Trixie stood before him, her eyes wet and wide, her mouth agape.

"You're dead!"

Lucifer gave a slow golf clap.

Your omniscience is as sharp as ever, Father.

Now surrounded by a small group of people looking on in worry, the child flailed her arms towards him.

"But... how?! How are you dead?!"

Lucifer frowned.

What do you mean 'how'? You're the Almighty! Shouldn't you know?

"Little miss," an older woman in blue said, moving to Trixie's side, "are you alright?"

He scanned the crowd quickly, surprised that Dan hadn't burst through for her yet. Where's Daniel?

"Miss?" The woman repeated, placing a hand gently on Trixie's shoulder. "Did you need help?"

Trixie turned to the old woman. "I'm fine, thank you, I'm talking to the ghost of my dead son. By the way, Gerald left you ten thousand dollars in a hope chest buried under bags of clothes in your attic. You should go find it before your grandson does."

She turned back to Lucifer then, as the old woman looked uncomfortable and shuffled away.

"Dad's back with Mom."

Did you wipe his mind as well? he sneered. You seem fond of that sort of thing.

Trixie glared at him. "I did that to protect everyone, Sammy."

Lucifer walked up and went to tap her on the head. Of course his hand went straight through her, but the sensation was not unlike touching a live car battery. He snatched his hand back and scowled at her.

I feel rather less protected than you might think, Father, what with being dead.

"Miss, are your parents here?"

A security guard stood over her this time, a tall muscular man with a buzz cut. This was his first job after being discharged from the army, and his energy was that of a taut spring.

Trixie gave him her softest smile. "You need to relax now, Dave. Find the nearest couch, lay down, and have a good, long refreshing sleep. Dream of being a child again, playing in the sand on that beach you loved. No one will interrupt you."

"Okay." Nodding, he left for the far side of the lobby.

Lucifer rolled his eyes and walked through the door.

The sunshine beamed down on him, saturating everything about him in a happy yellow.

He couldn't feel a thing.

He sighed.

"Little girl! You can't walk off without your parents!"

Grimacing, Lucifer turned back. Trixie was following him across the parking lot, followed by a middle-aged Indian man and his wife. The woman had a scarf wrapped tightly about her head, hiding a lack of hair. Her skin was sallow.

Trixie turned to face them, focusing on the woman.

"Go get a second opinion, it's not as bad as it seems."

The woman's complexion warmed dramatically, and tugging her husband away, they returned to the hospital.

How very Jesus of you, Father. Feeling nostalgic?

Trixie frowned thoughtfully as she neared, then reached out and took his hand.

Lucifer gasped. He stared down at the small hand solidly clasped in his own.

It was the first sensation of touch he'd felt from a living being since he'd died.

How?

"God," she said quietly, still not fully focused on him. He could practically hear her mind churning.

"I didn't know you were going to die, Sammy," she said finally, frowning up at him deeply.

He booped her on the nose.

She slapped his hand away. "This is serious!"

Am I alive again? he said with wonder, squeezing her hand gently. The warmth of it felt wonderful.

"No. You're just solid for me."

Oh. He sighed. Of course. Everything's for you, isn't it.

"Yes," she murmured, still thoughtful. "Everything is me. I can't help but be for myself."

Excuse me, Lucifer said tersely, pulling his hand from hers and walking away.

"Sammy, don't take it like that!"

Her flip flops slapped against the pavement as she ran after him.

He twisted to face her. Was my death amusing? How about the deaths happening now, in that hospital there? Are you enjoying the death throes of your toys?

"Samael," she said angrily, her hands on her small hips, "stop that right now."

Did you know that Chloe tried to kill herself because I died?! he shouted into her mind. Was that in your plan?!

Trixie's eyes filled with tears. "No," she mumbled, her voice rising.

He sneered and turned away again. Save the affectations, Father, I am immune to them.

"You're not listening to me, Sammy. Please! I didn't plan this - I didn't see this coming! This wasn't meant to happen!"

Lucifer stopped dead.

Which was a little ironic.

He turned on his most fashionable heel to look at her.

What?

Trixie plopped herself on the ground, right in the middle of the parking lot.

I DID NOT PLAN THIS

The world stopped.

Every world stopped. Every sun, star, moon, every asteroid and particle of radiation.

The universe ground to a halt.

Lucifer felt fear.

Again, a little ironic because he was dead. But his Father had never exercised this level of control in front of him before, even when placing the major elements of this universe.

There had always been motion.

And now there was nothing.

Even when his Dad had stopped Chloe and Dan wrestling over him in the apartment, the area had stopped, not everything.

"I am everything, son," Trixie said quietly. "And I need you to listen to me."

Alright, Dad.

Lucifer crossed his arms.

Speak.


Thanks for reading everyone. Forgot I still have some smaller chapters. Anyhoo. I would be greatly alarmed realizing the omnipotent wasn't so much.

There are about... 14 chapters written ahead of this one. I'm not sure I'll be able to finish the whole story before these posts catch up. We'll see what happens. :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the story regardless - thanks to those who've left comments to let me know what they think! They really do make my day.