Standing at customer service tapping incessantly with a pen that had been lying around, Lucifer Morningstar was waiting for the employee to bring him the wooden color samples for the crib that could be grow with the baby and turn into a real bed after a while. The Detective would applaud his sensible choice he mused. That thought eased him down a bit. The paint crew was already in the designated room giving it neutral grey-and-white-stripes walls which would match the tiled floor and the rugs on top. Easy to clean. Another practical choice. Minimalistic yet cozy. Not quite fit for the heir of Hell, but more than enough for the necessities of an average human child. And perhaps Chloe would see reason further along and upgrade the room.

"Finally! I was about to send a search party!" He clapped his hands when he got sight of the salesperson and the assortment casing of little wooden pieces in about 30 different colors. He was carrying his pantone chart with the colors of the wall and the floor to match or mix them with the furniture. "Do we have a wardrobe or a bookshelf in the same style? What about bedspreads? Lamps?"

"Yes of course Mr. Morningstar. Please take a seat. Can I get you a cup of espresso?" She motioned him to a very comfortable armchair and another clerk ran to get a tray with coffee, sugar and milk. "Your first child?" She smiled longer than necessary, but still professional.

"Actually, yes." He sat on the armchair as if he was granting audience.

"Then we will try to make the selection process as smooth as it can be. First time parents are not sure what they might need, so we will take care of it. The bedspreads will have matching curtains, pillows, even diaper bags if you so desire."

"Lovely, my dear!"

"I realize you are well prepared, but you will see, we can make it so much easier for your family. Let me send you our in-house interior designer to choose the best accessories. Would you need a nursing chair?"

"I honestly don't know. We are at a very early stage of the pregnancy." He furrowed his eyebrows. It would be wise to consult with the Detective before getting that specific piece of furniture.

"Well, let me get you a catalogue and you can decide further ahead. I recommend using natural fibers only in order to avoid any allergies. We do have a hypoallergenic fabric softener from France so you can keep it safe and snuggly for your angel."

"Splendid! Wings are so hard to preen!"

He smiled and wasn't in the least perturbated by the puzzled look of the salesperson.


"So you are already decorating the nest?"

Lucifer sat opposite Linda. This time in the comfort of her home, while she was having an eye on her child, playing with Duplo stones at his feet. His nephew was as drawn to him as was Beatrice.

"Indeed. I intend to finish it this week."

"And what is Chloe position on it?"

"I suppose she's happy I am occupied with something other than her diet. At least she said so." He crossed his legs and didn't even try to make a remark on the word position.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know if she really wants it or if she is doing it because I lost my balance at the vineyard."

"What did you do Lucifer?" Linda had her typical professional stare on him. Luckily there was no ball-pen around she could tap, otherwise he would have really been stressed out.

"I had to breathe into a paper bag." He tried to shrug it off. "She wouldn't give me an answer. So that was that. And then she said yes if we shared responsibilities. So far it's me carrying the whole weight of the pregnancy."

"Well, actually she…" Linda stopped when the 'paper bag' sank in. "You should talk to her and tell her why it makes you anxi… uneasy." Certain words didn't work well with Lucifer.

"I try, I really do, but she deflects. I don't want her to be afraid of me or of the child." He started playing with his ring. "Have you had the opportunity to speak to her?"

"I promise I will. As soon as possible." She looked at Charlie. "She could probably use some Charlie time to kinda get used to Celestials. That might ease her a bit. And try not to push the topic of the pregnancy." Linda smiled encouraging, even if she knew he would never follow her advice. "So tell me about the nursery," and Lucifer's eyes shone with bliss before he started to brag about it and complain about the effort, he had to put in.


When Chloe returned from the station she was greeted by the scent of cinnamon rolls and banana bread. Both, Trixie and Lucifer were standing at the kitchen island, fingers covered in wheat dough and sugar as they were trying to clean the mixing bowls and licking their contents while singing 'Happy'.

"Hello honey! Want some sugar? Or icing for that matter?" Lucifer grinned just like the cat that had swallowed a canary when his eyes caught her and leaned over the island to kiss her, brushing the tip of his tongue over her lower lip. "How was your Saturday at the office? We missed you, right Beatrice?"

Trixie nodded, but not too enthusiastically, still busy with finishing the bowl and looking at her cell phone.

"There was not too much to do so I went to visit the NGO's L.A. office and I looked into the law firm."

"Without me?" He pouted just enough for her to notice. "What did you find out? Anything fishy? Maybe breeding with cetaceans and creating mermaids?"

"Lucifer!" Chloe gasped before she continued. "The organization actually exists, but it's like a tax evasion program rather than an actual wildlife society. I had to push the staff – which were two people only – to get the info, but when I told them I could get them for accessory to murder they were quite helpful." Chloe rummaged in her bag and her hand resurfaced with a thumb drive and held it up. "Everything they have on the law firm. How about that?"

"Well done, Detective." Lucifer licked his fingers. "So, your late afternoon is packed with unveiling the contents of that little gadget?"

"I guess. The law firm wouldn't reveal anything, as expected."

"That happens when you decide not taking me along." He kept it very neutral but of course he couldn't refrain from rubbing it in. "Go ahead to your home office and I'll get you a nice hot coffee to go with the rolls. The banana bread will still need some time. Perhaps you could get a second helping from me afterwards." He achieved to look dreamy. Leering wouldn't cut it. That learning curve lay in the past.

Finally Chloe was giving in and smiled. "Maybe you should bring the whipped cream, too."

"Oh yes, whipped cream! How could I forget!" He winked and kissed her on the lips again.

Trixie gave a sniff at that. "Ewwww! You grown-ups think we kids don't get it, right? Now I am scarred for life! No more Chantilly on my chocolate cake!"

Chloe and Lucifer laughed in unison.

xxxxx

Later that evening Chloe had detected the name of several people that had died recently and whose fortune had partially inherited to the NGO and had been mentioned by the discotheque owner as former regulars. There was a modus operandi. They decided to pay the law firm a visit on Monday.

Linda finally had invited Chloe over. Both shared a cup of coffee and some cookies, although Charlie tried to snatch most of them.

"He's grown so much since I last saw him! I mean before Christmas."

"Oh, you think?" She adjusted her glasses.

"Yes, sure. He can walk already."

"Then you haven't been over for quite a while! I've been so busy between raising him and work, I barely notice how time flies."

"Yes, one gets into one's bubble and suddenly they are almost teenagers." Chloe giggled. "And?"

"And what?"

"How is it to raise a half-angel?"

"So far I haven't noticed anything different to other toddlers. We frequented a Gymboree and sometimes I go but mostly Amenadiel takes him there. Now he is at a Day Care Center close to work and the educators love him. He enjoys Legos and eats well, the only thing he dislikes are nappies, so they keep him entertained with toys while the other kids sleep. I don't know why I freaked out while pregnant. The bubble wrap has been useless so far. As you see we took it down months ago. And he is such an obedient boy! When Amenadiel calls him he comes running - if you can call it running yet."

"Like father like son," Chloe mused after looking at the little boy.

"I like to think he is coming after me. He likes to look at books and usually he is more attached to me and we do things together. He tries to help me though it's not easy being so small." Linda noticed how her 'sister-in-law' was reflecting her situation on the 'little putto' how she loved to call her boy, as he reminded her of the two little ones on Michelangelo's painting with his bouncing and curly hair. The dark and handsome club owner had been right. She would need a nudge in a more positive direction. "Charlie! Come to mommy!"

The little boy left his toys and came as fast as he could.

"Cookie?" he asked. She handed him a small piece.

"So no wings yet? Or anything else?" Chloe squinted.

"No, he is completely ordinary. Well, not for me obviously." The petite blonde caressed the tiny curls of her boy and he climbed on her lap, looking at his auntie with his huge dark eyes and then laughed wholeheartedly.

"Auntie Loe!" Charlie looked at his cookie and gave it to her, showing his four front teeth.

"Thank you, Charlie!" The toddler had her wrapped around his finger immediately.

"So what about you?" Linda Martin tried to sound casual, helping herself to some sugar for her coffee. "Already entertaining the idea of changing diapers again?"

"Don't let me get there, please! Your brother-in-law is smothering me with the right diet, the right amount of exercise, et cetera, et cetera. Now he is running crazy decorating the nursery. And he has Trixie sucked into that vortex of Luciferness. She is actually planning the gender reveal party because she says she doesn't trust him with that." She rolled her eyes quite dramatically.

"Hahahaha! I second her with that." Linda reached for another cookie. "But isn't it a good thing that he is committed? Wasn't Daniel happy when you told him you were pregnant with Trixie?" Linda looked at her over her glasses.

"I guess so. Dan was obsessed with work, so he was happy but rather absent," the dark blonde shrugged but smiled at the Nephilim who was playing with one of her hair strands. "I just worry that maybe I get more than I can handle."

"Why is that?" The tiny psychologist had to keep the conversation casual. "Charlie is so easy to have and probably yours will be, too. Look how Trixie turned out. She is clever, honest and gets good grades. She may be livelier than you at that age, but it's because you are not holding her back as your mother did with you. She is more carefree and independent, don't you think? I believe you are a good mother. Why should that be different with the one you're carrying now?"

"You're right. Maybe I just worry too much."

"How about a short stroll through the park? Charlie needs to get out a bit and I do, too. I seem to spend far too much time inside."

Dr. Linda Martin was going to manipulate her friend by taking her to the playground. She could see the fear in her eyes. She probably did still believe in the nonsense the ecclesiastic lunatic had planted in her head.

xxxxx

LUX was closed for maintenance during the weekend and Lucifer Morningstar was supervising it together with Beatrice Espinoza. The crew that was painting the nursery was also busy repainting some corners of the club, so the New Year's Party would be extraordinary. The coverage of the little 'pastorela' had been well received and the tables were all reserved - twice. Beatrice had had the glorious idea of offering a 'tardeada', a discotheque opening for teenagers from her school without alcoholic beverages during the afternoon of the 31st and the decorations which were going up on Monday were practically paid double. The little urchin was so resourceful!

He held her by the shoulder and hauled her along the club asking her for opinions on the golden letter and number-balloons, the golden stars dangling from the ceiling, the glitter, the virgin cocktails the staff was going to mix. For the very first time in her life Trixie felt important and adult. Lucifer had always treated her like an adult but making choices for a real business was something else than playing Monopoly.

"What shall we offer as snacks? What do nosy urchins like you desire on such an occasion?"

"Maybe some sliders, wings and miniature hot dogs? Nachos and popcorn for sure. Pretzels, chips and by that word I mean your crisps. No peanuts – we might get into trouble with those." The black-haired pre-teen enjoyed being asked for her opinion.

"Don't we need a gluten free option? You know, like carrots, cucumbers and celery with a dip? Women like that stuff."

"Yeah, mothers like that stuff, but kids not so much."

"Duly noted. So there are no parents allowed?"

"Definitely not!" Trixie crossed her arms to make her point clear. She wasn't risking leaving the much greener side of the school grass.

"Leave Trixie alone!"

Daniel Espinoza, dressing a black jacket with a grey hoodie underneath, ran from the gallery towards the club owner and his daughter which caused both to frown at him. When he noticed nothing alarming was going on, he relaxed somewhat. "What are you doing here? Kids are not allowed into bars!" He fumed.

"Ah, the always precocious Detective Espinoza!" Lucifer Morningstar had a hard time not to call him douche or telling him he looked like somebody of the crew working at the place. "As you can see, LUX is closed for the public and we are remodeling. And FYI, your daughter is so kind to help me with an impending event. What business brings you over?"

"Your wife told me where to find my daughter. She shouldn't be here! You are corrupting her."

"I beg your pardon! I do nothing of this sort." Lucifer stepped into Dan's vital space and stared down on him, his fine cool wool suit in harsh contrast to Daniel's fake leather jacket. "Beatrice is organizing a school party, not that you would take any interest in rollerblading and karaoke."

Daniel looked around and there was indeed nothing illicit he could use to pin on Lucifer. There were no bottles in sight, the bar was under plastic sheets and there were some painters with their buckets and brushes. He looked somewhat disappointed.

"I have to supervise, but you can share a coke with your daughter at my office in the back, and I am not referring to the one you snort up. It would do both of you well if you talked. She has been very upset with you." He turned around and walked to the handymen, his red soles reflecting the illumination of the place like a car taillight.

Not even five minutes later Daniel Espinoza was back at Lucifer's throat, pushing his right index into his rival's chest. Lucifer had heard a lot of angry shouting from the office, but not thought it would spiral so fast. There had been a time the dark club owner believed he and the detective could become friends, but Charlotte's death definitely had severed that band. The muscular detective was blinded by grief and had him chosen to be the scapegoat.

"You are going to regret this, Morningstar! No way in this life you are going to steal my daughter!"

Daniel tried to shove him, but he wouldn't move an inch. Nor did he answer. Exasperated, the detective left the club. It was just then when Trixie dared to come out of the office.

"I gather you told your dad about the adoption?"

"Yes. I was so angry at him, so I threw it into his face. I am sorry. I messed up."

He pulled her into his side and felt her shivering.

"This is going to complicate it, you know that."