3 weeks later

Chloe stared at the red roses on her desk, deep in thought. Lucifer hadn't pushed her to make up her mind already. In fact, he hadn't even asked her again after the first time on the beach. He just kept doing these small romantic gestures, like the roses on her desk. She was sure he'd stop with those as well, if she asked him.

She wondered if maybe she was being a little unfair to him. Letting him struggle on like this without giving him an answer. Was she possibly punishing him for things that happened in the past? She wanted to give him an answer, but she just couldn't make up her mind what it should be. There was undeniably chemistry there, and, if she was honest with herself, something more. But he had hurt her in the past, and she wasn't a trusting person to begin with. She'd let down her walls for him, only for him to vanish and return with his wife. Could she overcome that? What if every time she didn't hear from him for awhile she started imagining that he was running off again? It all came down to this, would she be able to trust him again? Not just as a partner at the LAPD, but as something more?

She looked at the roses again. He'd been a perfect gentleman, even though she was sure her behaviour must be grating on his nerves by now. In spite of his reputation, and his lifestyle, she had never seen him be anything but a perfect gentleman. She thought he had the capacity to be in a committed, monogamous relationship. That he would put all his efforts towards trying to make her happy. So what had happened last time? The obvious answer was that he'd gotten scared. Things got serious, he got scared, and he ran. Ran as far as it was possible to get. Made certain that there was no chance of a relationship developing between them.

And yet, he'd come back to work with her. He got so scared that he ran off and married a woman he'd just met and yet he came back to work by her side. Chloe sighed and rubbed her hand over her tired eyes. Well, she could think about this for weeks to come without reaching a conclusion.

She looked up and flinched. Out of nowhere, Amenadiel had appeared in front of her desk. How he and Lucifer managed to silently sneak around like large cats in spite of their size was beyond her.

"Can we talk somewhere?", he said, looking concerned.

Chloe furrowed her brow, surprised at his serious tone. She nodded, and let him into Ella's lab. The forensic scientist was probably busy at a crime scene somewhere.

"What's up?", Chloe asked, leaning against one of the tables.

Amenadiel stared at the equipment on the desk, seeing right through it, deep in thought. "It's Lucifer. There's something wrong."

Chloe felt her heart rate accelerate, a strange sensation spreading through her chest. "Wrong? What's wrong with him? Is he hurt?"

Amenadiel looked over to her, realizing his mistake. "No, sorry, it's nothing like that. Physically, he's fine. It's just that he's- I don't know, he's very different. Quiet. Thoughtful. I've known him for a long time and I've never seen him like this. Sure, he has had bad days, but usually he gets angry at me when he does, not this- quiet seriousness. I can't really describe it." He hesitated for a moment. "You spend the most time with him, so I wanted to ask if you have noticed anything different in his behaviour that you might have been worried about."

Chloe cleared her throat, thinking about how she was going to phrase this. "I think I might know what has changed."

"Really? Please tell me."

"Um", Chloe said. "Well, he kind of asked me out a couple of weeks back and I haven't made up my mind about it yet."

Amenadiel stared at her in confusion. "He- asked you out?"

"Yes."

He noddded slowly, as if she had just informed him of some monumental shift that he needed time to process.

"He asked you out."

She nodded, wondering why he was so shocked. Maybe he didn't approve?

"Are you sure?"

Chloe glared at him, getting annoyed with his antics. "Of course I'm sure. What's the problem?"

"Oh. Nothing. It's just not like him, is all."

Chloe's expression changed to confusion. "You mean to tell me he's never asked anybody out before?"

"Not to my knowledge, no."

Wow. That was just. Well, wow. He'd never asked anybody else out before. And she'd basically shut him down. Worse, actually, she'd left him hanging.

"Maybe I should talk to him", Amenadiel said thoughtfully.

Chloe shook her head. "No, I think it's me who should go talk to him. I owe him an explanation."

She was surprised to find Lux completely empty. Lucifer sat at the piano, alone, playing a beautiful, haunting tune that she didn't recognize.

He stopped once he became aware of her presence. He looked up to her, a bright smile spreading over his face. Unlike his usual cocky grin, it reached his eyes, transforming him.

"Detective!", he said, sounding truly delighted at her presence.

She came closer, suddenly, and inexplicably, nervous. "That was beautiful. Care to play some more for me?"

He seemed surprised at her request, yet happy to oblige. He picked up the same song again, and Chloe watched him, enthralled. She had never appreciated how truly talented he really was at the piano if he put his mind to it. And he was certainly giving it his all now. The song build to a crescendo, his fingers flying over the keys.

Chloe watched him pour his heart and soul into the music. It was one of the things she loved about him. He never did anything halfway. Anything he did, he always did with passion.

She was certain that he had never intended to hurt her. That, even though he didn't let it show, what had happened between them had affected him as well. What Amenadiel had said had shaken her. Was Lucifer really that inexperienced when it came to relationships? It certainly put everything that had happened into a new light. For one, it explained why he'd gotten scared.

The song slowed down again, and Lucifer finished it, softly playing the last keys.

"Yes", Chloe said into the sudden silence.

"Yes?"

"Yes, let's have dinner together."

If she had thought his earlier smile had transformed him, it was nothing compared to the one she was seeing now. It was pure happiness if she'd ever seen it. Well, there might have been a smudge of nervousness to it as well, but who could blame him? She herself was feeling as if a swarm of butterflies had suddenly decided to take up residence in her stomach. It was excitement, anticipation, happiness, but also a decent amount of nervousness, all bundled together.

"Splendid", he said, beaming at her, and she couldn't help but smile back at him.