He went in and out of consciousness. The pain was like fire in his body. He hadn't felt like anything in all his life. Vaguely he remembered Maze carrying him to her car. He passed out. He would hear voices. He remembered waking up in a strange bed. Trying to raise up only to have her hand push him back down. His brother Gabriel could be heard through his delusions. He would mumble to them only to have sounds fall on deaf ears. Then he would fall into a fitful slumber as his mind traveled back thousands of years.

They marched to the gate of Heaven. Hell bent on bringing it to crumbling to the ground. She had convinced him that he was the one meant to rule.

The smell of apple rose to his nostrils when he opened his eyes. Maze was sitting on the bed. He tried sitting up but still felt weak. But the wounds were healing. Her hands were gentle upon his cheek. Her dark eyes looking him over.

"What happened?" He said weakly. His vision was slowly focusing. They were in a strange apartment. The bed had canopy over it. The room was mostly barren and white. So much white.

"Easy." She said as Lucifer tried getting up. "We almost lost you. But Gabriel brought apples from Heaven."

"Gabriel?" He questioned. He looked down at his chest. A poultice was over the wound. He remembered the blade and the poison slowly working its way through his body. Then his mind went to Chloe. "Chloe? Where is Chloe?" He tried sitting up again only to be overcome with pain. He panted.

Maze placed her hands on his chest. "She is safe. You need to rest."

"I need to see her." He whispered. "Please bring her to me."

Maze scoffed. "She'll be fine." She resented that he wanted the mortal over her. She was the one here nursing him back to health. Not the pet detective. She had fought her way out of Hell to get to him. She had carried him out of his burning club. But he still wanted her.

He felt Maze rise from the bed. His eyes closed again. His dreams came to him again. Some happy and some sad. You betrayed me. Her voice echoed through his mind. He tossed and turned in the bed. I shall start anew with your son. Anger shook the room. He growled and sat up. Pain ran through his weakened body.

Her felt Maze's hands on his shoulders. "You need to lie down. You are still not back to full strength." She ordered him. She had set a bowl of soup down on the table beside the bed. "Are you hungry? I made soup."

He eyed the bowl. Since when did Maze cook? He made a slight face as the smell of processed, sodium infused noodles entered his nostrils. "I don't think so."

"Yes, you are.' She picked up the bowl and then took some soup into the spoon and held it to his mouth. "Come on." She pleaded with him. He reluctantly ate the spoonful. She smiled. "See it's not that bad."

The Devil sighed. The soup was nothing but salt. He liked things salty but not like this. She fed him some more spoonful's. He tried to appear grateful. But he just wanted his Chloe by his side. "I need to see my fiancée." He said to Maze.

The demon snorted. Her blood boiled when he said fiancée. He wasn't really going to marry her. It was just puppy love. He had gotten over the last one. Besides. He was going back to Hell after this. That woman would never agree that. "I told you. She is fine. You need to rest. You still have to fight your mother." She reminded him.

Lucifer pouted inwardly. He needed to see Chloe. She was probably worried sick. No doubt the news o Lux burning down would have sent her in a frenzy of worry. Something she didn't need. No he had to get out of here to go see her. Maze stood up and picked up the bowl of soup. He waited till he couldn't hear her footsteps. He threw back the blankets. He had on only his boxers. He looked around for other clothes. Nothing. He didn't care. His wings unfolded. Then he was hit with pain from the wound on his chest. He collapsed to the ground. This was not going well at all. The wooden floor felt cool as he lay against it. His eyes closed again.

Heaven was in front of him. The throne his father sat upon was clear as day. His brothers stood beside it. The other angels gathered in their orders occupied the great amphitheater. The lord of the universe stared down at him. He had just tried to take over Heaven with some of the other angels. "You are banished from Heaven. You shall reign forever in Hell." His father's voice boomed all around him. Then he was falling. Falling like the morning star out of Heaven to the pit of Hell.

Someone sat on the bed. It roused him from his fitful dream. He felt a hand on his cheek. He tried smacking it away. "Go away Mazikeen."

"Daddy." It was Persephone's voice. "It's alright, Dad." Her sweet voice said to him.

He stopped fighting it. He opened his eyes and looked at her. Those beautiful white wings folded against her back. Her long black hair was messy. Her angelic robe was torn and dirty. But he still found her to be a beautiful sight. He had worried about her. "Persephone." He whispered.

Persephone gently stroked his forehead. She looked at the wound on his chest. It was red and puffy looking. An apple scented poultice covered it. "Apples?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. The heavenly kind. You know the saying an apple a day keeps Hell away." He felt relieved to see his daughter sitting there. Her presence was already lifting his spirits. "Did you kill demons?"

"Yeah. I pummeled them. The Gates of Hell have been restored." She said to him. "Gabriel brought me here."

"Oh how nice of him." Lucifer tried sitting up. He was slowly feeling better. Was it Persephone trying to heal him? "You know that doesn't really work on other angels, darling."

Persephone shrugged. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. I was worried about you."

Gabriel walked into the room. "Hey Lucifer. You are looking better already."

Lucifer sighed. "I need to see Chloe." He demanded. He turned to Persephone. "Please."

Persephone stood up from the bed. "I'll go get her, Dad." She leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"That's my girl." He reached for her hand.

Persephone let him take her hand. She squeezed his. "Okay. I'll be back." She let go of his hand and started for the door then stopped. "Oh right wings." She unfolded her wings and with one flap was gone.

Lucifer watched his daughter fly off then looked at Gabriel. "So, how much trouble am I in?"

"None that I know of." Gabriel replied. "Persephone and her cousins fought off the army of demons. The Gates have been restored. So far everything is going well."

Lucifer sighed. "Except I failed to capture Mother. I had her too. But then I had go all soft." He scoffed. "Stupid." He winced at the pain in his chest. "Curse this poison. I feel so useless lying here."

"Well, that poison would cripple any of us, brother. Be thankful that Father sent your demon to help."

"Father, sent Maze?" Lucifer was puzzled. "Really?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yeah. He also sent the apples. SO obviously he still has faith that you will complete the task."

Lucifer laid against the pillow of the bed. "Whose bed is this anyways?" He was feeling weird in this room. It was not his style. He wanted to be in his bed. With the silk sheets he had so carefully chosen. He needed his Italian marble columns. And his bar. He needed his bar.

"Maze said its Amenadiel's apartment."

It dawned on Lucifer. "I saw him get wounded as well."

"They are healing him in Heaven." Gabriel responded. "He'll be fine too."

Sighing the Devil closed his eyes. "I'm tired, brother." He just wanted to be alone. He prayed that Persephone would be back with Chloe soon. He needed that mortal woman like he needed air. Just to have her soft hands on his body would heal him. He listened as Gabriel flew off out of the apartment. He relished the silence. But his mind was fraught with images of Chloe and his mother. His mother wanted his unborn son. He shuddered to think what she would do with him. "Come on Persephone. Bring me my Chloe." He mumbled to himself before falling into another restless slumber.

Author's Note: This chapter ended up way different than I promised. Mostly just Lucifer healing from his wounds. I sort of made up the poison part. A poison that could cripple an arch angel…sure those exist don't they? In my twisted little mind, they do. Let's hope Persephone is able to get to Chloe before Mum does.