Chloe sucked in a breath, staring up at the burning figure as the rest of the room exploded in chaos.

Dan whipped around with a shout, drawing his gun up - the figure snatched the gun from her ex's hand in one smooth motion, crushed it, and tapped Dan in the face.

He dropped like a stone as the figure turned to the boy wreathed in shadow in the corner.

Chloe drew in a smaller breath, feeling as if she were sinking away from everything that was happening.

Nobody was working around her any more - they'd all fled from the room.

"Father," the boy said, stepping forward. "how unexpected, how are you? In the flesh again, I see. New flesh?"

The angel, its body still wreathed in brilliant flames, made a cacophonous sound - layered tones of deeply resonant bass notes and crystalline frequencies that shook walls about them.

Chloe's laboring heart stuttered and jumped.

"Of course you're my dad," the boy laughed, before pointing at Chloe with a hand that dripped blood. "That's mom, remember? You mated with her and I used you both to come here."

Chloe felt tugged towards the light in the window again. The blinds flapped against the broken frame with a sudden breeze and the air felt wonderful.

If she could just get out of this torn shell, she'd be on her way.

The voice of the burning angel came again, washing over the room in overwhelming waves.

"I'm not lying! I don't lie, Father - I take after you."

She could hear the sharp grin around the words.

"Mother's dying, Father. Shouldn't you do something about that? I can wait here if you like. I might make some new friends."

The figure's voice rose in command, drawing another laugh from the boy.

"I already said I wasn't going anywhere. Although... I'm hungry. Maybe I'll go to the cafe?"

Chloe struggled to rise with leaden limbs, feeling a sudden desperate urge for movement. Something gushed from her as she shifted, something warm and wet, and the strength she'd mustered leached away.

"Any second now, I think. Bye, Mom!"

There was a rush of movement as Chloe took another shallow breath - arms thrust beneath her back and knees, arms of light that didn't burn at all. She was pulled up against a body that felt so familiar she almost cried.

More movement followed, too swift for her to grasp, with the sound of wings beating the air.

An angel was holding her and they were going to go to heaven and she'd see Lucifer again and that was so wonderful...

"...he was good..." she mumbled against the figure, needing at that moment to try and change the mind of all of these stuffy know-it-alls. "None of you could see it...he didn't deserve... what you did..."

There was a soft rebuff of air, the rustle of feathers, and the feeling of landing on solid ground.

"Who do you speak of?" the angel asked in a voice that made something inside her ache, though she couldn't place why.

It didn't matter anymore - she had no more breath to answer.

She was lowered to a soft, cool surface.

Warm hands pressed against her head and body.

Light filled the space around her, swelling in strength as her body grew deliciously warm. Her feet tingled, suddenly hers again, and she pointed them in a magnificent stretch that ended in a yawn.

The hand against her body withdrew. The hand against her forehead stayed for a moment, the thumb gently stroking there.

Chloe took a deep, easy breath. Smiling, she opened her eyes to a broad canopy of trees and the silhouette of the figure, no longer burning bright.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

The face above her promptly stole her breath again.

Oh my god!

Lucifer was kneeling over her, his wings arched protectively, wearing clothing she didn't recognize.

His hand was solid against her head, his mouth set in the smallest smile. His dark gaze was locked to hers.

Chloe drew in a rushed breath and grasped his hand desperately, squeezing it, kneading it, reassuring herself of his realness, his solidity, before she pulled herself up, her hands grasping his arm, his shoulders, his cheek.

Lucifer's smile faded and his brows pinched in confusion as she started to cry.

And cradling his face, as the tears spilled down her own, she drew in to kiss him.

Their lips touched.

Chloe froze.

For Lucifer didn't do anything at all but watch her, as his wings slowly lowered behind him.

She pulled back, her tears drifting down around a hesitant smile, and she stroked the clean-shaven skin of his cheek, her eyes searching for the wound that had been there. There was no bruise, no broken bone, no mark at all. She ran her fingers through his wiry hair where the bullet wound had been, delighting at the feeling.

God, she'd missed it.

There was no wound whatsoever.

She looked down at his chest and the strange golden material there, and gently lay her hand over his heart where he'd been shot.

He watched her intently throughout, smiling softly, his eyes moving to her lips, the top of her head, her brow... taking in the entirety of her, and finding her gaze again.

"Did they heal you?" she whispered, feeling uncertain, and oddly a little scared.

His brow flickered at the question.

Then she blinked and looked down at herself, for hadn't she been dying a minute ago?!

The hospital gown she was wearing was covered in blood from the waist down... but she was whole.

Her eyes darted to him. "Did you heal me?!"

A smile stretched on his face.

"Of course," he said, his voice stiffly formal. "I was sent to save you."

Chloe's mouth grew dry.

"What happened to your accent?" she whispered.

He frowned. "Accent?" His eyes danced away and returned. "A style of speaking related to location or class? Do I not have one?"

She jerked her hand back.

Why did he sound like a dictionary?!

He smiled at her. "Why did you..." he paused and seemed to hunt for the word, "kiss me?"

With a strangled breath, Chloe pushed away from him.

He frowned, his eyes searching hers. "I have frightened you. I did not mean to."

"You're not Lucifer," she whispered, her heart clenching at the words.

His frown deepened. "You are the second to use that name around me. I do not understand why. Do I look like this 'Lucifer'?"

She nodded slowly. "You look exactly like him. Who are you? A brother of his?"

That would make sense, that he might have a brother similar to a twin.

But that opened a hole on her chest because it meant that Lucifer was still dead. Still a disembodied soul.

Her gaze fell as tears rushed her and she almost missed what he said in return.

"I do not believe so, but I have not yet met all of my siblings." He sat back against his legs and placed his hand against his chest. "I am Samael. It is an honor to meet you."

Goosebumps rose in a wave across her arms.

"Samael?"

He nodded and smiled. "I... I like the way you say my name." His brow darted in briefly then smoothed. "I find your company... pleasant."

Chloe clamped a hand over her mouth.

This was Lucifer.

Lucifer had somehow been... reset? Turned back into the good angel? Brainwashed and made to forget everything related to who he had been?

Including her?

"What did they do to you?" she whispered, slowly shifting back to his side.

It was his turn to recoil, as she reached out to take his hand.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice soft and uncertain.

"Why don't you remember who you are?!"

Samael frowned and watched her. "I remember who I am. I am Samae-"

"LUCIFER," she yelled, grasping his hand desperately. "You're Lucifer! They did something to you! How could you forget who you are? Forget us?!"

The stranger wearing her lover's face pulled his hand from hers.

Slowly he stood.

"Why do you talk like this? The darkness lied to me - are you allied with him?"

Chloe blinked. "The darkness? The..."

And then it all came back to her - the voice inside, the ring, being unable to speak or act, and the awful thing that had come out of her - surrounded by dark swirling shadows?

How had that happened? How did she have a child in the space of a day?! It was a fragmented mess inside her head - being home, but also at the hospital, delivering something too large, and being torn apart as Lucifer leaned over her with a kiss...

She shook her head against the madness and stared up at him. "I don't understand any of this, but I'm on your side, Lucif-"

His eyes flared in golden fire, his mouth twisted in anger, and the world shook within and around her as he spoke in the tongue she had no hope of understanding.

Time slid from her protectively.

She came to slowly, feeling the grass against her back, listening to voices raised in argument.

A hand rested against her forehead again, gently stroking.

"You do not use our speech around humans, brother. They are too fragile."

The voice sounded far away, as did everything else. Like her ears were stuffed with cotton.

"I know that now, Remiel. Thank you."

Chloe groaned at the name, and the terrible moments that flashed in her mind with it. She opened her eyes to find Lucifer above her again.

Pain lined his face as she met his gaze.

"I am sorry. I should not have done that. Stay here and rest."

"No," she whispered. Pushing his hand away, she turned and slowly rose to her feet, her eyes fixed on Remiel.

The angel would not look at her.

Breathing through the dizziness, Chloe shrugged off the hand not-Lucifer rested on her arm, and walked towards Remiel, her hands closing into fists.

"You killed him," she growled, closing the distance. "He died because of you, and now he doesn't remember who he is! YOU DID THAT!"

She lashed out as Remiel closed her eyes, but the angel merely shifted her head back from her swing.

"Do not hurt yourself, human."

Chloe swung at the angel again, and again, grabbing at the woman's tunic for leverage, but Remiel merely evaded every move.

"You took him from me..." Chloe sobbed, exhausted, sinking to her knees in the grass. "Was that the point? Did you hate him that much? Did you hate me?"

"Remiel, what is she talking about?" Samael asked, stepping beside her.

"I... I did not hate you, Chloe Jane Decker," Remiel said, her gaze sliding back from Samael, her brow furrowed in pain. "He took my closest sibling from me and... I am lesser. I am sorry. Samael, I am so sorry."

"What?" Samael looked between them both, his eyes widening. "Sister, you would lend credence to this?"

Remiel's voice came out a whisper. "I would, brother. But there is something you must hear."

She glanced at Chloe, and in her eyes Chloe saw terrible regret.

Then she turned to Samael.

"You are not the Lucifer she speaks of. Your memory is not suppressed or changed. The Lucifer she speaks of no longer exists."

Chloe's eyes bulged. "W-what?!"

"Lucifer was known as Samael. He rebelled. He Fell. He ruled Hell for millennia then abandoned it for Earth. He became attached to this woman, and unmade Uriel when Uriel threatened her. This is why I caused his physical death."

Her gaze fell to the ground. "Father unmade that Lucifer. He then made you, Samael, to replace what had been lost."

Chloe sucked in a strangled breath and shook her head frantically. "No... Remiel, are you lying? Are you trying to hurt us? Please... please tell me you're lying."

Samael stood immobile.

Remiel shook her head.

"I am not lying. I am not trying to hurt you, but I know this wounds you regardless."

"Oh God, no... tell me... tell me please that you're lying. Tell me he's okay, you're just hurting us, and he's okay." She crumpled against her legs. "Oh please."

A hand rested against her back. It was slender and warm.

"I am sorry, blessed one. I am not lying. The 'us' you speak of no longer exists."

There was a sudden rush of wings, and the hand left her back just as quickly.

"Samael, wait!"

Another rush of wings followed.

And Chloe was left alone in the woods to cry.