Dan looked a little uncomfortable as he stepped through Chloe's door. "Hey, thanks for doing this," he said. Chloe nodded, with a smile that she tried not to force, and Dan asked, "Where's Trixie?"

"Doing her homework," Chloe supplied, not bothering to add that she had suggested homework time. She led Dan to the couch, pulling on an encouraging smile and trying to put him at ease. "What's up?"

Dan sat, though he still held himself a little stiffly. "How much do you know about Lucifer's little sister?"

Chloe sank back against the couch. "Not a lot," she admitted. "Why?"

Dan leaned forward, his expression intent. "Did you ever talk to her about my father?"

Chloe shook her head, puzzled. "No, he's never come up. Is everything okay?"

Dan looked troubled as he said, "She showed up at my place today, with pudding."

"Well," Chloe replied, with a quick smile. "You don't look happy about that. Wasn't it any good? Rae made cinnamon rolls for us last week and they were amazing, but maybe she's better with baked goods and not so great with pudding."

"It's not funny," Dan flared.

Chloe shot a look toward Trixie's room. Intentionally keeping her voice quiet and level, she said, "I never said it was. Look, Dan, what's the problem?"

"She knew how my Dad died," Dan said, his jaw working as he formulated his words. "And she said God told her to bring me pudding, and it was the same pudding that he - my dad, not Rae's - used to make for me."

"Well, she's pretty religious," Chloe began, firmly steering her mind away from what kind of pudding Azrael's father would make.

"You don't honestly think that God told her to bring me pudding, Chloe." It was not a question.

Chloe chose her words carefully. She didn't want to lie to her ex, but telling the whole truth was definitely not going to happen. "Maybe Rae thinks he did."

With a snort, Dan said, "That doesn't really make me feel better. Why would she think that? I mean, why would anybody think that God - assuming that he exists, which I'm not so sure about these days - would ask some random kid to bring me pudding?"

"I doubt he asked some random kid to bring you pudding," Chloe agreed lightly. She got to her feet and poured two glasses of wine.

Dan accepted his drink without comment and took a healthy gulp before adding, "I mean, at least with Joan of Arc there was a battle, something big. But pudding?"

"Yeah, and look what that got Joan," Chloe muttered, suddenly questioning that history paper she'd written in high school. Raising her voice, she added, "Rae isn't Joan of Arc, Dan. I think you're getting worked up over nothing. Pudding isn't that big a deal."

Dan shook his head, setting aside the wine. "But how did she know how my dad died? That's just creepy, Chlo. And sometimes… do you ever notice that sometimes she just doesn't act like a regular kid? She'll make these little side comments, and sometimes the expression on her face… she's really strange, Chloe."

Chloe, having a feeling she would need it, kept her own drink close. "From what Lucifer has said, she's had kind of a strange upbringing, and her parents' split was rough on her. It's no wonder she seems a little odd sometimes."

"I just don't think Trixie should hang out with this kid any more," Dan said firmly.

"No!" Trixie wailed, popping up from behind the breakfast bar before Chloe even had time to react. "Daddy, she's my friend!"

Chloe peered at Trixie in surprise. "How'd you get back there, baby?"

"Maze showed me how to sneak, and to be really quiet. I'm the best in my whole school at hide-and-seek now." Despite her upset, Trixie managed a smile. "Even the teachers couldn't find me, last time." She darted over to sit next to Dan. "Please don't say I can't be around Rae," she begged, her smile disappearing. "She'll explain everything."

"Trixie," Chloe cautioned.

"She will," Trixie insisted.

Dan put an arm around his daughter. "Monkey, sometimes Mommy and Daddy know better. We've been doing this a little longer than you."

Trixie shook her head. "Not longer than Rae, though." She took a deep breath, ignoring her father's look of amused puzzlement, and then repeated, "She'll explain everything when she gets here. I told her to come over."

Chloe peered at her daughter. She would have heard a phone call, as close as Trixie had been. "You… called her?" She wasn't entirely sure how the whole prayer thing worked, or if Azrael could even hear them in her current form.

The look Chloe received gave a hint of the teenager Trixie would become. "I texted her. On my phone, Mom."

"How else would Trixie call her, Chlo?" Dan asked, looking confused.

"Babe, that… might not have been a good idea," Chloe said gently to Trixie, ignoring Dan's question for now.

"Rae will help, Mommy," Trixie assured her, with obvious faith in her friend.

The doorbell sounded a constant peal, as if someone was leaning on it; Chloe hurried to admit a rather breathless Azrael. "Trixie said there's an emergency?"

Trixie pelted across the room and grabbed Azrael's hand, her expression not quite defiant, but close.

"Take it easy," Azrael murmured, not wanting to incite a pint-sized rebellion. "What's wrong?"

"Daddy doesn't want us to be friends," Trixie informed Azrael.

Azrael kept a straight face with some effort. "Okay," she said. "Well, I'd say that counts as an emergency, then." She gave Trixie's hand a quick squeeze. "It'll be okay," she reassured, her thoughtful gaze turning to Dan.

"How did you get here so quickly?" Dan demanded. He turned to Chloe, "How did she - Trixie, when did you text her?"

"Just a couple minutes ago," Trixie replied, clinging to Azrael's hand.

Azrael led Trixie over to a chair and sat, her gaze lingering briefly on Dan's wine as Trixie squeezed into the seat with her. "I take it your guest didn't illuminate things for you this afternoon?" she asked, though her expression was serious rather than the usual teasing tone she took when discussing her mother around Dan.

Dan coughed and took a quick drink, giving Azrael a rather intent look, as if urging her to keep quiet. "No."

Azrael nodded. "That's what I figured." She turned to Chloe. "Dad's trying to force my hand," she said tightly. "I mean, not that I'm entirely blameless; I should have kept my mouth shut about his dad."

Chloe, distracted from Dan's embarrassed look by Azrael's words, asked faintly, "Your father wants you to tell Dan? I thought that wasn't allowed."

Azrael put her free hand on Trixie's arm in an attempt to still the child's excited bouncing. "It's not, or at least I thought it wasn't. But Dad might have an ulterior motive."

"What are you talking about?" Dan demanded, starting to look frustrated. "What does Rae's father have to do with this? Whatever it is, you should tell me. If it has to do with my daughter, I have a right to know."

Azrael studied Dan, her manner cool and assessing. "You really don't know what you're asking me to do."

Dan turned to Chloe, saying irritably, "This is just the sort of thing I'm talking about, Chloe." He eyed Trixie, who was watching with interest, then added carefully, "Ot-nay ormal-nay."

Trixie, still looking far too excited for the seriousness of the conversation, said brightly, "I know Pig Latin, Daddy. What's not normal? Rae?" Her eyes sparkling, she added, "You have no idea."

"Trixie," Azrael murmured, shaking her head.

Before she could say anything more, Maze burst through the door. Very quietly, Azrael said a word that made Trixie's eyes go wide.

The demon took in the scene and demanded, "What's the emergency?" Nobody answered, and Maze stalked over to Azrael. "You texted me that there was an emergency. I was just about to -" Her eyes slid to Trixie then flickered to the girl's parents before she amended, "- do something."

"Sorry," Azrael replied, sounding contrite. "I was afraid I might need backup, and I just got here. No time to send you an update."

"Daddy doesn't want Rae and me to be friends," Trixie added, with a woeful look toward her father.

"Now, look," Dan started as Maze turned on him, eyebrows lifted in inquiry. "This isn't any of your business, Maze. And, Rae, I'm sorry, but this is a decision for Chloe and me. Trixie shouldn't have gotten you over here."

Maze made an exasperated noise and turned back to Azrael as Chloe and Dan engaged in a heated, low-voiced conversation. "What did you do?"

"Let slip that I knew how his father died," Azrael admitted with a grimace, casually shifting her position to block Trixie's view of Chloe and Dan. "I think it got a little too weird for him."

With an annoyed huff, Maze said, "Let me guess, you want to tell him."

"I was thinking about it," Azrael admitted. "But there are complications."

Trixie offered, "I think she should."

Maze lifted her eyes skyward. "Do you maybe want to put up a billboard or something, Fun Size?" she demanded, exasperated. "It would be quicker."

Azrael sighed. "He'd be the last, Mazikeen. I swear it. Look, I saw Michael earlier, and he gave me the impression that Dad wants me to tell Dan."

"I don't care what that tool said," Maze snapped. "And if Daddy wants you to do it, you definitely shouldn't."

Azrael inhaled deeply, a calming breath. "While I'm not basing this on what would annoy my parents more, there is also the complicating factor of what Mom would think. She's made it pretty clear that she would rather Dan didn't know."

"So," Maze drawled. "Daddy wants you to tell, but that would upset Mommy. You're basically screwed no matter what you do, TD."

Azrael nodded to Maze, her expression rather frustrated. "Thanks for summing that up, Mazikeen," she said, a biting note of sarcasm in her voice. "I really hadn't made the connection."

Trixie squeezed Azrael's hand. With a furtive glance toward her parents, who were still deep in conversation, she said, "That sucks, Rae."

Azrael couldn't help but smile a little at Trixie's words. "Thanks. It does."

"Not bad, as far as torment goes," Maze observed, with a smirk.

"I don't think my father is actively trying to torment me, Mazikeen," Azrael protested, though she still didn't look happy.

Mazikeen snorted. "What, like sending you here in that body doesn't qualify?"

Azrael didn't reply, her lips tightening, and Trixie offered, "I like your body, Rae."

After a warning look to Maze, who was clearly trying not to laugh, Azrael replied, "Thanks, Trixie."

The little girl continued, "If you're going to make your dad or mom mad no matter what, why don't you just tell my dad who you are? Then he'll understand everything and we can stay friends."

Azrael closed her eyes.

Maze asked sweetly, "Feel like torment yet, TD?"

"I just feel like Mom and I really connected, last time we spoke," Azrael said, though it seemed like she was talking to herself.

"Please, Rae?" Trixie asked hopefully, and Azrael winced.

"Wow," Maze marveled. "She doesn't even need knives."

Azrael took a deep breath. "Okay," she agreed. "Mom's going to be upset, though."

"Well, then, I'll tell Dan," Maze offered. "I'm always up for pissing off your mom, and I don't really care what she thinks. Besides, can't let you have all the fun." The demon turned to Dan and Chloe. "Listen up, Dan."

"Maze," Chloe warned, her eyes gone wide.

"He can take it, Decker," Maze said with a smirk. "Dan," she said brightly, "Lucifer's really the Devil, I'm a demon, and Fun Size over here used to be the Angel of Death. That's how she knew about your father. She said the one who took his soul to… wherever he ended up."

Trixie added cheerfully, "See, Daddy? Everything's fine."

Azrael's facepalm wasn't audible, but her sigh was. "Mazikeen, you could have eased him into it. And he went to Heaven."

Maze shrugged. "Oops."

Dan stared at Maze, shifted his gaze to Azrael, then turned back to Chloe. "What is she talking about?" he demanded.

"Dan," Chloe said gently. "I know this is a lot to take in -"

"You're not telling me you believe this, right?" Dan demanded. "Chloe, you don't even believe in God."

Chloe, suddenly the focus of the room, temporized, "Well, not necessarily the benevolent, New Testament version, no, but I could definitely make a case for the vengeful one."

"Plus, he's a dick," Maze added, earning herself a warning glare from Chloe, followed by a significant look toward Trixie. "What?" Maze asked. "She knows that word."

Trixie all but radiated innocence, and Azrael had to pause to admire her technique.

"This is…" Dan, briefly distracted by the peanut gallery, made a frustrated gesture. "This is ridiculous. God, if he exists, is definitely not a -" Dan didn't finish the sentence, with a quick look toward his daughter, but the intent was clear.

"No, he totally is," Maze murmured.

Dan rounded on her. "And you're not a demon, because they're not real! God, you people need help."

"Not really the best time to be calling on him," Azrael observed.

Chloe rested her head in her hands, mumbling, "Why did I think this was a good idea?"

Trixie looked up at Azrael. "You're going to have to show him."

"The little human's right," Maze agreed.

"You really were the only one who didn't need proof," Azrael mused, with a speculative glance for the girl at her side. Trixie shrugged, but looked pleased.

Chloe didn't say anything. She lifted her head from her hands, her expression concerned.

"Show me what?" Dan demanded. "Chloe, this is insane! You all are delusional."

Azrael turned to Chloe. "What do you think?"

Chloe stared at the girl. "You're asking me?"

With a small shrug, Azrael replied, "You know him better than I do."

"It'll be okay," Trixie encouraged her mother, though she subsided when Azrael rested a hand on her arm, instead watching and listening alertly.

Chloe shook her head. "You're not putting this on me."

Azrael sighed. "There goes my deniability. I could have told everyone, 'Chloe said I could.'" She let her gaze rest on each of the room's occupants: Chloe, worried; Dan, upset and disbelieving; Maze, amused and watchful; and finally Trixie, who looked at her with such appeal that Azrael got to her feet and stepped closer to the door, giving herself some space. "Do you honestly think it will help?" she asked Trixie.

The girl nodded solemnly, and Azrael turned an inquiring look to Chloe.

"Maybe," Chloe allowed. "Eventually. But that doesn't count as me telling you do do it."

"Do what?" Dan demanded. "Look, Rae," he added, gentling his voice and his manner to something appropriate for the child he still believed her to be. "It's all right. Show me, whatever it is."

Maze grinned. "There's your deniability, Fun Size."

Azrael shook her head dismissively. "He doesn't know what he's saying." The silence held for a moment, then she apparently came to a decision. "You told Dan, so you get to tell Lucifer about this," she informed Maze.

The demon snorted, but shifted to a spot where she could see both Dan and Azrael.

"Remember," Azrael told Dan. "You asked me to do this." She hesitated, then added, "It'll be okay." The angel took a deep breath and unfurled her wings.

"Holy shit," Dan gasped.

"Daddy," Trixie scolded, though her disapproval didn't last long. Not when there were wings.

"I always wondered why they say that," Maze observed, to nobody in particular. "Whose shit? What makes it holy?"

Chloe muttered, "Not the time, Maze."

Trixie all but skipped over to Azrael, offering brightly, "Aren't they pretty, Daddy? You can touch them if you want."

"I'm the one who gets to decide that," Azrael commented mildly to Trixie. Eyeing Dan with some concern, she added, "It would be a little weird, all things considered."

Dan did not look particularly chastened by his daughter's words. He scrambled to his feet, nearly upsetting his wine in the process. "I'm good," he breathed, regarding Azrael's wings in shock. "Don't need to touch them, no."

"Not a delusion," Maze offered, too cheerfully. "And if we're insane, you just went there with us."

"Maze, please," Chloe murmured.

Dan realized that his mouth was hanging open and closed it, still staring at Azrael. "You have wings," he managed finally.

"Yes," Azrael agreed pleasantly. She whisked away her wings, asking, "Is that better? I know they can be distracting."

Dan didn't answer, instead staring at the angel.

"Sorry, little human," Maze said to Trixie, though she didn't sound particularly sorry. "Looks like we broke your father."

"No, you didn't," Trixie replied firmly. She moved to Dan's side, grasping his hand. "He's okay - right, Daddy?"

"Yeah," Dan agreed automatically. "I'm good." He swallowed convulsively, then, after a glance down at his daughter, visibly tried to get it together.

"Dan, are you okay?" Chloe asked, honestly concerned for her ex-husband. "We could get Linda over here. She really helped me when I found out."

Dan shook his head to Chloe, not really wanting any more witnesses. He turned a rather wild-eyed look on Maze. "So you're actually…"

"A demon," Maze agreed, a flicker of wariness on her face.

"Isn't it cool?" Trixie asked brightly, swinging Dan's hand.

Dan took a deep breath, postponing the freakout that he desperately wanted to have until his enthusiastic daughter wasn't present. "Really cool," he agreed weakly. "Monkey, don't you have homework?"

"I'm all done," Trixie replied, with a cheerful smile. "It's not like I had a lot."

Biting back a smile, Chloe said, "We've got grown-up things to talk about, so why don't you go get ready for bed? I'll come tuck you in later, yeah? And no sneaking back down here, no matter what Maze taught you."

Maze grinned. "A girl's got to have skills."

Trixie sighed, but leaned in to hug her father; he patted her back, mumbling his goodnight. Trixie claimed hugs from the others as well, though her quiet words to Azrael caused the angel to reply, amused, "No, I'm a grown-up. I get to stay."

That earned her a startled look from Dan as Trixie headed to her room. "Well, that makes certain conversations a little less disturbing," he said carefully.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Azrael replied, unrepentant.

As Chloe rested a reassuring hand on her ex-husband's arm, Dan said to Azrael, "You're really an angel."

"Do you need to see the wings again?" Azrael asked, her question obviously sincere.

Dan shook his head. "Maybe later. But… are they ever pink?"

"No," Azrael replied, her lips curving. "Your daughter wanted to dye them with Kool-Aid last week," she said, missing Maze's speculative look. "And I think she also mentioned glitter."

Dan took a deep breath, clearly taking everything in. "And you're a demon," he said to Maze.

"Forged in the bowels of Hell," Maze confirmed.

"And Lucifer is really the Devil," Dan said slowly. "Holy shit." Apparently drawing another conclusion, he went just a little green. He turned back to Azrael. "And your mother?"

Maze settled down to a seat. "This should be fun."

Azrael flicked a quick glance to Chloe, then turned back to Dan. "Charlotte Richards is currently housing my mother, the, ah, Goddess of All Creation." She hesitated, then added, "She and my father haven't been together in a very long time. It was kind of a messy breakup."

Dan sat down hard. "Your father," he echoed. "Oh, man. I'm totally going to Hell."

"I don't know," Azrael said slowly. "I don't have my full powers - long story - and I can't tell. But probably not for that."

"And, hey," Maze said, clearly enjoying the conversation. "Heaven would be pretty awkward for you, Dan. Don't you think?"

Chloe protested, giving Maze a perplexed look, "He shot Malcolm, but it was to protect me, even though he should have handled it differently. He wouldn't go to Hell for that, would he?" She cast a look of appeal to Azrael, who shrugged.

"Oh, that's not why," Maze replied archly.

"Mazikeen," Azrael cautioned softly. "This isn't the time."

"I slept with Charlotte Richards," Dan blurted, disturbed enough by the evening's events to make the admission. "With…" He shook his head, unable to say out loud that he slept with a Goddess. "That's why I'm going to Hell."

The room went quiet. Maze swallowed her tart retort to Azrael in favor of looking between Chloe and Dan, her eyes wide with surprise and mirth. Azrael took a step toward the door, considering flight.

"What?" Chloe breathed, though she had clearly heard her ex.

"We should go," Azrael said firmly to Maze, as Dan started a fumbling explanation.

Maze shook her head, watching the detectives in fascination. "You can go," she replied. "I live here." She paused, then offered, "I'll make some popcorn, if you want to stay."

Azrael looked briefly tempted, then shook her head. "I have to go talk to Mom."

Maze made a short, derisive sound. "I guarantee that staying here would be more fun."

"You're probably right," Azrael agreed with a grimace. "But needs must. Just… make sure Trixie stays upstairs, okay?"

Maze nodded and started for the kitchen, apparently serious about the popcorn.

Azrael headed for the door. "And I'm available if Dan has more questions." Hearing no response, but for the low-voiced conversation between Chloe and Dan, she made her exit. Standing outside the apartment, she took a deep breath, trying to psych herself up for the talk to come.

"Hey, Fun Size." Maze stood in the doorway, illuminated from behind. "You want that backup now?"

Yes, Azrael thought. "No," she said lightly. "Given your history with Mom, that seems like a bad idea."

Maze looked briefly disappointed, affirming, at least in Azrael's mind, the rightness of her decision. The demon gave her a knowing look but said only, "Suit yourself."

The door closed behind her with a certain finality.


Author's note: I was hoping to finish this before the season 3 premiere, but that is obviously not going to happen. The end is in sight, though, and I'm going to try and get another chapter before then. Reviews and virtual baked goods are appreciated. :)