's love and infatuation, Candy winning someone who would respect her and care for her. It looked like a good plan. And he had to admit, he found more pleasure than he'd thought in making Candy happy. That task also helped him keep his mind off his pain and thoughts of Chloe. Sometimes. It really was a very good deal. Candy seemed also to think so. Of course she gained mind blowing sex anytime she wanted and the sexiest man in town on her arm, which was not negligible. But she also won in the process the means to buy or get almost anything she wanted in life. She already talked of going back to school to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. He actually liked very much the idea of her in a nurse suit… He was also very proud of her. Other girls would have probably thought first of spending his fortune on shopping trips. Not her. She had very modest dreams. He himself had a mind of spoiling her, starting with lots of new cloths and jewels. This adventure was promising to be very entertaining.

He hadn't wasted time in coming back to L.A. after the wedding. It had been less than 24 hours since Candy and he became husband and wife. Amenadiel had flew back home with them, after having reluctantly accepted to be his best man. Amenadiel understood his motivations. He did not approve this union, of course, but he did not object to it either. Lucifer had made sure that his wedding didn't pass under the radar. He had invited the press and had declared high and loud that he was coming back to L.A. today with his new bride. He wanted to make sure that Chloe got the message, so she could start the process of losing her delusions. The sooner the better. He didn't think he would hear about her soon. He would give her time to absorb the news and then he would go and see her. He was eager for things to go back the way they were between them, but he had to play his cards slowly and carefully.

He sat at his grand piano, caressing the keys. He had missed it. Thinking of Chloe, he began playing a love song without realizing it. It felt good to play again, and the melancholy of the song matched his own.

When the elevator's doors finally opened, after what seemed an eternity to climb up there, Chloe saw him immediately. She only had eyes for him. He was at his piano, playing a beautiful piece, his back to her. As absorbed as he was with his play, he didn't seemed to be aware of her arrival. She walked slowly inside, as quietly as possible. It gave her a moment to get her breathing under control and steady herself. Oh my God! Chloe thought. He is really there! What am I doing here, what am I going to say? When she had left her home earlier to come here and storm the place, her first thought had been to scream at him how much she hated him for what he had done to her. She was so angry at him, hurt, heartbroken, and miserable. She was a little shaky right now and did not trust entirely her ability to speak. Taking a deep breath, she gathered all her courage and…

"Lucifer…" The word caught in her throat. It was more a whisper than a word really. But he heard it.

His hands stood still and he froze. It took him a moment to turn completely in her direction. His movements were so slow, it all felt like a dream.

When he at last locked eyes with her, she was lost. Lost in his soft brown eyes. Eyes that were saying so much, and so little. She could have sworn that she saw love and pain in that gaze. But yet, maybe it was more about shame. She couldn't speak a word. She just stood there, paralysed, assailed by all kinds of feelings, mostly a mixture of pain, loneliness, and love. Love? How could she still love the man after all he had done to her? Best to stick with the hatred.

The situation was completely unreal. Lucifer hadn't prepared himself to see her yet. She was so beautiful, he couldn't take his eyes from her. He'd missed her so much. His love for her was so great it hurt. No! Stop that! She has to think that nothing is possible between us, for her sake. Stick to the plan! After a moment that seemed an eternity, he was trying to think of something to say, when she spoke again in a whisper.

"Is this true?" She was obviously as shaken at seeing him as he was at seeing her.

"I… I am…yes." His brain could not come up with a smart answer.

Then she looked down at his finger ring and her jaw dropped, mouth half open. "I can't believe you did this to me…" Now the hatred was easily coming back as the dominant feeling. Thank God! This was so much easier for her to stand than pain.

"Chloe please!" He stood up and was approaching her a little too much for her taste. So she backed off, not ready to be touched by him. "Don't do that, don't hate me!" He sounded desperate. Good for him! "I need you Chloe. I need my partner and my friend back. Please!? You mean too much to me."

"Your partner? Your friend?" Was that all that she meant to him? Had she really so misread their relationship that she had missed that? Did it mean that she had imagined it all, fantasised about something that were not real? She couldn't believe what she heard. Her world was turning upside down. She felt sick. She took a few more steps backward towards the elevator.

"Why did you stop playing baby? It was lovely." Shouted Candy from the end of the flat. "I looove this bedroom! It's so big! We should try the bed right now don't you think, love?" She added with a teasing tone.

"Coming in a minute, sweet heart!" Answered Lucifer, with his most joyful voice. His eyes never left hers, seaming sad. Or was it pity for her?

Chloe froze, she was in shock. It was all too real. Lucifer was married and his new bride was about to make love to him, the man Chloe was in love with. For the first time, she registered all the flowers decorating the room. He had called her sweet heart! This couldn't be, it had to be a nightmare! But she knew she was all too awake. All her illusions came crashing down. He didn't love her. He loved this woman, enough to marry her. She lowered her gaze.

"I… I'm sorry, I made a big mistake! I'm so sorry!" Chloe said shamefully.

She backed off in the elevator, hit the button, and disappeared behind the closed doors.