Author's note: Less editing than usual on this one, as I wanted to get it out before the finale tonight. I'm assuming I will need recovery time afterward! Good luck to everyone watching.

Lucifer sighed in relief as he came in from the balcony. Home. While he hadn't been thrilled with taking the quicker way home with Josh, it was certainly better than having to make the return trip the mortal way, and it would be easier on Azrael, too.

Crossing to the bar, he poured himself a drink and tossed it back, still turning the day over in his head. His father... no, he'd unpack that later, and send Linda hazard pay. But Azrael... he still couldn't believe that she'd given up her chance to go home, and for him. He shouldn't have agreed to let her come back with him. Their father was up to something, Lucifer just knew it. Azrael was caught up in it - not her fault, obviously, and he wasn't blaming her for it - but he didn't want any part in whatever his father was planning.

He poured another drink and was considering it when his phone rang. It had survived the snow. Impressive. Lucifer pulled out the phone, all set to refuse the call, then saw the name on the display: TheDetective.

"Yes, Detective?" he greeted, polishing off his second drink and pondering a third.

"Hey," Chloe replied. "I know you said you'd call, but it's been a while, and I got worried that you'd ended up in a ditch." Somewhat muted, he heard her offspring calling, "Lucifer, did you find Rae?" and Chloe hushing her, with a murmur about not yelling in the car. "You're on speaker, by the way. Linda's here, too."

Lucifer downed another drink, almost as if it were medicine. "Hello, ladies. Yes, well, you'll be happy to learn that I'm back home in a reasonable climate and certainly not in a ditch. I did find Rae, and - Beatrice, stop, your mother can't possibly concentrate on driving with you making that noise." For, at the news that her friend had been found, Trixie had let out a gleeful whoop.

"Sorry," came the little girl's response, though she didn't sound particularly repentant.

"Is she all right?" Linda asked, though Lucifer could also hear a conversation between Chloe and her daughter going on in the background. "And how did you get back so quickly?"

Lucifer pondered the questions. Best not to give a full answer to the first question with the child listening. "I'm not entirely sure how she is, actually. Today has been... rather complicated, and I didn't really ask. As for how I got back, I got a lift from my brother. He's bringing Rae here, now."

"Mommy, just ask him, please?" That, of course, was from the offspring.

"Ask me what?" Lucifer queried. He considered the bottle. There really wasn't enough alcohol in the world for today. Surely he had something stronger set aside for such an occasion.

There was a pause from the other end of the line, and a sigh that Lucifer found quite familiar, usually because he was the one inspiring such sounds from the detective. "I hate to ask this, since I know you just got back, but could we swing by for a few minutes so Trixie can say hi to Rae? We're actually pretty close."

Lucifer glanced down at the wreck of his suit. That wouldn't do at all. He strode into his room and put his phone on speaker, the better to be heard while he changed. In deference to the child, he didn't even tell Chloe what she was missing. And she said he had no self-control! "Of course you can," he replied. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

"Thank you, Lucifer," Trixie called.

"Yes, thanks," Chloe echoed. "See you soon."

Straightening his cuffs, Lucifer moved back to the living room just in time to see Josh and Azrael arrive. "A snowball right in the mouth," his brother was saying. "You should have seen the look on his face."

Lucifer strode forward, a protest on his lips, but then saw the - it had to be said - death-grip Azrael had on Josh, the tense lines of her face. Ah, distraction. "Now, be fair," he countered, with a grin. "I'm sure I got snow up your nose."

Josh nodded amiably, setting Azrael down as if she were made of spun glass, then tucking the cat backpack at her feet. "Oh, you did," he agreed.

Lucifer turned to look at Azrael, even as he kept up the casual banter with Josh. She clung to the back of a chair, her gaze turned inward. Gradually, though, she began to relax, and Lucifer cast a look of inquiry at Josh, who grimaced and shook his head.

The elevator chimed, then, and Trixie emerged as soon as she could squeeze through the doors. "Rae!" she squealed, running hell-for-leather toward her friend.

Lucifer realized that this could not possibly end well, as Azrael looked like a stiff wind would knock her over, let alone a small, fast-moving girl. He caught Trixie as she passed and swung the girl into his arms.

There was a moment of shocked silence from all in the room. Chloe, following her daughter, stopped dead and stared at Lucifer.

Trixie regarded him with some confusion. "Now you like hugs?" she queried.

"No," Lucifer replied promptly. "Well, some hugs," he amended, with a brow-waggle at Chloe. "Special hugs." He put down the little girl, giving her an awkward pat on the head. "Go gently," he urged, with a nod toward his exasperated sister. "She's feeling a little unwell. Nothing contagious," he added to Chloe. "I'll explain later. Where's Doctor Linda?"

"A patient called," Chloe explained. "She'll be right up."

Azrael eased into the nearby chair, which was more than large enough for enough for both girls. Trixie quickly followed and while her hug could not exactly be described as gentle, Azrael clearly did not mind.

"I missed you," Trixie proclaimed. "Where were you?" Despite her words, she all but radiated happiness; smiling in delight, she took possession of Azrael's hand, as if to assure herself of her friend's continued presence.

Azrael, while she didn't show Trixie's exuberance, reflected quiet contentment. She slid down a little in the chair and rested her head lightly against Trixie's shoulder. "I've got a house in the mountains, near the East Coast," she replied lightly.

"You've got a house?" Trixie echoed, impressed, as Chloe moved to sit on the nearby couch, her lips curving at the sight of the girls.

"About that," Lucifer put in, brows lifting in inquiry. "Why do you have a house?"

Azrael shrugged, looking across the room to where Lucifer stood near his piano. "It's one of my investments. Uri said I'd need it. It was a long time ago," she added, before he could ask. "So he couldn't be specific about why. Mostly I've been renting it, though I cleared the schedule when I got here."

Josh came around to sit on the opposite side of the couch from Chloe. "I can go back and take care of the rental car," he told Lucifer, nodding at his brother's murmur of acknowledgement. "Need anything done in the house, Rae?"

Azrael shook her head. "I can email my property manager tonight, but thanks." Seeing Chloe shake her head at the words, Azrael smiled, but didn't inform the detective, again, that she wasn't a child. Instead, she said, "Chloe, Trixie, this is our brother -"

"Josh," Josh supplied, with a warning look to his sister.

Chloe smiled, offering a hand, which Josh shook. "Nice to meet you," she said, the sentiment echoed by Trixie.

"That's what I was going to say." Azrael smiled sweetly at Josh, adding to Chloe, "He loves the little children."

Josh sighed. "Rae, come on."

"All the children of the world," Azrael added, a glint of mirth lighting her eyes.

"Okay, seriously," Josh protested. "You have to knock it off. The next bit, while true, gets racially insensitive, and I don't want-"

Lucifer got into the act and sat down at the piano to play a few bars of Depeche Mode's *Personal Jesus*, eliciting a chuckle from Azrael and a put-upon sigh from Josh.

Chloe turned her gaze on Josh. She studied him a long moment, then nodded. "Okay, then. Wow," she added, smiling. "They're really not subtle, are they?"

Josh laughed, shaking his head. "No, they aren't."

"Big sisters have to tease," Azrael observed, amused. "We don't have to be subtle about it."

"You're his big sister?" Trixie asked Azrael, clearly still wrapping her head around everything. She sent a dubious look at Josh; he smiled at her.

Azrael nodded. "Sure am, even though I don't look like it right now."

"I'm going to head out," Josh said, getting to his feet. He paused by Lucifer, asking, "Okay with you if I come by on occasion?" He tipped his head toward Azrael, his meaning clear.

Lucifer glanced at his sister, who was speaking quietly with Trixie, and nodded. "I'll keep an eye on her."

Josh smiled, gripping Lucifer's shoulder, then turned back toward the couch. "Nice to meet you ladies," he said pleasantly. "I hope to see you again." He bent down to hug Azrael, murmuring something into her ear. She clung to him for a moment with the arm Trixie had not claimed, nodding, and then settled back against Trixie's shoulder. Josh smiled at the pair, then stepped out to the balcony and disappeared with a whoosh of air.

"That," Trixie said with conviction, "Was so cool."

Lucifer muttered something that sounded suspiciously like show-off, but didn't comment further.

The elevator chimed, and Linda entered, murmuring an apology. "She's not quite my neediest client," she added, "but she comes close."

Chloe smiled. "Yeah, so you just missed Jesus."

Linda paused. "Seriously?"

Lucifer, with a wry smile, played the first four chords of the Hallelujah Chorus.

Azrael offered, "You can call him Josh."

Linda took a deep breath. "My life is... so very strange." She shook her head and moved to join Chloe on the couch, adding, "Welcome back, Rae."

"Thank you," Azrael replied. She flicked a glance skyward before adding, "I didn't realize you were going to be here. Could I borrow you for a minute?"

Linda tipped her head to one side in consideration and then nodded, standing once more. "Of course."

Azrael got carefully to her feet, then looked down at her hand, which Trixie still gripped. "I'll be right back," she promised, smiling.

Trixie chewed on her upper lip and then nodded, releasing Azrael. "You better be," she replied seriously.

Azrael glanced to the balcony, then turned toward the kitchen instead, leading the way. Linda followed, letting the swinging door close behind her.

Azrael took a water from the refrigerator and held up a second bottle, with a look of inquiry. At Linda's negative murmur, she eased into a seat, opening her water bottle and taking a long drink. "Trixie's a little clingy," she observed, looking toward the living room with a faint frown.

"She was worried about you," Linda offered, seating herself opposite Azrael. "Chloe said she was pretty upset."

Her frown deepening in concern, Azrael said, "I didn't... I mean, I wasn't gone that long."

"Not for you, no," Linda agreed, with a small smile. "But when you're Trixie's age and missing a friend, a week can feel like... well, an eternity." Giving Azrael a long, level look, she added, "Trixie wasn't the only worried one, you know. Ella's been very concerned. We all have, really."

Azrael ducked her head, though not before the therapist caught her disbelieving look. "Linda-" she began,then faltered, shaking her head.

"People care about you, Rae," Linda said gently. "If you feel the need to... take some time for yourself, maybe let someone know, next time."

"If I can," Azrael agreed softly. "I'm sorry, Linda, but it may not be up to me. When... when I go home, it might be quick. I'll do my best, but I might not have a choice." She exhaled a soft sigh, letting her head fall into her hands. "I can't give up that chance," she admitted, adding silently, Not again.

Linda nodded, not that Azrael could see the gesture. "I can certainly understand that." Linda let the silence hang for a moment, knowing that the discomfort of quiet sometimes motivated speech, but Azrael held her tongue. Leaning in a little, Linda asked, "Are you feeling all right?"

"By which you mean I'm looking particularly haggard today?" Azrael lifted her head with a wry little smile. "It's been an interesting couple of days." Rubbing her forehead, she exhaled a soft sigh. "Any chance you've got some ibuprofen in your purse?"

"Actually, I think I do," Linda replied, rummaging in her bag.

Azrael took the bottle with a murmur of thanks. "If I asked Lucifer, he'd offer some oxy, and I'm just not up to explaining why that's a bad idea." She studied the bottle, then looked up with a faint smile. "Do I go by my age, or this body's?"

Linda chuckled, shaking her head. "I doubt the dosage instructions cover your particular situation, but you're close enough to go with the adult dose." Azrael nodded and downed the medicine, murmuring her thanks before handing back the bottle. Linda, her expression sympathetic, asked, "Are you okay?"

Azrael nodded, resting her chin in her cupped hand. "I will be. I took a bad fall, still pretty sore." Seeing the sharp incline of Linda's eyebrows, she added quickly, "That's not a metaphor, sorry. Actual fall: boom, splat. I'm still as much in Dad's good graces as I ever was, as far as I know."

"I heard you got your wings back," Linda said, with a relieved nod for Azrael's explanation.

Azrael nodded, with a small, distant smile. "Mazikeen said Chloe told you. How... how's Chloe doing? I mean, she's here; that's a good sign, right? Are she and Mazikeen still roommates?"

Linda studied Azrael for a moment, then nodded. "She still has her moments, but overall I think she's doing well. And, yes, she and Maze are still roommates. Why do you ask?"

Azrael exhaled a relieved sigh. "Mazikeen got the impression that Chloe was upset and wanted to stop living together, because of the whole demon thing. She was... a little upset with me, since I basically outed her to Chloe. But since they're okay, maybe I won't have to start running the next time I see Mazikeen. Which is good, because she's way faster."

Brows lifting, Linda asked, "You really think Maze would hurt you?"

Azrael nodded seriously. "Absolutely." After a beat of thoughtful consideration, she amended, "Well, probably. I mean, she had the chance to hit me and didn't take it. Though... that doesn't mean she won't take her shot the next time she sees me." She sighed, letting her forehead rest in her palm.

Linda offered gently, "I can talk to her, if you like?"

Azrael shook her head. "No, thanks. Mazikeen does what she wants."

"Why don't you ever call her Maze?" Linda queried.

Azrael lifted her head. "She's never told me I can." She rubbed her forehead, adding, "I actually called her that once, back in the day. She let me know she didn't find it at all acceptable." She slanted a look at Linda, adding, "I think she's mellowed since then, though, but I will deny ever having said so."

Linda nodded thoughtfully. "Well, she's certainly mellowed since I've known her." Azrael exhaled a quiet chuckle, and, after a moment of hesitation, Linda asked, "So Jesus was the brother who brought you and Lucifer back here?"

Azrael nodded, sliding down a little in her chair. "My own personal Jesus is actually Jesus, yes. Josh came to the house after -" Her attention focusing a little more sharply, she said, her manner gone careful, "Um, I'm not sure when Lucifer's next session is, but you should probably know that he spoke with our father."

Linda exhaled a soft, startled breath. "Oh. Oh, my."

"Yeah," Azrael agreed.

"How did it go?" the therapist queried, looking as if she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Azrael lifted her shoulders in a small shrug. "Well, my house is still standing," she replied, clearly not joking. "He didn't give details, and I didn't ask." She folded her arm on the table and rested her chin against it, adding softly, "He wasn't happy that I asked Dad to stay and talk with him, and he almost wouldn't let me come back here."

"Because you asked your father to talk with him?"

Shaking her head, Azrael replied, "No. Well, not just that, at least. I doubt he's thrilled that I did that. But mainly because he thinks that Dad sent me here to interfere in his life."

"Did he?" Linda queried, fascinated. There was a crash from the living room and then Lucifer called something reassuring, but she only sent a quick look toward the noise.

Azrael shrugged once more, glancing toward the living room and then back to Linda. "I don't know," she replied helplessly. "Dad wouldn't tell me, and I-" She straightened, then, with an exasperated noise. "I'm sorry. This isn't fair. You're not here to listen to me. I can... I don't know, make an appointment, like Dad said."

Linda rocked back in her chair. "Your... your father told you to make an appointment with me?" she repeated, stunned.

Azrael smiled faintly. "I think he said something like Talk to Dr. Martin, so I guess technically I've done as he asked, but -"

"God knows who I am," Linda said, her eyes wide. "I mean, specifically."

A look of understanding crossed Azrael's face and she murmured, "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you... 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" Linda stared at her, and she added, "No pressure. Sorry. Sometimes the whole God thing kind of gets away from me. I'm more concerned with the Dad than the deity... well, most of the time."

"I can see how that could be complicated," Linda replied, though the automatic nature of her response suggested her preoccupation with her own thoughts.

Azrael got to her feet and got another bottle of water, putting it in front of the therapist. When Linda peered at her in confusion, she asked, "Would you rather have alcohol? I'm sure Lucifer has some stashed somewhere."

Linda shook her head. "No. Thank you. I just need a minute." She did open the water, though, and drained about half of it.

Azrael nodded and got to her feet. "At least your life isn't boring," she offered, before slipping through the swinging door.

"No," Linda agreed softly. "It certainly isn't."

Lucifer watched Azrael and Linda leave, then crossed to sit on the couch near Chloe. "Beatrice," he said, with a too-bright smile, "I'm quite certain that my sister has paper and some sort of drawing implements in her room. It's just down the hall, there. Why don't you go and draw her a picture to welcome her home?"

After getting a nod from her mother, Trixie got to her feet and moved toward the indicated hallway. As she neared it, she turned and offered, "You can just say you want to talk about grown-up stuff. You don't have to make something up so I'll leave."

Lucifer inclined his head, respecting her honesty. "Good to know."

Trixie hesitated, then asked, "Is Rae going to be okay?"

Lucifer noted the assumption that his sister was not currently okay. "Yes," he reassured. "We'll make sure of that." Trixie nodded, then he added, "Scamper, now. We're going to talk about grown-up stuff."

Trixie grinned and continued down the hall; after a moment, a door closed softly.

"You've gotten much better at that," Chloe observed, with a smile. "Used to be, you'd throw a toy or something."

Lucifer smiled a bit. "I do pay attention on occasion."

Chloe nodded. With a glance to the kitchen, she queried, "What happened? Rae looks awful."

"According to Yeshua - Josh - she was pushing herself too hard, flying all day, trying to make her mortal body do things it's simply not capable of." Lucifer got to his feet and poured himself a drink, bringing one for Chloe as well at her affirmative nod. "To cap things off, she thought that flying in a blizzard was a good idea, and failed in such a truly spectacular way that it took our father to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. "

Chloe paused, her drink halfway to her mouth, and then put the glass on the table. "Your father," she said carefully.

Lucifer nodded, pacing behind the chairs, his strides full of caged energy. "My father," he echoed, drawing out the vowels. "Dear old Dad came slumming down here on Earth."

Chloe got to her feet and followed Lucifer, not touching him but close enough. She noted the tension in his body and asked gently, "Did you talk to him?"

Lucifer nodded. "He managed to spare me a few minutes before going back upstairs," he replied, biting each word. "Just long enough to make it extremely clear that he thought he did the right thing in sending me to Hell." He drained his drink and then, in an explosion of fury, flung the glass against the wall. Before Chloe could react, Lucifer had caught her up in his arms, twisting to place himself between her and the ricocheting glass.

"Everything's fine," Lucifer called before anyone could investigate, carefully stepping away from Chloe. Exhaling an exasperated huff, he added, more quietly, "That went better in my head. Felt good, though."

"Are you okay?" Chloe asked. She ran a hand lightly down his back, carefully brushing away glass fragments.

"Watch it," Lucifer cautioned. "There's a - yes, right there." He winced as Chloe eased out the shard of glass embedded in his triceps, adding wryly, "Damn, this is not a good day for my suits."

Shaking her head, Chloe instructed, "Take off the jacket so I can see how bad it is."

"Bossy," Lucifer observed, a note of lascivious approval in his tone. "Really, if you wanted me out of my clothes, Detective, you just had to ask."

Leveling a look at him that mingled annoyance and concern, Chloe pointed out, "I did ask, just now."

Lucifer grinned broadly as he pulled off the jacket. "So you did. I knew you'd come around one of these days. Persistence wins out in the end!"

"Knock it off," Chloe chided, though without much heat. Seeing the blossom of blood on Lucifer's crisp, white shirt, she sighed. "Well, it doesn't look that bad. Do you have a first aid kit?"

Lucifer shook his head. "In general, I don't need them," he reminded her.

Chloe grabbed her purse. "Well, then, you're stuck with whatever Band-Aids Trixie put in mine. Come on, shirt off. We can get the glass when we're done."

Lucifer shrugged agreeably and removed his shirt, draping it next to his jacket on the back of the chair.

Naturally, that was the moment Azrael returned from the kitchen.

"Trixie's in your room," Chloe said, looking up from her bag. "Can you keep her there till we clean up out here? I wouldn't want her to walk in on this."

"Wow, okay," Azrael replied, looking between the pair. She crossed the room, missing both Chloe's puzzled look and Lucifer's profoundly amused one. "Uh, have fun. But please keep it down? I really don't want to have to explain what you're doing."

"Wait, what?" Chloe queried, but Azrael was already gone. She turned back to Lucifer, puzzled.

"She thinks we're going to have sex," Lucifer informed her brightly.

Chloe just shook her head. "Of course she does," she said, sighing. Pulling the box of Band-Aids from her bag, along with a packet of antibiotic wipes, she said, "Power Puff Girls it is."

"But now that we know that Beatrice is going to be occupied..."

Chloe pushed back the thought that the Devil was hitting on her - again - and turned a level look upon him. "No, Lucifer."

Azrael stepped into her room, smiling as Trixie looked up from the picture she was drawing. "Hi, Trixie." She crossed to sit on the edge of her bed, adding, "Your mom said you should stay here, I guess until she comes to get you. They're doing, uh, grown-up stuff."

"I know," Trixie replied agreeably, still coloring. "Lucifer told me."

That gave Azrael a moment's pause. "Wow, really? Huh. Well." She shook her head, adding, "I'm glad you found the coloring stuff. I actually got it because of you."

Trixie looked over with a smile. "Wanna see my picture? It's almost done."

Azrael nodded, with a smile. She took a deep breath and then pushed herself to a standing position. She moved to stand next to Trixie, one arm bracing on her desk. The picture was obviously herself and Trixie; she had her wings out and they were flying over a beach. Trixie paused in shading the last of the sand and looked up rather hopefully. "I'll bet flying is really fun." To her credit, she seemed to be making an honest statement, rather than angling for a flight.

"It is," Azrael agreed, smiling. "Well, most of the time." She looked down at the drawing, watching as Trixie finished the drawing and then smiling as the girl offered it to her. She moved to sit on the bed once more, studying the drawing. "I wish we could do this," she said. "But I don't know if I'm strong enough, and I wouldn't want to risk dropping you." A shudder passed through her at the thought, and Trixie got up to sit next to her.

"It's okay, " Trixie replied, leaning lightly against her friend. "But... maybe when you feel better?"

Azrael shook her head ruefully. "Seriously, do I look that bad?"

Trixie nodded. "Kind of," she admitted. "Sorry."

Azrael exhaled a soft sigh. "Don't worry about it. It's good to know. But even when I feel better, I'm only as strong as this body. I mean, I could probably hold you for a few minutes, but not long enough for something like this." She nodded at the picture.

Trixie looked up at Azrael in confusion. "But you're an angel. Can't you do... I don't know, everything?"

Azrael shook her head. "It's sort of complicated." Trixie didn't say anything, but just looked expectantly at her friend. Azrael smiled. "Okay, the short version is that my dad wants me to do something, and to do this thing, I have to be a regular person." A pause. "I think."

Trixie considered this. "A regular person, but with wings?" Azrael nodded, and Trixie asked, "What does your dad want you to do?"

Azrael let herself flop backward onto the bed, groaning softly. "I wish I knew."

"But," Trixie protested, peering down at her "How can you do it if you don't know what it is?"

Azrael looked up, her shoulders lifting in a small shrug. "Honestly, I don't know. But I will." She hesitated a moment and then shook her head, not yet willing to explain to Trixie what would happen when she had competed her task.

Trixie looked down at the picture for a moment, then asked, "Your dad... Mommy and Dr. Linda were talking about him. They said that he's God."

Azrael nodded, albeit a bit warily. Really not wanting to get into religion, she said only, "Weird, right?"

Trixie seemed to take it in stride. "Your mom is weird, too. She said I'm a bug."

Azrael sat up too suddenly, if the tightening about her eyes was any indication. "When did you speak with my mother?"

"Before," Trixie replied vaguely, adding, "I went to see if she knew where you were. She didn't."

Azrael imagined the conversation between Trixie and her mother and found herself smiling. Seeing Trixie's gaze on her, though, she sobered. "Hey, Linda said you were worried about me. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to be upset."

"That's okay," Trixie replied, unintentionally twisting the knife a little as she added, "You're back now. Can you come over after school tomorrow?" She considered Azrael, then amended, "Or maybe the next day."

"Maybe the next day," Azrael agreed. "If it's okay with your mom."

Trixie looked rather pleased at the prospect. She inhaled to say something, then hesitated and flicked a glance at Azrael before looking away.

"What?" Azrael prompted. When Trixie still didn't speak, Azrael added, "It's okay, really."

Trixie looked up at her friend and asked hopefully, "Can I see your wings?"

"Is that all?" Relieved, Azrael got to her feet and took a few steps back, then unfurled her wings. Trixie watched from her seat on the bed, her face a study in awe and delight. The size of the room meant that Azrael's wings were quite close, and Trixie's hand twitched upward before the girl stilled the motion, looking at her friend.

"Go ahead," Azrael said, her lips curving. "But checking first is always a good thing."

Permission granted, Trixie ran one finger carefully over the curve of Azrael's wing. "It's so soft," she breathed. Emboldened, she brushed her whole hand along the feathers, her face alight.

Azrael was about to speak when a knock sounded on the door, followed by Chloe calling, "Hello?"

Azrael twitched her wings reflexively and Trixie laughed in delight. "Come in," Azrael called, resting one hand on her bed. When Chloe entered, she said, brows lifting, "That was really fast. Is everything okay?"

Chloe stared, though whether it was because of the wings or Azrael's words wasn't apparent until she spoke. "We didn't - we - Lucifer broke a glass. I just wanted to make sure it was cleaned up before Trixie came out."

Azrael slanted a glance at Trixie, trying to figure out how to ask Chloe why breaking a glass involved partial nudity on her brother's part. Then she realized that, really, Lucifer didn't exactly need reasons for nudity. "Okay, then." She perched on the edge of the bed, her wing shifting to curl behind Trixie, much to the girl's delight.

Chloe considered the picture: her smiling daughter surrounded by Azrael's wings. She still wasn't entirely sure what to make of... well, any of it, really, but the friendship in particular. But she couldn't object to something that made her little girl so happy.

"Mommy, Rae's wings are so soft," Trixie informed her. "It's like petting cotton candy, or clouds."

"Clouds are kind of damp, actually," Azrael murmured, and Trixie grinned.

"Rae's going to come over after school the day after tomorrow," the little girl added. At a cough from Azrael, she amended, "If it's okay."

Chloe forced herself to look away from the wings and back to the girls, trying to ignore Azrael's knowing look. "What? Oh, that's fine. But we need to get going, now, Monkey. Dr. Linda's waiting."

Trixie got up reluctantly, and turned to claim a hug from Azrael. "See you soon, Rae!"

Azrael nodded, tucking away her wings as she hugged the smaller girl close. To Chloe, she added, "Can you let my brother know I'm going to turn in?"

Chloe nodded and, somewhat to Azrael's surprise, leaned in to hug her as well. "He's glad you're back," the detective murmured, before ushering Trixie out and closing the door.

Azrael stretched out on her bed, staring at the ceiling but not seeing it. "What am I doing?" she breathed.