"Do you remember anything, what happened later, Sweatheart? Anything at all?" Detective Amanda leant over Trixie's hospital bed with an encouraging smile.

Trixie shook her head, slowly, and on her little face appeared closed, detached expression.

"No," she whispered and her big brown eyes suddenly filled with tears.

Amanda Warren was the nicest and prettiest officer at the precinct. She had gentle manners, sweet voice and was usually chosen to speak with children. That's why she had a certain experience in similar cases and knew when not to press the issue. Trixie very sensibly related events that happened during her kidnapping, but only until the moment when Benitez hid with her in the museum. As soon as Amanda asked about it, the child silenced and closed herself.

"That's fine. You have been very brave," Amanda said only and stood up to leave. Already in the door, she hugged Chloe and said quietly: "I am afraid she is traumatized. She would need to attend the therapy."

"I know," replied Chloe, opening the door for her colleague. However, as soon as Amanda left, the detective turned to Trixie.

"Why did you lie, Monkey?" she asked softly.

Trixie squirmed, looking a bit guilty. "Because Maze asked me not to tell anyone what happened," she replied in her usual, clever voice. "Do I have to tell the police about it, Mum?"

"No, you don't," answered immediately Chloe, well aware that she was just teaching her daughter double standards and that would backfire at her rather sooner than later. "Not even Daddy. But I want you to tell me."

Trixie hesitated and Chloe thought that she was just starting to collect what she sewed. "You may tell me," she repeated. "I asked Lucifer and Maze to help us."

Trixie eyed her cautiously. "This man took me to this building," she started finally. "There were such big rooms, all empty, and he asked me to sit in the middle of one of them. He was getting crazy. He was crazy before, but once we got there, it was… more. He was crying, and shouting," Trixie shuddered and Chloe thought that they would be doing this therapy anyway. "And he got even worse when he saw the police outside the building."

Chloe sat on the hospital bad, embraced her daughter and snuggled her closer. She tried to calculate time – how long it took from the moment when the LAPD surrounded the building until she returned with Lucifer. An hour? Definitely more. Two, perhaps? All this time Trixie was sitting alone with the madman. The detective felt the wave of guilt, that she somehow didn't act quicker.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

"I was hungry. And I was afraid about Daddy," whispered back Trixie.

For a moment they just sat together, cuddling.

"And then it got dark. So very, very dark," continued Trixie. "I thought about running away but it was too dark."

"You are very brave, Monkey."

"I couldn't run away, but this man also couldn't catch me. I think he tried to, but he couldn't, because of this darkness. It was like a… blanket. Can we touch the darkness, Mummy?"

Yes. Yes, we can.

"I am not sure. Were you scared?"

Trixie kept silent for a while. The brave admirer of 'Coraline', Halloween, and all the ghost and supernatural stories, took a moment to admit very quietly: "Yes." As if feeling the need to justify herself, she added: "That wasn't a… nice kind of dark, Mummy."

"Yes, Trixie. It wasn't," agreed softly Chloe. She swallowed, moving all the worrying thoughts at the back of her mind and said: "And then you saw Maze, right?"

After all, Lucifer said to Maze he needed her so that Trixie wouldn't get scared.

"Yes," replied Trixie and beamed. "I didn't see her, but she saw me. She saw everything. I'd like to see in darkness too, Mum, like Maze... So, she grabbed me and pulled me aside and told me to do like the little monkeys, to cover my eyes and ears… and I wanted to do it anyway because this man was shouting again..." Trixie shuddered once more and closed her eyes for a second, but when she opened them, they shined with the usual liveliness. "She took me outside and she told me, that she would teach me how to kick straight in the balls so that no one would get me again. Can she do it, Mum? Please?"

Chloe sighed. Of course, aggression was one of the possible unhealthy coping mechanisms. But… the detective still remembered the satisfcation she felt breaking the nose of the dealer who humiliated her in the motel 'Albatross'. It tasted well, to feel strong.

"That sounds like a good idea," she replied seriously.

"Do you think that Maze would remember?" asked Trixie, cuddling herself closer to her, her eyes already half-closed and the head falling on the pillow. "Not like when the grown-ups promise something to make you quiet and then forget about it?"

Chloe felt herself blushing. "No, Monkey. I don't think so."

Maze was certainly above giving empty promises to bribe a child. The ninja bartender didn't say much, but when she did – she was rather meaningful. Now Chloe realized, how many times she was mistaken thinking that Maze was just throwing weird threats, or playing the word-games with Lucifer.

She should have listened to her more cautiously.

She should have listened to Lucifer more cautiously.

All these times, when Lucifer was speaking about… himself, or about his past… and she ignored him, turning his prattling into the background noise because she thought he is simply dwelling into his illusions… perhaps if she had been listening to him she would have had better understanding of her present situation?

Though, on the other hand, what would that change? She was far beyond the point where she had control over her life. All the choices have already been made. 'I don't care, I will deal with everything', she said to Lucifer, didn't she?

"Mummy?" asked sleepily Trixie. "What are these balls I am going to kick at?"

"Maze would explain you," taken by surprise, Chloe replied rather inconsiderately.

"Okey," muttered Trixie and her eyes closed.

For a moment, Chloe watched her falling asleep. Yes, she had made the choice and she didn't regret it. Compared to the fact, that she could have lost her daughter, nothing else seemed scary. Just as she said, she would deal with it.

When the detective was sure that the girl was soundly sleeping, she cautiously raised from the bed and moved to the armchair. Then she reached for her phone and dialled Maze.

"Maze? I wanted to thank you and Lucifer," she said quietly.

"I didn't do it for you," the bartender replied with her usual harshness. "The kid is fine?"

"Yes, she is. Maze, I am…" started Chloe, but she then she heard Maze talking to someone else about 'finally buying his own fucking phone' and she understood that the bartender was passing the cell to Lucifer. For a moment, Chloe wondered what have they been doing. She assumed that they would return to the club, but there was no music in the background.

"Detective?" Lucifer's voice, a bit wary, sounded in the speaker. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, we are. We are still in the hospital, but they should release us in a few hours. Lucifer…"

"Detective, then perhaps we would speak later? At more… convenient time?" Lucifer seemed to be distracted, but Chloe heard the tension, barely masked by the faked lightness in his voice.

So, an evasion, not because he didn't want to talk with her, or because they didn't have anything to talk about - only because he wasn't ready for the conversation.

"Okey," she replied softly. "But…"

"The moment is not the best, I guess," he interrupted her. "After all, you are still at the hospital. We would talk later."

He sounded so nervous, that for a moment Chloe wanted to tell him, that, well, perhaps she did got scared with his show of darkness, because who wouldn't – but she didn't mind it, as it did the job. Or that she didn't care a bit what exactly happened to Benitez. Before she managed to phrase it, however, she felt that Lucifer was about to disconnect the conversation so she only said quickly:

"Thank you."

"Stay safe, Detective," replied Lucifer, hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more, and then ended the conversation.

Chloe fleetingly regretted that he ended the conversation so quickly, but she was too tired to care. She thought only that in a few hours they should be released from a hospital. They would go home and she would do nothing but pamper her daughter, and make her feel save, and loved… Her eyes closed and at the same moment, she fell asleep on the uncomfortable hospital armchair.

The next days Chloe spent with Trixie. She took her overdue leave and did her best to concentrate on her daughter and her needs. They spent days together, cooking, eating and watching TV. Sometimes, they made small excursions. On the evenings she read Trixie all the books she wanted and then they fell asleep together.

Lucifer remained silent. Sometimes Chloe feared the moment when he would finally call, and sometimes she feared that he wouldn't call her at all, only disappear from her life like a phantom from Trixie's books. That thought made he squirm with anxiety and urged her to drive to the LUX, or at least call him. However, something told her she needs to wait with visiting him, until Lucifer would be ready for it. In the meantime, she could do nothing but wait.

After all, that leash Maze spoke about, had two ends.

Dan was released from the hospital quite quickly, and they prepared for him a 'welcome back' party. For Trixie's sake, Chloe didn't make him any reproaches. There were only smiles and hugs and they both very carefully avoided any difficult subject.

For a few days, she and Dan did their best to provide their daughter with all the care and stability that loving, cooperative parents could give and struggled not to disturb the fragile consent in their relations with as much as the reluctant glance.

For a few days, it all worked somehow.

After all, Chloe was ready for all the sacrifice to keep Trixie happy, even if maintaining the family harmony between her and Dan was becoming more and more difficult with each passing day and the way they were tip-toeing around each other to avoid the quarrel was increasingly straining her nerves.

All this unravelled somehow after four or five days when Lucifer finally showed the first sign of life and sent flowers and chocolates for Trixie, proving by this – otherwise simple and innocent gesture – that he was bound to bring havoc into Chloe's life. The chocolates were namely addressed to Beatrice Espinoza and the girl, ecstatic for being treated 'as an adult lady' demanded to be called 'Beatrice' from now on. Chloe immediately agreed, but Dan definitely didn't and that, from one word to another, led to the terrible raw, worse than any of their previous quarrels, unleashing all the tension that was long gathering in both of them. Ugly, painful words were said and all the accusations, they avoided with such effort, were now yelled, laud and angrily.

And some time later, when they cooled down enough to remember who they forgot about, Chloe found Trixie curled up in her room, covering her eyes and ears, 'just as the three little monkeys did'.

Chloe understood then, that nothing, not even the thick darkness in the empty museum, could have been worse than what she and Dan put their daughter through. No matter what Lucifer said about the possible outcomes of 'the plan', she and Dan together were meant to be a cathastrophe, this way or another.

At least enough time has passed since they filled in the divorce and the paperwork was ready. They signed the papers finalizing the end of their marriage at the very same evening, in the silent, but relatively compliant mood.

Trixie cried but didn't ask them not to do it.

Chloe also admitted finally, that it would take her some time to forget how Dan endangered Trixie. She almost felt bad saying this, but surprisingly Dan appeared rather relieved, that this subject was finally directly addressed.

Chloe was also a bit relieved when they stopped to pretend that everything was fine.

When she stopped to pretend, that everything was fine.

The next days she spent on glueing together the pieces of her life together she could repair and not thinking about those parts she couldn't control. She found therapy sessions for Trixie and tried to squeeze them into Trixie graphic. She prepared Trixie's return to school, forcing her to catch up on the lessons she missed and did thousands of other little tedious things that needed to be done.

When she finally managed to drown all her fears and longings in the daily routine, and the end of her leave was close, she received the call from Lieutenant Monroe. Her superior, not hiding exhilaration, announced that she wouldn't have to search for the new partner for Chloe because Mr Morninstar had decided to offer again his consultive services to the LAPD. The fact, that he would again be Chloe's partner was obvious and unquestionable for everyone. Whatever Lucifer proposed Monroe, must have been enough to hand him Chloe's career on the silver plate.

Hearing this, the detective was livid. Lucifer didn't found a suitable moment to talk with her but had enough time to speak with Monroe – or perhaps even to visit her, judging from the fact how giddy the Lieutenant was. Chloe found it almost humiliating.

The excitement and relief she felt after hearing that he was returning to work with her were humiliating too and she did her best to bury it under the irritation.

Considering all this turmoil of emotions, she was done with waiting for his invitation and, immediately after disconnecting the conversation, she decided to drive to the LUX.

Her determination was a bit tampered by the fact that she had to take Trixie with her. Though she couldn't imagine talking to Lucifer in Trixie's presence, she also couldn't force herself to leave her daughter in Dan's care. It would probably take her a few weeks to forget the trauma and trust him again. Considering this, the next weeks were going to be a real logistic nightmare… On her way to the LUX, the detective was consumed by the role of working mother, terrified by the perspective of struggling with both her own and her daugther's graphics.

But once she entered the LUX, everything changed.

The club was, as always, spotlessly clean, all polished glass, soft leather and decadent details. Stepping from the bright Californian sun into the welcoming semi-darkness of the familiar space was like shifting into another reality.

Suddenly the graphics weren't important anymore.

"Good morning, Ms Decker," Patric welcomed her with a smile. "And who is this young lady?"

"I am Beatrice," announced proudly Trixie, sounding very much like a real lady. The image was spoilt by the way she jumped up and squealed: "Maze!" as soon as the familiar graceful silhouette appeared in view. She threw herself at the bartender, hugging her closely.

"Hi, kid," muttered stiffly Maze, standing motionlessly with her arms raised awkwardly up.

And yet, she didn't look uncomfortable.

Chloe for a moment considered thanking the bartender once again but then decided on more diplomatic approach. "Trixie wanted to thank you in person," she said and, struck by inspiration, added: "I need to speak with Lucifer. If he is here, perhaps I could leave Trixie with you for a while?"

"Lucifer is in his apartment," replied Maze, so confused, that she sounded almost polite. "But I am not…"

"You had to teach me how to kick the balls," reminded Trixie, stepping back and raising her big eyes with a hopeful expression.

"Ugh…" Maze shifted in an obvious quandary.

"It won't take long," promised Chloe, quickly passing by her and heading fast for the elevator.

And then, when she was already in the elevator and had pushed the right button – and there was no way to get out of this machine before it reached Lucifer's apartment – exactly then she felt the wave of fear.

For the first time since that terrifying evening when she was struggling to save her daughter, she thought about… the real Lucifer. Of course, there was no use to lie to herself anymore. She always knew that there was something… unique in him. Something inexplicable. Something just under his chaotic but likable façade threatening to snap any moment and unleash…

At first, she was simply curious to understand it. To solve his riddle.

And, well, she solved it. Or at least was very close to solving it. That's why she left. Just because she preferred to dismiss everything not consistent with her concept of reality. 'I am not into all this supernatural stuff' she used to say, and she really wanted to keep it that way.

So, she got scared of something she did not understand and left. No one could blame her for that. After all, she didn't owe him anything.

At least then, because now she owed him, much. She owed him Trixie. Chloe was not going to be a hypocrite and ignore the forces she appealed to when she was in need.

I am going to have a talk with a devil, she thought. And he knows that I know. For a moment she just freaked out and would give anything for the chance to get out of this elevator.

But, just as she thought a moment before, she was not going to be a hypocrite. It wouldn't be… honourable, to freak out now.

I will have to deal with it. Just like I said I would.

Besides, that was Lucifer. And when he left the LAPD, she missed him so much.

After all, I do not have to dwell too much on this 'devil' part, Chloe shrugged her shoulders, trying to calm her breathing. Her short religious crisis didn't bring her anything good but more commotion in her head. I will think about him as about a man with… special abilities. Supernatural abilities. Like in some Discovery programme.

A few pictures flashed in front of her eyes, like the ash-covered labyrinth, Maze with deformed face or Marot Jensen falling on her knees in front of Lucifer, but she dismissed them all. Lucifer was back in her life and if it had to work out, she couldn't be scared of him. After all, they were going to work together.

Oh, but who was she trying to cheat? That was not about the work.

I want him back, thought desperately Chloe. I need it to work out because I want him back. No, not only back. I want more of him. I will either accept or ignore anything necessary to keep him because I…

The door of the elevator opened.

Lucifer's apartment was empty this time, the space of the loft full of sunlight, due to the uncovered windows. The bright sun rays assaulted Chloe's eyes as soon as she exited the elevator and she wondered, why Lucifer didn't use any curtains to cover these huge glass panels.

Ah, but Lucifer loved light. There were these big windows to open the space for the sun or the city lights at night, and the fireplace, and the light panels behind the bar and all types of chandeliers… Lingering to compose herself before the conversation Chloe looked around noting all these sources of light. There was something telling in this game of light and shadow that was so characteristic both for the club and for Lucifer's apartment. However, she didn't dwell on it, because her attention drew the small changes that took place in the loft, she didn't notice last time, as the place was too crowded. Now she saw that some furniture was changed. Like the bar counter, or the coffee table, or the panel behind the bar… mostly the glass surfaces.

Feeling more or less ready for the conversation she stepped into the apartment.

"Lucifer?..." she called and a rustle from the balcony drew her attention.

"Hello, Detective," Lucifer, entering the room, smiled in obvious effort to sound as cool and casual, as at the beginning of their acquaintance.

He failed.

And Chloe didn't even try to behave as if nothing changed.

Because, ah, so many things have changed. For example, when she saw him now, her heartbeat fastened and her first impression was that she forgot how handsome he was. Of course, she always admitted that he was good-looking, but earlier it was like 'handsome but rather not my type'. Now it was more 'no other man in the world is worth looking at'.

Somehow, the 'devil' part fell into the second plan and for a moment Chloe could only wonder whether he, by any chance, thought something similar about her.

Not likely, judging from the fact as he just stood in the middle of the room, appearing to be rather confused than content with her visit. The silence between them was slowly getting uncomfortable but Chloe's head was empty.

"You have been redecorating?" the detective asked finally, pointing at the new furniture and immediately bridled at her stupidity, because could there be the more idiotic beginning of the conversation? Considering everything they needed to talk about? On the other hand, she felt a sting of resentment, because, well, she had been crying out her soul after him… and he was changing the furniture?

"Just a little bit," replied Lucifer absently. "Would you please sit down?" he proposed with a heavy sigh and Chloe thought that he behaved as if he didn't want her to come here.

Suddenly she felt very miserable. But the last time we spoke he said he missed me, she recalled almost desperately, sitting on the sofa.

No. He didn't say anything like this. I said I missed him, He said… he said he wouldn't bear another parting, which could probably mean that he had missed me. But just before he said he was determined not to see me again. Chloe's heart clenched and she regretted having come here instead of calling first… checking the ground…

"I assume you got the phone from your Lieutenant and decided that we need to speak?" he asked and there was again something so reluctant and even defensive in his voice, that Chloe snapped.

"I can leave, if you are not in the mood," she said sharply. Damn, she sounded like a sulking teenager. It only lacked that she would start sniffing her nose,

"No, no, Detective," Lucifer turned quickly toward her, waking up from his apathy. "Please stay. I expected you. It is just…" he hesitated and suddenly turned toward his bar. "A drink perhaps?"

"No, thank you," Chloe shook her head. "I drove here. With Trixie. She is downstairs with Maze."

"Oh," Lucifer, carrying a drink in hand, joined her at the sofa. At least he didn't sit at the same armchair as the last time. "How peculiar. You know, that Maze… Ah, never mind. Maze would take good care of your spawn."

"I know. You and Maze, you saved her. Thank you," Chloe said softly. She felt good, being able to thank him in person as if something warm and bright was waking up in her. Acting on this feeling, she reached for his hand and squeezed it slightly. "I would die without her."

Lucifer shifted uncomfortably and very gently withdrew his hand from her grasp, focusing on his drink.

"I didn't kill this man," he said all of the sudden. "He killed himself. He would do it anyway."

Chloe wasn't going to ask, what this 'anyway' exactly meant. "If I was there, I would kill him without hesitation," she replied instead. "Did you thought I would… be concerned about his death? Is that why you were avoiding me in the last days?"

"No," Lucifer shook his head but relaxed a bit.

"I am sorry for what happened to him, and even more, for what happened to his daughter. They were both the vicitms of the gang war. But if I had to kill him to save Trixie, or any other kidnapped victim, I would shoot to kill," stated Chloe.

"What a fierce woman you are, Detective," smirked Lucifer and Chloe slightly bridled at his indulgent tone, because, devil or not, no one was going to treat her patronizingly. Lucifer, however, didn't notice her reaction. Evidently relaxed, he spoke with enlivenment: "You know, for the whole time while investigating your case I had a feeling that this 'stunt' thing might be important. I was teasing Daniel asking about it, right, but I also truly wanted to learn what it was about."

"You have good detective instincts. You know how to ask the right questions," nodded Chloe and Lucifer, always greedy for compliments, beamed.

It was probably a good moment to speak about his return to the consulting job. The detective took deep a breath, preparing herself for the more difficult part of the conversation. "Lucifer, about your return to the LAPD…"

"Detective, that was not a deal," he interrupted her almost violently. "Saving your offspring, it was not a deal. You do not owe me anything."

The air around them suddenly thickened.

"I know," replied cautiously Chloe. Not a deal, right. She thought about it. She would perhaps even prefer it to be a deal. A favour. A favour could be repaid. She would keep her end of the deal and then, probably, she could somehow regain control over her life, that was now slipping out of her grasp.

But Lucifer never asked her to make a deal with him, only said 'I acknowledge this child as the part of you'. Now Chloe thought that there was something almost dangerous in his unconditional commitment. Trixie was the part of her life… and she was the part of his.

"The decision is still yours," continued Lucifer, leaning toward her, as if he wanted to make sure that she understood. "If you do not want to work with me, I can still undo it. You only have to tell me, what you desire."

Chloe exhaled slowly. She intended to berate him for not consulting his return with her, but now it didn't seem important. She gave up and replied simply:

"I want to work with you. I am glad you are back."

"I… I am glad to hear it," replied Lucifer a bit awkwardly and for a moment they sat in silence.

Finally, Chloe cleared her throat. "Last time when we discussed… our cooperation… you gave me conditions," she said cautiously, feeling that she was stepping into the very slippery ground.

"No need for it now, is it?" he replied with a question. "I only wanted you to… to know, who are you dealing with. But you already do, don't you?"

"You are not human," said Chloe quietly.

"To put it mildly," agreed Lucifer, draining the remains of his drink.

Chloe thought that he started to insist on her making 'the informed decision' when their relationship started to evolve from professional into more personal one and wondered, whether they are still on this stage – and how could she approach this subject. Lucifer, however, must have thought about something entirely different, because, after a long moment of staring in the empty glass, he suddenly said almost angrily:

"Listen, Detective, I know how your mind works, I know why are you sitting here so calm, not asking about anything. I am certain you have rationalized it all, put into some safe, acceptable framework. Believe me, it is not that simple."

He rubbed his forehead and for a moment he appeared tired and worried, very much unlike the Lucifer she knew, when he spoke further: "There are real forces, other than this you know from the earthly plane, and they have influence on our lives. It more then likely that at the moment we are just pawns on the chessboards set by someone else," he stated bitterly.

Chloe blinked in surprise, not understanding. And then she recalled as he said once: 'I wouldn't let anyone hurt you'. How it scared her. There was something more in this then just them both. Something more than just her and him. Something, that troubled him, so probably it should terrify her.

Deal with it.

"What do you mean?" she asked forcing herself to speak calmly.

"That all this is getting… too special. That we have launched a chain of events, that cannot be stopped or reversed. Fallen into the trap. Pushed the wrong button. Or the right button depends on how you call it. That things are slipping out of my control."

Chloe looked at him, narrowing her eyes. "I still don't understand," she said coldly. "But if that is your way of telling me to keep my distance, that's fine."

"I thought about it," nodded Lucifer. He went to the bar and poured himself a new drink. "I thought about it all, Detective, when you decided I am not worth the risk and left my life," he called from the bar, seemingly casually, even if there was a shadow of resentment in his voice.

"Hey, don't be mean about it," protested Chloe. "That hurt, what you said."

"So it did, when you left" he retorted, "but that's not a point. The point is, that I thought it over… and I was actually satisfied, that you left. That is, after the initial outburst of… disappointment," he added a bit quieter, his sight running toward the new glass table.

Chloe, both hurt and ashamed, bit her lips and reimained silent, not commenting on the fact that she had never before heard about the disappointment coming in outbursts.

"That's because, Detective," continued Lucifer, taking place on the sofa again, with a new drink in his hand, "in the last weeks I was increasingly… troubled, but the fact, how the things were changing… around us. You were so right to state that I make things I did not intend. And that's indeed troubling, Detective, because I am used to knowing what to expect, both from myself and from the world." He swirled the glass, for a moment concentrating on the amber fluid inside it, as if was expected to see the said world in his drink.

"And then you appear, Detective, and you are… you are the change. I cannot read you. I cannot influence you. On the contrary, you… influence me in the most unexpected manner. You make me…" he hesitated and silenced for a moment, and said almost with irritation. "And you… disturb me, Detective. You disturb me in so many ways."

Chloe snorted angrily, half rising from her seat, ready to leave without a word but Lucifer stopped her standing in front of her and concluded:

"You are changing me, Detective."

"I can leave."

"I don't want you to leave," replied Lucifer, without thinking. For a moment they stood, looking at each other until Chloe gave up and wordlessly sat back on the sofa.

Did the devil just tell her, that she was changing him? No, if she was to deal with it, she couldn't dwell on it. Let just assume he meant something like changing his entertaining lifestyle. Not some… otherworldly forces playing with their lives.

"The conclusion is, Detective," continued Lucifer, "that I thought it all can not be accidental. And that the consequences might be… significant. I was tempted to end it… deny and forget you. Even now, I could still scare you away from here, so that you would never return. But I don't want to," he sighed and for a while looked at her so fondly, that all her rancour disappeared - nice, bright and warm feelings in her blooming again.

It was Lucifer, who broke the moment, stepping back and circling the room. When he spoke again, he did it with his usual flair: "Besides, Detective, I fear that if you left again, something could happen once more that would push us closer… What if next time it would be more dangerous? For example, something could happen to you. Who knows, where I would have to search for you? Especially considering the fact that you are prone to this… mortality problem. What if you die and, of course, go straight up there? How would I get you back? Not impossible, but terrible inconvenience, for everyone around."

Chloe frowned, lost somewhere in the middle of his speech. "What are you talking about?"

"I told you, it is likely we both are… manipulated. Played with, like toys."

"You are just paranoid," muttered the detective.

"Paranoia is a healthy habit where I come from," Lucifer shrugged his shoulders. "Without getting into too many details, what matters is that I decided to play along, at least for a time being. So, I am giving a part of my free will for your safety, Detective. Please, remember who says it and appreciate the gesture."

Chloe slowly shook her head. Whatever this piece of twisted reasoning was about, it sounded as if Lucifer was making some kind of sacrifice. A duty.

"My safety?" she made sure.

"Precisely."

"Bullshit!" she bridled and looked at him challengingly. "You are not giving up anything. You are just keeping on doing what you like, as always. Admit it, you missed… us. The precinct and the investigations. All these parties you had in the LUX in the meantime, they bored you, didn't they?"

Lucifer for a moment kept her sighed, maintaining surprised and a bit hurt expression until he gave up and snorted with a chuckle.

"Immensely," he admitted and for a moment, the mood between them lightened when they laughed in the restored camaraderie. "No promises, but I will try to behave… better," he added. "You know, not to trample all over your rules too much."

"That sounds promising," smirked Chloe, well aware that this was the closest to an apology she would ever hear for this evening in Jeremy's Mitchell' shop. "Seems that you are really changing."

Oh. That was probably the wrong thing to say.

She almost saw him closing himself. As if to underline it, he retreated behind the piano, taking place on the bench.

"That's not like this, Chloe. Don't make mistake," he said almost vehemently. "Don't take me for someone I am not. I care about you, but that's all." He interrupted abruptly and started playing, only to raise his head after a moment and stress: "Only about you."

Chloe sighed and for a while just listened to him. She almost believed that was going to be that easy, that bright and warm feeling inside her growing, when they laughed together.

She almost forgot who was she dealing with.

Nothing was going to be easy.

And yet, he also didn't know everything.

"You called Dan," she said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Lucifer looked at her, thrown off-balance.

"You called Dan," Chloe repeated a bit louder. "Just after leaving this museum, you and Maze called Dan to let him know that Trixie was safe. To spare him what? No more than ten or fifteen minutes of anxiety, until I or someone else would call him with the news? And you even don't like him. So," she hesitated and finished bravely, "I do not think that this… changing is only about me."

Lucifer made a strange sound and shrugged his shoulders, resuming the playing. "Acting on a whim is my speciality," he said, avoiding her sight. And, after a long while, he added quietly: "Do notice, that you are changing too, Chloe."

This time Chloe smiled with indulgence. Of course she was changing. Her whole life was full of changes. She started one career and then pursued another. Married a man and broke up with him. Her child was growing, each day was bringing something new.

And then she frowned, sting by the anxiety, that that was not what Lucifer was talking about.

Reflections of feelings passed through her mind. The desperate need not to leave Lucifer when she was exiting his apartment. The bright warm joy, while thanking him for doing something good. Some words, she said, some peculiar expressions she used, like this small, unexpected remark about mercy, that irked him so long.

He generally reacted badly at any display of these feelings on her account.

All these were small things, subtle… but unsettling. Was it, indeed, some external influence she was unaware of? That… change between them, was it something more than a flirt, friendship, more than a bit of romance?

A destiny?

For a moment, Chloe felt a wave of vertigo, overwhelmed by the realization, that her destiny is joined with the being so complex and unpredictable.

"Detective? Are you finally freaking out?" Lucifer called from the piano, proving that he kept an eye on her while playing. "Took you long enough."

"I am fine," replied slowly Chloe, taking a deep breath. "That means, I am terrified. But I told you I will deal with it."

"Amazing," sighed Lucifer, shaking his head. "You are the most valiant woman I have ever met." And yes, he was laughing, this damn indulgent smirk again twisting his mouth.

As if he couldn't show her some compassion.

Compassion? Chloe shook her head. What a stupid idea. None of these warm, fair feelings were… adequate. Whatever was happening in that full of bliss part of her mind, she should better put it aside, because it was of no use here.

Still, she was going somehow to deal with it. Out of so many reasons: because she promised, because she was not a hypocrite or coward…

Because she wanted him.

She realized it on her way here, in this elevator, and it didn't change. Somehow, in this unexplicable, dangerous world of smoke and mirrors he drew her into, it was all that really matered.

She listened to him playing, something very classic, quick and full of life. It was, probably, the time for her to leave. She promised Maze not to take too long. The conversation with Lucifer didn't perhaps solve or explain much, but one thing was certain: none of them was leaving anywhere. They would have time to unravel… their destiny.

Or, perhaps, she could stay a while longer. Maze certainly wouldn't mind a little delay. She could stand up and join Lucifer on this piano bench and see where would it lead… because she didn't miss the fact, that – since things started getting serious – he stopped flirting with her and most certainly would not resume it if she wouldn't take the matters in her hands. After all, deep inside, despite all his indulgent, mocking remarks, he was as terrified as she was. Or, perhaps, even more, considering his perspective. It was up to her to do something about it.

Chloe rested her head on the soft backrest of the sofa, listening to the music, savouring the choices, that were still her to be made.

The end

Dear Readers,

the story ends here and you may imagine, that it would proceed more or less like in the show. The Palmetto case still needs to be solved. Amenadiel is waiting to bring Malcolm back from his deathbed. The Goddess is trying to get out of her cell.
The difference is, that there would be more honesty - and courage - in Chloe and Lucifer relations and that, hopefully, could change a lot.

Thank you very much for staying so long with me!