((AN – Please remember that all of these are one-shots and that there is no continuity/connection between one "chapter" and the next. Nothing that happens in this (or any other chapter) is meant to influence or carry-over to any future pieces.))


Maze glared at the door of the elevator as she waited for it to slide open. She hadn't been to the penthouse in months and had no desire to be heading there now. However, Lucifer had insisted that if she came over and heard him out, he'd stop calling and texting her. She knew that despite the many flaws he had, one thing that Lucifer was good for was his word. She supposed she could make it through one conversation. When the elevator finally dinged and the doors slid open, she saw him standing on the balcony. He turned at the sound and came inside.

"Whatever you have to say, just spit it out," Maze snapped as she stepped out into the main part of his home.

"Thank you for agreeing to come over. As promised," he handed her his phone. "Your contact information has been deleted. Feel free to check for yourself."

She took the phone and quickly scrolled through the contacts. He had taken her at her word when she'd told him that she would come over on the condition that he lost her number. She put the phone on the piano and glared at him expectantly.

"I actually wanted you to come over because I have something to give you," he told her as he held a small box out to her.

"I swear, if you think that you can get me to forgive you by giving me some stupid piece of jewelry, I am going to stab you in the heart, regardless of the fact that I promised Trixie I wouldn't," Maze growled.

"It is a piece of jewelry, but I think you'll understand its significance once you look at it," he replied as continued to hold the box out to her. "Please, Mazikeen, just open it."

Maze rolled her eyes as she swiped the black velvet box from his hand. She rolled her eyes before she opened it, then froze.

"When Lilith gave me that ring, she transferred her immortal soul into the stone, one that she'd taken with her from the Garden," Lucifer said as he nodded toward the box. "I had an opportunity to talk to Dad while he was down here and we came to an agreement," Lucifer told her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she meant for it to sound harsh, but as it came out a nearly breathless whisper, she just sounded confused.

"If you still want a soul, all you have to do is put that ring on. If you do, Lilith's soul will become part of you. At which point, you will have a few options; you will be able to remain here on Earth, you can return to Hell and assume the throne, or you can travel back and forth between the two at any time you choose," he explained.

"Assume the throne?" Maze asked, suddenly suspicious. "A demon can't assume the throne."

"Quite right, however if you choose to put the ring on, you will have a soul, which means you won't technically be a demon any longer. You'll be able to rule if you choose to do so. Or you could remain here and truly experience life, perhaps even find love. You could also choose to move between the realms at will; possessing a soul will allow you to pass through the gates at your discretion," he assured her. "Whatever you decide, I hope you'll find happiness in your choice, Mazikeen."

"What's the catch?" she inquired.

"No catch. Whatever you wish to do with it is your choice. Wear it, or not, or destroy it, as you wish. Though if you do opt for destroying it, I would recommend ensuring that the fragments do not end up somewhere that humans could accidentally find them. After seeing the damage that the pieces of the flaming sword were able to cause, I fear that the ring could cause humans who encounter it to become somewhat untethered. They really are not equipped to handle celestial energy," he remarked.

"Why are you doing this?" she demanded.

"You said you wanted a soul. This is the only way that I can do that for you."

"And why do you suddenly care whether or not I have what I want?"

"I know you don't believe this, but I have always cared about you, Mazikeen. You weren't just my protector; you were my friend. Giving you what you wanted wasn't something that was in my power until recently. Now it is," he replied simply.

"And why is that? What's the arrangement that you came to with your father?"

"I agreed to return to Hell when my time here is at an end," he admitted.

"So, I'm a seat warmer until you're bored with Chloe and decide to go home. Wow. Even for you that's incredibly selfish," she snapped.

"No, I won't be returning to rule. I'll be condemned there," he said quietly.

"I don't understand," her forehead wrinkled as she stared at him. He couldn't be sentenced to torment in Hell. He was the king for crying out loud.

"I surrendered my immortality, Mazikeen. I'm mortal. I'm aging, I'll get sick, I'll die. And when I do, what remains of my soul will be sentenced to a cell in Hell where, if recent trips there are any indication, I'll spend the rest of eternity in a Hell loop repeatedly murdering my brother Uriel," he expounded. "Regardless of whether or not you take the throne, my days as the ruler of Hell are over."

"Why would you agree to that?" she was shocked.

"I didn't exactly agree to it, actually. I suggested it." He went to the bar and poured a pair of drinks. He brought a glass to Maze and looked out across the skyline as he sipped his drink. "This is where I belong, with Chloe and Beatrice. I gave up my immortality so I can be a true part of their lives. I'll grow old with Chloe and eventually, my time here will end."

"Does Chloe know what you're intending to do?" Maze questioned.

"Yes, Chloe knows of the arrangements I've made with Dad. I've spoken to him already and it's done. I've been mortal now for a few days," he said. "I wanted to speak to you before I talk to Amenadiel. Again, thank you for agreeing to come today."

"Your brother doesn't know yet?"

"None of them do. Dad agreed to let me be the one to speak to them, in my own time, with the exception of Michael. He's already spoken to him and bound him not to interfere in our lives. Dad was concerned that once Michael realized I was mortal he'd make a point of doing something like dropping a piano on me."

"Lucifer, this doesn't make any sense. You're essentially killing yourself, knowingly sentencing yourself to an eternity of torment."

"You're not wrong. But so long as I clung to my immortality, I'd always be keeping Chloe and Beatrice at arms length, never truly part of their lives. It's a good trade off. As a matter of fact, it's probably the best deal I've ever struck," he said as a wide smile came to his face. He looked at her. "I understand if you're still angry with me. I promise, I'll not try to inject myself or interfere with your friendship with Beatrice or Chloe. I'll keep my distance."

"Why aren't you keeping the ring? Live this mortal life then put the ring on and regain your immortality when it's done."

"That's quite simple, actually; I don't want to. Living forever without Chloe and Beatrice would be as much a torment as anything I'll find in my Hell loop. Besides," he paused and smiled at her now, "if I kept the ring, I couldn't give it to you. And anyway, that's the deal I struck with Dad; I give up my immortality so I can live here with Chloe and Beatrice in exchange for giving you the soul you've been seeking and entering Hell without complaint when my time comes. The ring is yours, Mazikeen, no matter what you choose to do with it. I hope the fact that I'm the one who gave it to you won't deter you from making the decision that's best for you."

"This isn't right. Chloe and Trixie can't be okay with you doing this."

"They didn't understand at first, but they have accepted the decisions I've made." He looked out at the fading sunset and felt a sense of calm come over him. "Between a few dozen years with them and an eternity without, it's not even a decision really. This is the life I've chosen, and I am genuinely happy."

"Lucifer, what if something happens? If you're not immortal, that means you're not bulletproof anymore. You can't protect them the way you could before," Maze pointed out.

"That's true. I guess I'll just have to have faith that we'll be okay." He chuckled as he finished his drink.

Maze stared at him for several minutes before she spoke again. "How about the fact that I'm not okay with this then? I was created to protect you, or did you forget about that part?"

"You weren't created to protect me, Mazikeen, you were created to protect the ruler of Hell. Now, if you choose to take on that role, then you'll have to either create or appoint someone to assume that duty as your protector. If you choose not to take the throne, then you're free to do as you wish. Either way, you're no longer bound to me because I'm no longer bound to the throne," Lucifer pointed out. "I know you've been making a point of ignoring me lately but think about it. The instinct you've always had to know where I am at all times is gone, isn't it?"

Maze glared at him, unwilling to admit that he was right. She had noticed it in the last few days, but she'd attributed it to how angry she'd been and thought she'd just found a way to tune it out.

"You don't need me, Mazikeen; you never have. And, as I'm no longer your king, you're free of me."

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open then. Chloe and Trixie stepped out.

"Maze!" Trixie shouted and ran over to her.

"Hey Trix," Maze said as she hugged her while she still kept her eyes locked on Lucifer. The look on his face as he smiled at Trixie then kissed Chloe was different than any expression she'd ever seen on him in the thousands of years they'd been around one another.

"Well, now that you ladies are back, I'm off to see Amenadiel. Linda and Ella should be here shortly for girls' night," Lucifer said brightly. He quickly tapped a few icons on his cell to notify his driver that he was on his way down. Now that he was mortal, drinking and driving was a habit he'd quickly broken, as much for Chloe and Beatrice's piece of mind as for his own well-being. "Have fun, my loves." He briefly kissed Chloe then ruffled Beatrice's hair before grinning and nodding wordlessly at Maze.

As he stepped into the elevator, Maze sighed. "Lucifer!" He looked up as she ran to the elevator just before the doors slid shut and stuck her hand out to stop them. She hesitated for a second before taking a deep breath. Her expression softened as she locked eyes with him and whispered "You will always be my king."


((AN – So part of this piece stemmed from a theory that I have about something I think will/I'd like to see happen in 5B or 6. I think that Lucifer will give Lilith's ring to Maze which give her the soul that she so badly wants (though given that it's Lilith's soul, I think Maze will have a lot to work through emotionally). It would be an elegant solution since it would allow Maze to return to hell (since she'd posses a celestial soul) and would even allow her to sit on the throne (it was stated that only someone with a soul can rule specifically so the demons couldn't ever take over the throne). I think that would be a beautiful outcome for Maze that would give her, well, not quite everything she wants, but a much happier ending than where things are at for her right now. Just my theory…))