A/N: I want to apologize for the long delay. I was traveling quite a bit for vacation and work; the hectic pace that has been my life lately wasn't conducive to writing. So, again, I apologize. Thank you for sticking with me!

"And why does my head hurt?" Chloe reached back to the base of her skull and found it covered in gauze and medical tape. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at Maze and Maria.

"I wanted it to be quick and painless," Maze offered.

Lucifer was helping Chloe up from the floor. The closet was a bit too crowded, so they were trying to make their exits.

"Genuinely, I want to thank you both for making this happen." Lucifer paused for a smile before continuing. "However, if you pith my wife again, I will remove you from existence, are we clear?" Lucifer was looking at the two accomplices intensely. Maria blanched; Maze returned his gaze and nodded, knowing he was telling the truth, and knowing there weren't any other circumstances where she would do it.

Lucifer walked with Chloe to the sofa; his hand on her back and hovering over each of her steps. She stopped about 10 steps from her target.

"What's wrong? Shall I carry you?" Lucifer offered when Chloe had stopped her transit.

"Lucifer," she started.

"Yes, dear?" he asked. He faced her, his hands on her shoulders, rubbing in small circles, like he was worried she would fall over, or disappear.

"Can you do something for me?" she asked sweetly.

"Of course! Anything, name it." Lucifer couldn't contain his excitement.

"Stop."

Lucifer looked back at her confused, like the wound on her head had created some sort of damage they weren't aware of.

"I really appreciate the concern, but I've done this before, being pregnant, carrying a child. You don't have to hover."

Lucifer opened his mouth, about to protest.

"If I need something, anything, you will be the first person to know."

Looking back over the last 9 months, Chloe wasn't surprised it wasn't the last time she had to tell him to back off.

There was that time, two months into the pregnancy, at the precinct when someone had parked in her "expectant mother's" spot in the parking lot. Chloe hadn't cared, since she wasn't even showing yet, it wasn't like she tired all that readily. But, of course, Lucifer had taken umbrage with the situation. The fire department needed two foam trucks to put out that particular car-fire.

Or that time, when they went to the mall to buy maternity pants, and he showed his true face to the store manager, when they refused to accept Chloe's coupon. (Rumor is, she is still on disability, according to Dr. Linda Martin, the woman's psychiatrist.)

For Chloe, the whole pregnancy seemed both surprisingly short and tediously long, at the same time. Chloe smiled to herself as Lucifer paced in here hospital room.

"Is this it? Is this the help you get in this place?" Lucifer was fuming, he wasn't in control and it was bothering him. Chloe couldn't help but chuckle.

"Lucifer, I'm here because my blood-pressure is high, and they want to keep an eye on it, in case we need to induce. You pacing isn't exactly soothing."

Lucifer stopped mid-circuit. He made his way to the chair next to her bed and sat.

Chloe spent the afternoon there, and was released home for bed-rest. She spent the next two weeks in bed, or being carted to doctors' appointments. Lucifer wanted her to use a bedpan, but she made sure to tell the doctor that she was allowed up to use the bathroom.

This protective energy of his was both extremely sweet and entirely frustrating, which is what had led to the whole business with her blood-pressure to begin with.

When Chloe returned to the hospital, her contractions had started, the week of her due-date. Much to Lucifer's dismay, her water broke in his car, on the way to the hospital. But even that moment of dismay was quick. Overcome by the emotion that had continued with him for the entirety of the pregnancy - joy. Unparalleled joy at being able to have this moment. Over the course of the pregnancy he doted on Chloe, spoiled Charlie, and whispered in hushed tones with Amenadiel.

While there were many things they would have to learn about along the way, Chloe knew that Lucifer would be the father he wished he had.