The morning after...and a few moments to share, together.

Thank you all for reading and for your comments! I appreciate your thoughts and for taking time to enjoy the story.
-adcg 3


Wrap Me in Your Wings – Chapter 16

The bright light from the hallway landed directly on Chloe's closed eyelids when the bedroom door opened. She groaned slightly.

"Mom," Trixie's voice whispered but there was a slight bit of panic in her quiet tone.

"Hmmm?" Chloe squinted as she blinked trying to simply open her eyes, let alone focus them on her daughter's face.

"What's wrong, Monkey?" Chloe's voice practically came out through her nose in a whine at being awakened before she wanted.

"I can't find Lucifer," Trixie tried to keep her voice calm but Chloe could tell she was struggling. "He told me he would be here. He can't leave again, not yet, not now. He brought me home but he said he wouldn't go again… he said…"

"Trix," Chloe woke up a little more as she listened to the girl.

"No, he said…" Trixie stepped closer to the bed.

"I'm right here, Urchin," Lucifer's sleepy voice came from behind Chloe, his face buried against her shoulder.

Chloe smiled. His arm was still draped over her hip, his hand covering her belly button and holding her quite possessively. And, truth be known, they were laying so close that she could tell he was ready for a repeat of their early morning activities.

Trixie smiled as she noticed her mom's facial expression. "Sorry," she jokingly apologized. "You said you were going to Lux but that you'd be back before I went to school. I've gotta catch the bus in like 10 minutes." She tiptoed slightly to try and see over her mother as she spoke to the man in Chloe's bed.

"Trixie," Chloe's look told her daughter to put her heels back on the floor.

"I thought Lucifer would be on the couch, or in the kitchen making breakfast. I'm glad your night went better than I expected," she looked quickly at the floor knowing she would get a fun reaction.

"Beatrix!" Lucifer raised his voice as Chloe joined in with another, "Trixie!"

The three of them laughed for a moment.

Lucifer placed a kiss against Chloe's shoulder blade and pulled himself away from her by just an inch or so. He raised up on his elbow and placed his chin on Chloe's bicep as he looked toward the girl. "You're too young to use lines like that."

Trixie shrugged her shoulders but grinned at him. His hair was a complete mess and his face looked completely relaxed. He looked more like the Lucifer she knew before his sudden departure.

"Are you dressed for school yet?" Lucifer wondered as he focused his eyes on Trixie.

"Not exactly," Trixie answered. "I forgot to turn on my alarm. I just happened to wake up a little bit ago and then when I didn't see you downstairs…"

Lucifer smiled at her. He put his lips on Chloe's shoulder and then placed another kiss just under her ear as though it was the most natural thing for him to do. Chloe blushed but started to turn over in order to share a kiss with him until she remembered they were both completely naked under the covers – and being watched by her daughter.

"Go get dressed, Urchin," Lucifer instructed the grinning girl. "I'll take you to school this morning."

"Ooo, yay!" Trixie grinned even wider and hoped Chloe would agree.

"Lucifer, you don't have to-" Chloe pulled the covers a little tighter over her chest, rolled onto her back and looked up at him, still propped up beside her.

"It's fine," Lucifer nodded. "I'll take her to school then I'll come back and make some breakfast to help us replenish our energy," he wagged his eyebrows which made Chloe roll her eyes.

"Ok, yeah, I'm outta here," Trixie commented before she turned her back on the couple.

Lucifer and Chloe both laughed as they watched the youngster walk out the door and then close it behind her.

"By the way, you may wanna start locking this," Trixie rattled the doorknob to get her point across.

Lucifer slid his hand around to Chloe's backside and caressed her buttocks as he bent his head to kiss her lips. "She's probably right, you know," he added before he started to climb out of bed.

Chloe moaned her disapproval, immediately missing the feel of his warmth next to her. "You really are taking her to school?" she asked.

"She's going to miss the bus, obviously," Lucifer chuckled. "Would you prefer I call the douche to come get her?" He raised his eyebrows as Chloe shook her head quite firmly.

"But you'll come back here, right?" Chloe tried to avoid showing him the little bit of fear that she felt at the idea of him leaving that room for any reason.

Lucifer climbed back onto the bed, now half dressed in the underwear and pants that he had worn the day before. He reached for Chloe's hands as soon as she brought them out from under the covers. "I will be back. I'll drop off Beatrix and then come straight back here, alright? After all, we know she's got the detective skills to find me now, don't we. I can't chance being hunted by your offspring again," he smiled.

Chloe sat up in the bed keeping her body covered with the sheet and comforter. "Promise me," she said quietly but seriously.

He placed a hand on her cheek and pressed his lips to hers, "Detective, my word is my bond and I won't lie to you. You know that by now, don't you?"

Chloe still didn't smile at him but she nodded her agreement.

"I will be back here. And if I happen to find you still in this bed asleep, naked under the covers, then I will gladly show you how I'd like to wake you up, every morning for the rest of your life," Lucifer kissed her again leaving her no question about his meaning.

"Don't speed…but hurry up," Chloe finally offered him the coy smile as she bit her bottom lip.

Lucifer grabbed his shirt that she had worn to bed and put it on his upper body. Chloe then laughed. "Where's your shirt?" she wondered and then spotted the garment on the floor not far from the door.

"I am not putting that thing back on for a school dropoff," he cringed.

"Oh," Chloe watched him as he finished buttoning the dress shirt and tucked it into his pants. "You do remember where Trixie's school is, don't you?"

Lucifer gave her an odd, curious look and nodded, "Of course I do."

"Well, I just wanted to be sure," Chloe raised her eyebrows. "The last time you offered to take her to school you ended up at Starford and she was sharing her feelings with a murderer."

Lucifer cocked his head at her reminder. "Just for that maybe I'll let the urchin drive to school. Where are your keys?"

Chloe laughed.

Lucifer put his hand on the doorknob but then looked back at Chloe watching him from the bed. "This is what it feels like?" he asked innocently.

"What's that?" she propped her head up on her hand and stared at him.

Lucifer stepped back to the bed and placed another kiss on her lips. "Loving someone…being in love… this is what it feels like?"

Chloe smiled genuinely and nodded as she let her tongue sneak out to catch his taste on her mouth. "Yeah," she whispered. "Now hurry back!"

Lucifer grinned at her and opened the door.

"Please tell me you're out of bed… and please put pants on!" Trixie called up the stairs.

"You're already grounded, Urchin, what other punishment do you want from me?"

Chloe laughed and put her head back on her pillow. She looked at the shirt on the floor, rolled over to his side of the bed and breathed in deeply still feeling the warmth his body had left there.

Yeah, this is what it feels like to be in love.
**********

She saved my home. In the middle of a homicide case that had me fighting to keep Lux, the Detective surprised me yet again. She pulled strings to mark my club, my building, my home as a historic part of Los Angeles. And with that, I have the opportunity to buy back my humble abode and keep it as is.

Even before she pulled that shocker out of the file folder, she sent the police away and allowed me to keep staging the sit-in, or party-in as it was, in the bar. I feared she was going to arrest me. She told the officers she 'knew me' and would handle the situation. Instead, when they walked out the doors she insisted that we turn the music up and continue enjoying the party.

I made her dance with me. I know she doesn't like doing that, especially in front of others, but she just had to. She had to celebrate with me and dancing was likely the only thing I could talk her into. Although…the way I felt in that moment I would've happily taken her up to the penthouse for a private celebration…but our dance was very enjoyable. She smiled, I pulled her close and we danced.

The down side? You knew there had to be one… I asked her to dinner. It was purely a spur of the moment idea but I asked her! And she agreed. And she went to the restaurant.

I…had second thoughts, and third and twentieth… I did not go. I thought about how I felt about her, who I am, and how our worlds probably shouldn't mix. I don't deserve her. And so I didn't go to the dinner.

She texted me 50 times from the restaurant but I didn't answer her. Rude of me, I know. I just know that she deserves better than me. She cares too deeply for me already. She calls us friends. I'm not sure I even deserve that.
**********

Chloe rolled out of bed, threw on a pair of shorts, another of Lucifer's shirts and his robe. She had to admit, silk was beginning to grow on her. She sat on the couch reading more from one of his journals and trying not to watch the clock.

She knew exactly how long it took to get from their apartment to Trixie's school and back. And she was trying really hard not to overthink the whole situation. But with last night's developments between them she had that fear from the past that perhaps he would again run away – let alone the knowledge that he had just returned from Hell and she had no clue if he needed to go back soon…

He had never lied to her. She wanted to believe him now. He said he would be back, but what if…

Chloe, stop it. She spoke to herself and huffed to herself. She put the journal down on the table by the couch and then headed into the kitchen. He had said he would come home, make breakfast or perhaps just come back to bed.

Chloe smiled. She had an amazing feeling inside of her that was making her heat up again at that simple thought…going back to bed…with Lucifer.

She sighed but somehow found a way to put a pod in the Keurig and a cup under the spout. Last night…in bed…with Lucifer…no wonder she was pretty hungry right now and needed a cup of coffee.

The detective started actually worrying when an additional 30 minutes had passed. But before she could call the man who had driven her daughter to school, his keys rattled in the door. She grabbed her coffee and leaned against the counter as if she was scrolling through messages on her phone.

Lucifer stepped inside with several bags in his hands and used his heel to close the door behind him. "Alright…" he mumbled to himself before he noticed Chloe standing and watching him.

"Need a hand?" she offered and started to step toward him.

Lucifer smiled and quickly placed all the bags on the couch before coming directly to her and eyeing her up and down. He took the coffee cup from her hand, put it on the counter and then took both of her hands in his and pulled her toward him.

"Good morning," he offered with a grin wide enough to spark the dimples in his cheeks.

"Good morning," Chloe smiled too and chuckled slightly as he leaned down and she tiptoed up to meet in the middle for a sweet kiss.

"What's funny?" Lucifer wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her in place as he looked into her eyes.

Chloe looked away from his eyes, put her forehead against his chest for a minute and then looked back up into his face with a tilt of her head. "I feel like," she shook her head trying to put it into words, "I don't even know what this feels like," she rolled her eyes at herself. Lucifer stayed quiet waiting for her to get her thoughts together.

"Lucifer, this feels right. I mean, I don't want to freak you out or push you away or make you think that I want to rush anything…we don't need to rush anything…" she stopped and took a breath. "You've woken up with a lot of different women…and men… I've woken up with…a few. I know this probably feels like any normal morning for you, but for me…"

Lucifer put a finger on her lips. He understood what she was trying to say and needed to squelch her rambling before she talked herself out of this excitement.

"Detective," he raised his eyebrows and she pressed her lips together under his index finger until he moved it and kissed her again. "I thought you were going to wait for me upstairs."

"I-" Chloe couldn't wipe the grin off her face. "I needed coffee and some breakfast and…"

"And I was taking too long and you were getting worried," Lucifer filled in for her.

She placed her hands on his chest then let them slide up and around his neck, loving the feeling of being in his arms first thing in the morning.

"Are you wearing another of my shirts?" Lucifer looked at her morning attire. "And my robe?"

Chloe bit her bottom lip as a response and watched him watch her. "Is this gonna be a problem?" she asked and Lucifer shook his head with a chuckle.

"Is this early morning Detective, flirty Detective or drunk Detective?" he asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Chloe scrunched her nose. "I think you've met all of those Detectives already. Do you seriously have a problem with me wearing your clothes?"

Lucifer shook his head with a smirk. "Not at all. Just know, at this point, I'll most likely be trying to get you out of any clothes you're wearing." He pulled back slightly to look at her again. "You do look quite inviting in my clothing, don't you?"

Chloe looked down at the robe and shirt as Lucifer's hands slid from her hips up her sides and his thumbs began inching toward her chest. She shivered but then pointed her chin toward the couch.

"What's with all the bags?"

"Ah," Lucifer sucked in a long breath. They both wanted to go back to bed, but it would wait. He willed his hands to behave but still kept his arms around her and happily looked into her face.

"I went into school with the urchin when we got there. The lovely lady in the office said she needed a parental excuse for her absence the past couple of days. I told them there had been a family emergency and we would send a note in tomorrow," he began to explain.

Chloe nodded and tiptoed up to steal another kiss. Quite thoughtful of Lucifer to go in with Trixie and offer an explanation.

"Beatrix seemed quite embarrassed when I kissed her on the top of her head and told her to have good day," he continued.

"That's more like you," Chloe grinned.

"Do you disapprove?" he wondered and Chloe laughed.

"Nope, not at all. Feel free to embarrass her as much as you'd like on that level," Chloe smiled.

"Then on my way back I stopped at the market to get some fresh eggs and veggies to make breakfast," Lucifer pointed to the paper bags.

Chloe finally pulled out of his hold and went to the couch to look through his purchases. "What are we having?"

"Well I thought I'd take a chance and make omelets again," he informed her with a quirk of his eyebrow.

"Why is that taking a chance?" Chloe wondered.

"The last time I tried to do that you distracted me with a towel and a gun and then said towel dropped and I was left with a most wonderful view of my naked detective… and then, of course we were interrupted by the urchin and the douche," Lucifer pouted.

"Well you weren't going to get anything more than that accidental look at me on that day, you know," Chloe crossed her arms and looked at him.

"Oh, I don't know," Lucifer tilted his head and looked at her, again admiring her wardrobe choices, "had we had the chance to have breakfast I feel quite sure I could've enticed you into something more."

Chloe blew a laugh through her nose and shook her head. "You're such a pervert," she cajoled.

Lucifer grinned and grabbed the bag of groceries. "And you've fallen in love with me. So what does that say of you?" he asked cheekily.

Chloe sighed, "You're a bad influence who has made my life more than interesting over the past few years. And there's a lot more to you than just being a pervert."

Lucifer looked back at her as he began taking items from the bag. "I'm glad you've given me a chance to prove that, Detective."

Chloe couldn't help herself. She walked back to his side, leaned against him and put her chin on his shoulder. She tiptoed again and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Me too."
**********

Lucifer made Chloe sit down at the table as he served her breakfast. She had watched him make their meal, either sitting on a bar stool at the counter or standing beside him at the stove. She enjoyed watching him roll up his sleeves as he set out to prepare their food.

He sat down across from her with a cup of coffee and watched as she began eating his breakfast offering.

"Goat cheese," he commented as Chloe looked a little more closely at the omelet and let a bite melt in her mouth. "I despise the animal, but I must admit, the cheese…it sort of melds with the egg yolks and makes it really creamy and delightful."

Chloe took another breath and watched as he started eating as well. "It really is good," she raised her eyes and complimented him.

"Thank you," Lucifer accepted her praise.

The two of them snuck glances at each other until both had cleaned their plates. Lucifer pushed his away first and sat back in his chair holding his cup of coffee.

"Where would you like me to begin?" He was happy Chloe did the same, except she placed her arms on the table and leaned forward looking at him.

She took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "Lucifer, so much has happened… I don't know if I want you to begin with your situation and where that stands, or if we need to go back a while and talk about us," she breathed in and out a few times. "Or, do I just want to say screw the past and just move on, starting from last night?"

He nodded with a slight smile. "I'm happy to talk about last night," he added with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "And we can replay it if you'd like to. You just say the word, Detective."

Chloe lowered her chin slightly and gave him a motherly look.

"Well that's not a 'let's make love again' sort of look. I think I've seen you look at the urchin that way… and the douche…"

"And you," Chloe added. "I know you're familiar with that look as well. You've probably seen it on a daily basis on some of the cases we've worked," she grinned at him.

"So where do we begin?" Lucifer asked again.

Chloe breathed in deeply. "How did you get home?" she asked after a little more thought.

She had noticed the marks on his arms. Scratches, burns, she wasn't sure; but she figured he had battled to get away from his hell.

"Amenadiel got word to me that Beatrix had run away. When I figured out that it wasn't just another trip to Lux, I knew I needed to get home. The demons didn't want me to leave again," he pointed at some of the burns, "so they fought with me, trying to keep me there."

Chloe nodded. "How long can you be…home?" she asked a bit nervously.

Lucifer rubbed his lips together and swallowed as he thought about his answer. "Timing in Hell is much different than here on earth," he began. "A few seconds here is like weeks down there. So I honestly don't even know how long I was gone." He watched Chloe nod slowly.

"When I got settled there and knew the demons were content once more, I chanced contacting my Father," he noted Chloe's eyes widened at that thought. "I didn't believe there was any way he would want to hear me, see me, talk to me… He cast me out for eternity. But one time somewhat recently, I asked Him for help and he responded. My request was for your safety. So I again reached out because my request was more based on you and Beatrix, not myself."

He let his words sink in and Chloe still sat quietly so he went on. "He said he knew I had met someone that he specifically put in my path. And He knew that you had had an effect on my life – a good effect."

Chloe squirmed a bit in her chair trying to make sense of what Lucifer was saying.

"I told Him that I needed to get back to you. I needed to be here with you and our urchin to protect you, to," Lucifer looked down at his hands on the cup, surprising even himself with what he was about to say, "to make a life with you."

He looked up and caught Chloe's eyes and she couldn't help but smile at him.

"I told Him it was my desire to come back to earth to be with you." Lucifer spoke in almost a whisper.

"And He agreed?" Chloe questioned after a few moments.

"I- I'm not certain," Lucifer answered her honestly. "I hadn't received an answer from Him when I found that Beatrix was gone. And I didn't think…I just acted…I left because I needed to find her and bring her home."

Chloe tried to hold back the tears that she felt gathering in her eyes. She licked her tongue against her upper lip and pulled it between her teeth nervously. "So He could send you back…take you back…anytime?"

Lucifer nodded but quickly leaned forward and grabbed Chloe's hand. "But-" he started, hoping to ward off her fear and his own. "I got away from the demons. I got to Las Vegas and found her. And, while I was there Eve told me to pray. As silly as it sounds, she told me that I needed to let my Father know my desires, my needs. And I told Him that I need you. I know, Detective… Chloe… I know that if He allows me to stay there will be some caveat, some deal that I must make with Him. But if it allows me to stay here on earth, with you for even a little while, will that make you happy?"

Chloe let out a soft cry and felt the tear run down her cheek. "Will it make me happy?" she repeated his question, somewhat and squeezed his hand. "We've just found each other, I mean truly found each other. I want you for longer than just a little while, Lucifer, but I'm absolutely thrilled that you are here, right now and we got to share last night together. I didn't believe that would happen," she admitted.

"But what about you?" she asked and looked more deeply into his eyes as they held hands across the table. "Would a little while together make you happy?"

Lucifer looked at their hands. "I'm still the devil. I'm still selfish. I want eternity with you but I know that won't happen. So I will somehow accept whatever time He gives us together."

"How will you know His answer?" Chloe wondered.

Lucifer shook his head. "Father has ways of letting us know things. Often we've had to figure out answers on our own. But this time He knows – I've told him I want to be with you because I love you. And I have reason to believe our love comes with His blessing – that's another story – so I'm simply hoping and praying that He will grant me this desire. And that He will let me know…something."

Chloe stood from her seat, came to his side of the table and took Lucifer's hands in hers. She urged him to stand from the table and looked into his face with a gentle smile. "So," she began, "like all of us mortal humans, you're not sure how much time you have here. Is that what I'm hearing?"

Lucifer looked at her wondering how that could possibly make either of them smile. "I suppose," he responded a bit glumly.

"Then that just means," she began to pull on his hands, leading him toward the stairs, "that we shouldn't waste a moment of our time together."

He looked at her and found himself smiling. How could he not. He was here, with the woman he loved. He should take advantage of every second they had together.

Especially if that's what she wanted as well.


*********WMiYW-16**********