"Ouch!" Dexter cried as Valerie tried to get out of bed. The punishment Lucifer had subjected them both to was nowhere near over because neither were in the mood to reconcile.

They had to share a bedroom, but Dexter insisted on sleeping on the floor by the bed while Valerie slept in it, which often meant that she stepped on him (on purpose) in the morning.

"What are you whining about?!" She asked as her bare feet touched the floor and she tried to urge Dexter to stand up. "I told you if we shared a bed, mornings would be easier, but you're the one who wanted to sleep on the floor!"

"Yes, and since you know exactly where I am, could you not step on me, please?" Dexter grouched.

"I'm sorry, but is it my fault that your head is where I usually put my feet? Now get up, I have to pee."

"You had to pee like, five times last night!" Dexter cried. "Up and down, up and down...I got no sleep!"

"I have a tiny bladder!" Valerie cried. "It's not my fault!"

"Or it could be that you drank an entire bottle of water right before bedtime!" Dexter cried as he got to his feet at last. "You should be ashamed!"

Valerie got in his face. "You should! It's your fault we're like this. I said I was sorry but you just can't forgive me!"

She then moaned in pain as Dexter gave the cuffs a yank. "I thought you and your tiny bladder had to pee," he reminded her. "Let's get to it and not stand around yapping anymore." He got her into the bathroom and did her business while Dexter averted his eyes.

"You have to go?" She asked after flushing. "You might as well as long as we're in here."

"Oh, all right," Dexter huffed. He tried to go, but it took awhile.

"What's taking you so long?" Valerie cried. "Is it because I'm here? You don't usually suffer from performance anxiety."

"Just shut up!" Dexter requested through gritted teeth. "I didn't actually have to go before this but then you had to make the good point of getting it done while we're here. You know I won't fight logic like that!"

"And that's your issue, not mine!" Valerie told him. "Hurry up, I'm hungry!"

Finally, Dexter got finished and got his clothes in order, and then they made their way down to breakfast where the rest of Valerie's siblings looked up at them with smirks on their faces.

"So, Val," Vincent got out. "How'd you sleep last night?"

"Just fine, thank you," Valerie told her brother primly. "Because I sleep in the bed like a sane person."

"She stepped on me again!" Dexter huffed at Lucifer. "And she drank water before bedtime. A lot of water. You want someone to torture people, pick her! Or tell her to stop!"

"Valerie, be nice," Ellie remonstrated. "You want this to end, don't you?"

"No, I think she's enjoying it!" Dexter got out before Valerie could speak. "I think she inherited a love of torture!"

"Oh, let's not go there, Mister 'I can't accept an apology and just hold wrongs over people until they're so mad they just want to punch me in the face'!" Valerie shot back. "I think you're better at torture than me!"

"Okay, who wants chocolate chip pancakes?" Willie asked, doing his best to be peacemaker while Noah gave him half a smile and ruffled his hair. "Chocolate chip pancakes make everyone happy!"

"Good going, little buddy!" Noah told him. "Way to be more mature than two so-called 'adults'!"

"I suppose I could have some pancakes," Valerie told him. "Thank you, Willie."

They ate their breakfasts and glared at each other, and as they abandoned their empty plates after, and the rest of the family retreated to their other activities, Ellie eyed Lucifer and heaved a big sigh. "Do you think we're being cruel? I mean, it would be one thing if punishing Dexter and Valerie the way we are actually worked and made them learn a lesson, but I don't know if it will. What if they're both too stubborn?"

"Then they'll stay like that forever, won't they?" Lucifer shrugged. "Don't go soft on them now, Eleanor! Where's your spine?"

"I still have it, but this is not the same as torturing bad people!" Ellie pointed out. "We want Dexter and Valerie to get along and if one way doesn't work, we'll have to try something different!"

"What?" Lucifer questioned. "We've tried everything else!"

"We've actually not tried much of anything," Ellie pointed out.

"Let's keep them cuffed together for a little longer," Lucifer suggested. "You and I both know that they want to be in the relationship and at some point, they'll wear down and apologize. That day will come, maybe sooner than we think!"

"I hope so," Ellie sighed as Lucifer put his arms around her, offered her the last piece of bacon from his plate, and kissed her hair. "Cause I truly don't feel comfortable torturing my friend and one of my children."

"We're not torturing them, Eleanor," Lucifer told her. "They're torturing themselves."

"Okay, we're taking a bath now," Dexter told Valerie after looking at his watch. "I can't believe I didn't mention this sooner! I'm almost late!"

"Late for what?" Valerie asked as she painted her toes. "Lean down a little. I want a better angle. And I can't take a bath now. My nails aren't done!"

"Then use your magic and finish them!" Dexter barked impatiently. "Do it now!"

"Fine," Valerie huffed. "What's the rush, anyway? What's the big deal?"

"I have a date!" Dexter exclaimed proudly. "That's right, someone who is not you asked me out on a date!"

"And you're still gonna go?" Valerie asked. "Oh, I can't wait to see how this turns out!" She paused. "I just hope she's pretty if we have to end up in a threesome!"

"It's only the first date," Dexter got out as he pulled Valerie into the bathroom once she'd gotten her nails dry. "What sort of a man do you take me for?"

"You didn't take your sweet time with me, that's for sure," Valerie said as he turned the water on.

"Okay, to speed this up, we have to wash each other," Dexter told Valerie as he did his best to keep his eyes from straying to her boobs once they'd undressed and made their way into the tub.. "It's nothing sexy. Just business. You think you can handle that?"

"Oh, I can if you can!" Valerie nodded. "You think I'm just gonna fall all over you because you're wet and naked? Think again, pal! I know you're looking at my boobs, so who's the one who wants to mix business and pleasure? You or me?"

Dexter didn't know how to respond to her very good point, so he just averted his eyes, soaped up a wash cloth, and said nothing.

As they washed each other, they were careful not to touch anywhere intimate, although there were some close calls and Valerie almost felt herself orgasm just as Dexter slowly ran the wash cloth up her inner thighs.

"Are you okay?" He asked after, in spite of himself. A grin was on his lips.

"You think you're so smart because, on accident, you made me a little tingly?" Valerie wanted to know. Then she leaned forward and kissed him soundly, fingers in his hair at first and then running over his shoulders and arms before she finally broke the kiss, leaving him looking stunned.

"I'm fine," she remarked cheekily. "But it doesn't look like you are!" She then washed him off and they made the effort to get out of the tub.

He had to catch her when she slipped, his eyes widening as he pulled her against his body and held her tight. "Are you okay?" He whispered. "You're not hurt?"

"No," She shook her head and looked him in the eye. "No, I'm not...thank you."

"You're welcome," he nodded.

Then they remembered that they were mad at each other, cleared their throats, and got ready for Dexter's date.

"Who's this?" His date asked with surprise when she saw Valerie. "You...you didn't...I didn't know you were bringing anyone. I'm...I'm not comfortable with threesomes."

"Don't worry, sweetie," Valerie told her. "He's not a pervert or a weirdo or anything. I'm just here because he and I are fighting and this is how my crazy parents are trying to make us get along. I'm not interested in him one little bit."

"That's the first thing you've sad in a long time that I actually agree with," Dexter told her. "Just like she said, Sandra, you can ignore her. Let's make this night about us, like it's supposed to be."

They got a table and sat down and Valerie gave the other two a chance to talk while she scarfed down bread and butter, and then when a bottle of wine was bought and she'd had a glass or two, she addressed herself to the demon woman.

"I have to say, I really like your dress and bag," she remarked about the silver clutch purse and black cocktail dress Sandra wore. "Designer?"

"You would think," Sandra blushed. "But it's actually just a really good knock off. They both are. I don't have the sort of money that will get me the real thing!"

Valerie grinned and leaned across Dexter. "Well, lucky for you, I know a lady and how about you and I go to the boutique together someday and I can get you a whole closet full of the real thing and all the matching accessories?"

"What? Really?" Sandra's eyes were wide and she was running her fingers through her blonde pixie cut. "Why would you do that for me?"

"You seem nice," Valerie shrugged. "I like to do things for nice, deserving people."

"Don't fall for it!" Dexter urged. "She's the devil's daughter! You'll end up in the same trap I was in! At least ask her what she wants you to do for her first!"

"If you two are gonna be a thing, all she has to do is be nice to you," Valerie told him. "That's it."

"Well, that shouldn't be a problem," Sandra grinned. "Are you really the devil's daughter?"

"Yeah," Valerie nodded. "I mean, I try to make my own way, of course, but yeah..."

"Is that...is it scary?" Sandra questioned. "Or is it cool, or what?"

"Hey!" Dexter said as they got into deep conversation. "We're supposed to be on a date! Remember me? And Valerie, how dare you take the high ground! It's not fair!"

"No one said you couldn't join in the conversation," Sandra reminded him. "Be sociable! Don't just sit there like a grumpy lump!"

Dexter thought about just ending everything and marching Valerie out to the car, but that would make him look bad, so he kept ordering food and downing wine, and at the end of the night, after she paid the check with a generous tip, it was a wide awake Valerie and Sandra who brought a drunk, sleepy Dexter home, finalizing their boutique shopping plans before Sandra bade them goodnight and Valerie tucked herself and Dexter in for the evening.

"Where the hell does she go all the time?" Mikael huffed to himself one morning. He never saw Charlotte anymore, and if it weren't for all her crap lying around his house, he would have no idea she even stayed there.

He got up, dressed, and decided that enough was enough: He didn't like being ignored and he was going to tell her so...once he figured out where she was.

He pulled out his phone and punched in Gwen's number, figuring that she'd probably changed it, but it wouldn't hurt to see if she knew anything.

"What do you want, Mikael?" Gwen asked after the phone rang several times.

"Could you do me a favor and ask you know who to tell me where Charlotte is?" Mikael questioned. "She's missing and I'm very concerned!"

"Sure you are," Gwen drawled. "But I won't deny you a chance to annoy my sister, so...just a minute."

With Charlotte's location firm in his mind, Mikael was off to the mall. He went looking from store to store, until he finally saw her near the food court. She was standing near a plant with her phone in her hand. She was talking and didn't hear him coming up behind her. He smiled, sneaked up behind her, slapped her butt, and yelled, "Boo!" causing her to start badly and nearly drop her phone.

"Damn it, what's your problem!" Charlotte yelled at him. "I was having such a nice, peaceful time without you! How did you find me?"

"Your sister and ex-husband were kind enough to assist me," Mikael grinned, reaching out to play with her hair. "Damn, you look pretty!"

"My sister and my ex-husband ratted me out?" Charlotte hissed and slapped his hand away. "Remind me to thank them!"

"I don't know why you're so upset," Mikael told her. "Are you avoiding me? Why?" He gestured at his body. He was wearing a skintight shirt. "Look at what you could be having!"

"I...I've had stuff to do that didn't involve you," Charlotte replied. "I was hoping I could have a relationship with at least one man who didn't think the world revolved wholly around him, but obviously I was wrong."

"Oh, come now, don't be that way," Mikael said and pulled her to him. "I know you're avoiding me, but you don't need to. You can admit that we've had fun and you've liked it." He began playing with her hair. "I don't know why that's so hard!"

"You...I hate you!" Charlotte hissed and then kissed Mikael soundly after he stuck her phone in her purse

They contined to kiss furiously until the plant Charlotte had been standing behind was knocked over and they were revealed to passersby. Since her skirt was hiked up to expose her underwear, Charlotte gave him a hard slap.

"Do you mind not humiliating me in public?" She asked.

"I didn't know you were such a prude!" He grinned.

"I'm not, but do you really want all these foolish mortals staring at us?" Charlotte whispered. "I don't. I won't do this! Not here."

"Well, fine," Mikael told her and picked her up, carrying her into the clothes store next door where they were met by a very confused young sales associate.

"Can I help you, sir?" She asked. "And your wife...is she okay?"

"I'm not his wife!" Charlotte yelled.

"Never mind her," Mikael ordered, locking eyes with the young, human woman. "Tell us where the dressing rooms are."

He got his answer and put Charlotte down, leading her that way, although he paused to pick up a few things for her to try on.

"No," Charlotte shook her head when they were in the dressing room and he showed the things to her. "I won't."

"Oh, come on, why not?" Mikael asked, wondering to himself if he could just compel her to do it since she was in a human body. "I'd do the same for you!"

"You'd try on a bra and lacy panties for me?" Charlotte asked, eyebrow raised. "Well, I don't know if you and I are the same size, but..."

"That's not what I meant!" Mikael interrupted, his cheeks bright red. "And you know it!"

"Yes," Charlotte chuckled. "I just wanted to make you blush."

"Are you done?" Mikael asked and pulled her to him once more. "Cause I would like to stop this foolishness...and do more enjoyable things."

Charlotte cast a hunted look around and when she was sure they were alone, she nodded. "Okay," she conceded. "But only because no one can see us."

They began kissing passionately. Soon, her clothes were off and she smiled and chuckled, changing into one of the panty and bra sets Mikael had brought with them, then let him give her a good rub as they straddled the bench in the dressing room. They watched each other in the mirror, touching one another, moaning each other's names.

But just as they were about to have sex in the dressing room, Mikael stopped. "Let's go home," he said. "I want to enjoy this. And I don't think we can do that here. Do you?"

"No," Charlotte shook her head and got dressed again. "Do that trick so we can just leave and I can take all this without trouble."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Mikael grinned and spanked her again, knowing full well what he'd bought. "Let's go, you can lead the way."

Scott had just gotten back from a ride when it occurred to him that he hadn't seen or heard from Sophia in ages. He wondered why. Maybe she was sick or hurt. It was up to him to do the gentlemanly thing and go check up on her. It would make his mother proud.

He strode over to Sophia's house and, grabbing the key that she didn't think he knew about from under the welcome mat, he let himself in. "Sophia?" He called. "Soph, are you all right? I hope you're not sick or dead and that's why you haven't talked to me in so long!"

But he got no response until he reached the living room, where he saw the back of a blonde head on the sofa, bobbing up and down gently to music that blared from her device on the sofa beside her.

"Boo!" He yelled.

That got her attention. She let out a shriek, turned around, and accidentally punched him in the face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I..." She began to apologize reflexively. Then she saw who she'd hit and stopped as he put a hand over his eye.

"You!" She hissed, running to the kitchen and coming back with a knife, which she brandished threateningly. "What do you want?"

"Oh, just give me the knife," Scott chuckled. "There you go again, thinking you can use useless weapons to protect yourself against creatures like me!" He gently took it from her hands and set it on the sofa. "So...what are you looking at? Listening to some music?"

"How can you be so casual when you break in here and scare me half to death?" Sophia asked. "You could have at least called out so I knew you were here!"

"I did, but your music was too loud," Scott said. "I used a key."

He then saw what she was looking at. It was a wedding website. "You thinking of getting married, Soph? Who's the lucky guy?"

"Ha ha," Sophia remarked dryly. "It's none of your business, but you know that's not what I'm doing. It's for your parents."

"Oh, so now my parents' wedding is none of my business?" Scott asked and sat down next to her and snatching the computer away to see what was on it. "What are we looking at here?"

"That's not what I meant," Sophia shook her head and inched away from him, trying to get the computer out of his grip while shrugging off the arm he put around her shoulder. "Just that...it seems like wedding planning is something that's beneath you, you know? So why would you want to trouble yourself with it?"

"We are looking at nothing!" Sophia snapped with a frown. "Don't you have a date? A Cookie or Kit-Kat to see? It might actually allow me to get something done if you do!"

"Actually, her name is Diane," Scott corrected, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Well, good for you," Sophia nodded. "I wish you'd go see her now because I'm busy!"

"First you have to tell me why you're avoiding me," Scott responded. "I think I at least deserve that."

"Do you know how much work goes into planning a wedding?" Sophia questioned. "I'm surprised I've had time to see anyone!"

"I have some time before my date," Scott said. "Why don't you take a break, since all this is making you very cranky, and we can go down to the lake? Maybe take a dip? You don't even need to bring a bathing suit! I know I'm not!"

"Oh, don't choose me for that great honor," Sophia shook her head. "Pick Diane. I know she'll be thrilled!"

"Why do you always have to be like that?" Scott asked irritably. "I try to be nice, and..." He took her computer away. "You know I don't care about any of the girls I go out with, not really. Not like how I care about you!"

"Oh, well your dick seems to care about them!" Sophia snapped. "And whether you like it or not, that matters to me more than you think it does!"

"Look at you talking about my penis!" Scott crowed. "And so casually too. Never thought I'd see the day." He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "My, my, my..."

"That's it," Sophia got up, her voice shaking. "Get out of my house, now!"

"All right, I get it," Scott put his hands up. "Obviously you think you got the short end of the stick..." He paused and chuckled. "And when I say 'stick', it's not the same as my penis, cause...that's way longer than a stick, but..."

"I couldn't give a fuck about your stick or the bimbos you're going out with, all right?" Sophia snapped. She began pacing around as he continued to watch her. "Crazy man...think you know everything about women, and think that just because I'm a woman, I'll just fall at your feet like the others do. You're out of your mind, you..." She looked up, gasped, and then put her hand over her mouth after saying, "Oh, my god! What the hell, Scott?"

"What?"Scott asked. He stood in front of her, unashamedly naked. "You obviously think you're being cheated out of this, so I'm giving it to you!"

She stood frozen as he took a few steps toward her, grabbed her hand, and put it on his bare chest. "There," he said. "Go ahead and touch. Don't be afraid."

She hesitated, her hands pulling away for a moment before she put them back, her language garbled and senseless until she gave up speaking all together and just let her hands explore his body.

She was just about to give him a handjob when his chuckle snapped her out of her trance, and she growled and backed away, just as Elijah strode in to ask how she was coming with picking wedding flowers.

"Sorry," she apologized, bright red as she gave Scott a shove in response to Elijah's 'Hello'. "I got a little distracted. It won't happen again."

"It won't," Elijah frowned and stalked over to his son. "I promise you, Sophia. I don't know what my son's been trying to do to you but we raised him to know better than to take advantage of women."

"Oh, but I didn't..." Scott protested.

"I don't wanna hear about it!" Elijah snapped. "You get dressed, apologize, and then you're coming home with me, young man! Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Scott sighed heavily and got dressed, then followed his father from Sophia's house without another word as she called out a relieved and cheerful 'Goodbye'.

"What were you thinking?" Elijah whispered angrily. "She's a good girl and she doesn't deserve to have her feelings played with!"

"What feelings?" Scott asked. "You think she has real feelings for me? No she doesn't! She just thinks I'm hot like every other woman I date."

Elijah shook his head. "If you think she has no feelings for you, that she doesn't love you...you're either blind or stupid."

"Well, that's hurtful!" Scott huffed.

"I bet it is for her, too," Elijah told him.

After Scott and Elijah arrived home and Scott headed inside, Elijah went around the back of the house to tell Selina what he'd just witnessed, ducking just in time to avoid a roundhouse kick from his wife as he approached her.

"Calm down!" He cried. "It's just me, what did you do that for?"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Selina apologized and gave him a hug. "I was just practicing my moves for when the robots come! I'm gonna kick their metal asses into the ground!" She punched the air a few times and then stepped back. "It's good that I'm prepared, right?"

"Yes," Elijah nodded, pulling her to him and kissing her hair. "It's...it's good. But you shouldn't have to worry about that. Why don't you just leave it all to me and go back to making cookies or something? I'm sure you have orders that need to be filled, don't you?"

"Well, yeah," Selina nodded and frowned, pulling away. "But I don't have to do it right this second." She pushed him away. "And what do you mean I don't have to worry about that? Aliens are invading the Earth! That seems like something I need to be able to defend myself against!"

"Not when you have me!" Elijah reminded her. "Just let me take care of it!"

"Oh, sure," Selina nodded. "Just sit back and do nothing while the big strong man protects me. Right, of course!" She growled. "I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, thank you! I don't need you!"

She started to march away, but he picked her up off the ground and carried her back, planting her feet and turning her around so that she was looking him in the eye.

"I know you don't," he said, a hand under her chin. "But you shouldn't have to. No matter how much you say you can handle things alone, you know you don't want to. I know you don't want to. No matter how badly or clumsily I might word it, I only don't want you to feel like you have the whole world on your shoulders. Do you understand?" He kissed her softly. "Please tell me you do."

He gave her a smile and she smiled back, and just for a moment, he thought they would avoid a fight. But then, she frowned and stepped away. "No!" She cried. "You're not gonna do this to me again! I'm gonna save the world by myself, with no help from you!"

Here we go again, he frowned, running after her as she took off for the house. "Talk to me!" He demanded. "Why is it that whenever you accept a nice gesture from me, it only lasts for two seconds before you ruin it?"

"I can't just give into you!" Selina told him. "I can't just let you run my life!"

"I don't want to run your life!" Elijah cried. "I just want to help you!"

"I know that!" Selina said. "But 'The Monster' doesn't want to help me one bit!"

"What?" Elijah asked. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"The Monster," Selina repeated. "The part of you that was created by your father that ruins every relationship we've ever had! I like that there's a part of you that has blossomed around me, but I know if I encourage it for too long, then The Monster will take over and my life won't be mine anymore. I don't know where the line is between nice you and monster you and I don't want to find out. I don't want you to be someone I hate enough to want to leave!"

"Well, now you're not being the person I particularly like, but I'm still here," Elijah said firmly. "I realize that I sometimes behave in ways that upset you. I'm trying to pick up on those behaviors and stop doing them. I think you need to do the same thing."

"Excuse me?" Selina bristled. "I never..."

"Yes you do!" Elijah said firmly. "I know people have abandoned you and treated you horribly your whole life. I'm not gonna dispute that. But it's made you very comfortable in the victim role, to the point where you can't acknowledge your own problematic behavior. For example, you don't trust me. You don't trust me to know when I will act in a way that will hurt you and stop it before it's a problem. You're so scared of being hurt and alone that you're making us both miserable, just like your mother did with you and her! The same frustration you had with her...knowing that under that scared, stubborn, drug addled woman was a strong, capable, fun, caring person who just will not come out...I have with you! I know that if you would just...get over yourself, stop blaming everyone else for the problems you cause, and take a chance, we could have a great relationship. But we both have to do the work. You know I will..." He reached out for her hand. "Will you?"

Selina felt like she had been slapped. As she thought it over though, she realized that Elijah was right; her acting like her mother was just as damaging to their relationship as him acting like his father. She put her hand over her mouth and burst into tears, muttering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

He put his arms around her and kissed her soundly. "I know you are," he said. "It's tough. But we'll get through it. I think we should have ice cream, don't you?"

"Yeah," Selina nodded through her tears and kissed him soundly. "I think I'd like that."