When the Morningstars returned from the tour around the vineyard, Penelope Decker was expecting to introduce them to the people she had been working with. Chloe loathed to be handed around like a tray with caviar canapés, but this time it was Lucifer who was pulled from one person to another and he definitely relished it. She felt a bit nauseous and reached for a glass of sparkling water before she sat down at a small round table further away from the crowd. The old barn Penelope had rented for the party was dressed in shabby chic furniture, green and white wreaths and garlands as well as some hay balls and almost everyone was wearing casual clothing or ugly Christmas sweaters. Chloe felt more at ease because of that and Lucifer apparently didn't care. A first! Countryside charm he had called it. He had been very attentive to her needs and wishes – more than usual. Something was up, she could sense it.

In Palo Alto they hadn't encountered anybody at the office's address. It was closed until January, but the office did exist and was not only a brass letterbox. Chloe Decker hoped it wasn't a dead end. She would drive by the Santa Monica office on their return.

Her attention was drawn back to her husband. He was wearing casual clothing for his taste. Black chinos with Chelsea boots, a matching leather belt, a dark grey shirt which was a bit tight around the chest and a slim cut grey jacket - he had called it adequate for the vineyard tour, and was making her mother happy by admiring her in front of her director and the production team, supporting her arm, keeping her glass of wine full and laughing at her comments. He was truly the son-in-law of Penelope Decker's dreams. She supported her head with her hands while she was watching him, daydreaming.

"Hi there! I haven't seen you at the set." A handsome guy in an awful Christmas sweater approached her, a mug with eggnog in his hand. "Mike's the name!"

"Hi. No, I wasn't at the set. I am family." Chloe tried to be polite, surprised being talked to.

"But you are an actress, right? With these pretty eyes you must be." He raised his mug.

"I was, in another life." Chloe made an awkward smile and reached for her glass.

"So, what are you doing now? Certainly not screenwriting. Make-up maybe?" He closed the distance, almost in her personal space, and put the mug on the table.

"No. I don't work in the industry anymore." She started to play with her ring, her mother's bubbly voice and Lucifer's laughter suddenly nowhere to be heard.

"What a pity! But you do live in L.A., right? I hoped to see you more often." The man came closer and Chloe could feel his breath. "Maybe you could give me your phone number?"

She looked at the green eyes and the freckled nose, far too close for her taste.

"What for?" Chloe Decker was confused; she hadn't really paying attention.

"For a coffee?" The man in the hideous sweater grinned seductively.

"May I inquire why?" Lucifer was instantly at her side and put his glass of Cabernet Sauvignon next to her water.

"I don't think that concerns you." The redhead measured him but didn't back off.

"On the contrary, freckles. Unless you have a business proposal you have no business here."

"Let the lady decide that."

Lucifer Morningstar just held up their intertwined hands with their wedding bands and smirked. "She already has, Ugly Sweater Lad!" He waited for the guy to make an exit, then turned to his consort. "You're alright? Anything I can do for you?"

"I could have dealt with him."

"I know."

"I can handle an overeager man. You don't need to be so possessive." She reproached him, withdrew her hand and crossed her arms, staring at him in a very annoyed way.

"I am not."

"Yes, you are. I am not your property."

He looked like a beaten puppy. "I… I just… you... I mean… you, your daughter and your mother are my first real family in a million years." He nuzzled her neck and Chloe instantly felt guilty. Again. He acted so confident and yet he was second guessing and weighing every single word she said.

"Shhhh, don't worry." She reached for his hands and held them in hers. "I am not going anywhere."

"Are we going to have that offspring?" She heard the slight tremble in his voice.

"We don't even know for sure if there is one. I haven't been to the gyn/obs. yet."

"There is." He nuzzled her some more. "But if you want to take a test…"

"Another child! That's quite a package."

"You don't want it!" Chloe heard the surprise and finality in that sentence.

"But you have always said you don't like children and I am fine with just having Trixie."

"This is different."

"Why? Tell me. I need to understand."

Lucifer pressed his face into her hair and temple, almost painful for her. "I always assumed I couldn't have offspring, the stars being the closest to it, carrying my essence." He squirmed, obviously torn, his voice lowered. "It is just a minuscule, defenseless possibility of life, not Evil Incarnate, no matter what. It will not bring the end of the world, nor Hell to Earth." He tried to suppress an agonizing noise coming out of his nose and mouth and failed spectacularly.

"No, no! I didn't say that." If she wouldn't have held his hands tightly, he would have run, Chloe was sure about it. Why would he always assume the worst and exaggerate everything? "I need to get to get used to the idea of being pregnant again and we shouldn't cross the bridges before we come to them. We have time, don't we?"

"Probably this is the only chance I might have to father a child. And you don't want it." Lucifer closed his eyes and sighed defeated. "It is your choice, ultimately." She wouldn't release his hands and he wanted to be so far away right now.

"You'll have a say in this. I promise. Just let me wrap my head around it and go to the gyn for confirmation, okay?" Accepting change had always been difficult for the detective. She didn't like surprises, and this was a huge one. One week wasn't enough to digest it. And Lucifer was escalating!

"I know you need prove to make a choice and not hurt the offspring in the meantime. I bought a test at the drugstore." He almost whispered, looked at the floor and needed his hands back, badly.

"What?! You did what?!" Chloe's eyes grew and her voice got harsh and loud.

"You were drinking wine yesterday..." He had trouble breathing and his knees were giving in. She released his hands and tried to support him, but he had already slipped to the floor, his face white. Apparently, he was having an anxiety attack and not just being a spoiled drama queen who didn't get her will.

"Breathe in… and breathe out. Stay calm! Breathe in… and breathe out." She tried to soothe him, squatting next to him and holding his face so he wouldn't budge out. A waiter approached her immediately, but she just said: "I got this but bring me a paper bag." She tried to steady her husband. "Breathe in… and breathe out. We will make the right choice, together. Breathe in… and breathe out. Do you hear me? Breathe in… and out." How on Earth could a billion-year-old entity be so foible?

She handed him the paper bag she received; her mother was standing next to them.

"What happened Chloe?" Penelope looked worried.

"Later, mom. Put this over your mouth and nose, hon. Breathe in… and out…" She stroked his hair. "Everything will be fine my love. In… and out."

Lucifer noticed Ugly Sweater Lad standing behind the waiter, chuckling with condescendence. He wouldn't forget that.

Ten minutes later he was almost back being his old self. He cleaned his sweaty hands with a napkin and drank Chloe's water in one gulp before reaching for the wine.

"I have to apologize, Penelope… Chloe. I can't explain what happened. I didn't mean to interrupt the party in such an unbecoming way." He averted their glances. "I will retire for the night."

"You aren't going anywhere without me." Chloe held him by the jacket. "No French exits. We'll go upstairs and I will take the test and we will wait for the result together." She looked at her mother. "You'll have to excuse us."

"Of course. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks mom!" She wrapped her arm around a very malleable devil and led him to their room.

"Now, where is that indicator?" He just pointed to his weekender. "You brought it all the way from L.A.? Really?" Lucifer breathed in and out. An answer was unwise. "You wait here and do not leave. Promise!" He nodded and continued to breathe carefully. He already had upset the Detective. She went to the bathroom and came back after a short while and sat by his side on the king size, the indicator in her right.

"So you were right. The question is now if we are going to do this. I am not going to this alone, you hear me. Diapers, nighttime feeding, bathing, cooking and what else there is to come. Do you hear me?" The Detective stared at him as if he was a suspect in the interrogation room. "And no delegating! It has to be you who has to do it. Either that or we are not doing it."

Lucifer beamed as if he were LUX.

"I can't wait for the little devil make you look like an orca on land."

xxxxx

The rest of the trip went on rather uneventful, with Lucifer raiding the tasting room of the small estate, preventing Chloe from even taking a sip. He'd let her smell the bouquet, applying torture on her as she had the last week on him, and he loved it.

They took the highway one back to L.A. It was the longer, but scenic route and he enjoyed the breeze in his face. They stopped at two small towns for a break, enjoying pastries and coffee at the seaside and finally ended up driving to Nobu for dinner.

Lucifer suddenly swirled his steering wheel to evade a cybertruck dashing in front of him and taking a post with it. He growled and hissed, stopping just in front of that vehicle.

"Have you ever seen such a monstrosity, my love? And such a reckless behaviour!"

Chloe just rolled her eyes, observing him while he stepped out and walked directly to the driver.

"Don't you have eyes? Look what you did! My pregnant consort had the scare of her life!" he shouted until he recognized the man and his very pregnant companion. "So you get cars and rockets built and are unable to drive them? Or are you just drunk? My consort is a LAPD detective and could get you arrested for drinking while driving!" He glared at him but had a much softer look for one of his favorite singers and reached for her hand, ignoring the man. "Hello! Where are my manners? My name is Lucifer Morningstar. I must apologize for my outburst, but your man needs to learn to be careful. It will also benefit you and your child." Adjusting his cufflinks he returned his eyes on the driver, looking deep into his soul. "You owe me a favor for that scare! You will take my consort's urchin to Mars and make her president when the time comes."

Lucifer just turned one hundred eighty degrees, the Louboutins cracking sparks on the asphalt, then entered the car and waited for the cybertruck to back off, causing some commotion on driveway at the entrance.

"I don't know what she sees in him. Or why they would go to a party at the Kardashian's when they could be enjoying LUX. I'd sing a duet with her. Such a beautiful voice! Anyway, I will make sure Beatrice gets to Mars if she so desires."