Chloe smiled as she read the text that had just come through. She went out to the balcony and settled herself on Lucifer's lap. "Trixie and Dakota just left his place. They should be here in about forty-five minutes," she told him as she nestled herself against his chest.

"Gives us time for a quickie then," he grinned as he ducked his head down to playfully nibble at her collar bone.

"You are relentless," Chloe giggled as she tilted her head back to allow him better access. "As much as I would enjoy ripping your clothes off and jumping you here and now, your version of a quickie usually takes a couple of hours and I really don't want Trixie walking in on me riding you. Especially not with her boyfriend in tow."

"It's not my fault that satisfying you properly takes so long; you, my delicious little hellcat, are just too responsive to my every touch." To prove his point, he trailed a fingertip down the side of her throat allowing his nail to lightly graze along her skin. His lips drew into a satisfied smile as heard her make the uniquely tantalizing noise that was somewhere between a purr and a groan. He chuckled as he felt her fingers tighten in his hair. "Well then, if not a quickie, how about I just duck down for a quick snack," he suggested as he slid his left hand up her bare thigh. It was rare that she wore skirts, so he took full advantage of the opportunity to cop a fee when she did.

"Lucifer Morningstar, your libido is insatiable." She meant it to sound at least somewhat stern, but as she said his name, his fingertips brushed against the thin, lacy panties she wore and her scolding tone morphed into more of a moan. She gasped as his fingers slipped between the flimsy fabric and her skin before moving skillfully toward her already wet and eager core.

The elevator dinged then and he cursed quietly under his breath as she quickly stood. She smiled down at him as she smoothed her skirt.

"You may want to wait a moment or two before you come in," she muttered with a pointed look at the front of his pants.

"Your fault," he teased as he raised his eyebrow at her.

"Mom? Lucifer? We're here!" Trixie called as she walked in and took her purse to her bedroom. She tossed it just inside the door then rejoined Dakota where he stood in front of the elevator.

"Hey Monkey. Is your phone being weird again?" Chloe asked as she hugged her.

"Yeah, how could you tell?" Trixie asked.

"Your text just came through a couple of minutes ago." Chloe remarked.

"Ugh, I'm chucking that thing in the ocean the next time we go to the beach," Trixie grumbled.

"We'll get you a new one tomorrow, can't have you galivanting about town with an unreliable phone," Lucifer commented as he walked up behind Chloe and rested his left hand on the small of her back.

"Mom, Lucifer, this is Dakota Radford. Dakota, this is my mom and bonus-dad, Chloe and Lucifer Morningstar," Trixie said to introduce everyone.

Lucifer smiled warmly at Trixie as she spoke. Since he and Chloe had announced their engagement, she'd refused to use the term "step-dad" to refer to him, insisting that it sounded far too impersonal and that there were too many negative connotations associated with the term. Instead, she'd informed him she preferred the term "bonus-dad" since she considered having him in her life a bonus. When it was just the three of them, she tended to call him her "bonus-devil", which he thought was absurd, but as with most things, he indulged her.

"Mr and Mrs Morningstar, it's a pleasure to meet you. Trixie talks about you both so much that I almost feel like I've met you before," he said as he extended his hand to Chloe then Lucifer.

"We've heard a lot about you too, Dakota," Chloe replied.

"Indeed; full academic scholarship to UCLA school of law, very impressive, young man. Have you chosen a particular area of law for your focus?" Lucifer asked as he shook Dakota's hand.

"International and comparative law with an additional focus on human rights," Dakota answered.

"Ambitious and magnanimous," Lucifer smiled. Dakota was clearly nervous, but making every effort to ensure that he made a good impression. He clearly cared very much for Trixie and was committed to having the evening go smoothly. "Very admirable fields of study, young Dakota."

"Trixie mentioned that you're a fan of merlot," Dakota said as he handed Chloe a tall, slender gift bag "and that you enjoy bourbon," he handed a shorter, wider bag to Lucifer. "My grandfather was extremely fond of that particular incarnation and insisted it is woefully underrated."

"You didn't have to bring gifts, but thank you, Dakota," Chloe remarked as she slid the bottle out and looked at the label. "Duckhorn, one of my favorites."

Lucifer looked at the bottle of bourbon and a couldn't resist a brief chuckle. "Your grandfather had excellent taste. I'm rather fond of Devil's Cut myself."

Chloe and Trixie exchanged a quick look.

"Well, I imagine it doesn't nearly measure up to the top shelf stuff, however Gramps always said, 'it's not the price on the bottle that makes the whiskey smooth, it's the love and the laughter of the ones you share it with'. I hope you enjoy it in good health and good company," Dakota commented with a nostalgic smile.

"It sounds like your grandfather was very wise," Lucifer smiled. "Thank you, Dakota."

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open as their dinner arrived. The meal passed in a surprisingly comfortable flow. By the time they had finished dessert, the atmosphere in the room was relaxed and Dakota's smile appeared much more natural and far less terrified. Just as they finished their coffee, Chloe's phone alerted that she had a text message.

"Uh-oh," she said with a chuckle.

"What is it, my love?" Lucifer asked.

"Ella and Linda are downstairs. Looks like an impromptu girl's night that started with raiding Maze's closet," Chloe told him.

"Oh my," Lucifer could only imagine what they were wearing. "Perhaps you ladies should go check on them and make sure that Maze's influence doesn't reach beyond attire," he suggested. "Care to join me for a drink, Dakota?"

"Sounds great," Dakota answered simply, though Lucifer noticed a touch of the earlier fear creep back into his eyes.

Trixie hugged Lucifer. "You promised, no mojo," she whispered as she held him.

"Fear not, my little Urchin, I gave you my word," he answered just as quietly as he returned the hug.

Chloe kissed him quickly before she and Trixie went downstairs.

"I'll be with you in just a moment, Dakota," Lucifer said. He'd already pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed. "Patrick, Mrs Morningstar and Miss Espinoza are on their way down and I believe Miss Lopez and Doctor Martin are already there, possibly with Maze. Excellent. Thank you, Patrick." He hung up the phone and tucked it back into his pocket. "It puts my mind at ease to know that the staff are keeping an eye on my ladies when I'm not downstairs. The downside of being the premiere nightclub in the city is that occasionally unsavory characters make their way inside. Makes me feel better to know someone is watching out for the ladies, discretely of course."

"That's really nice of you to make sure someone's looking out for them," Dakota said as he stood at the end of the bar.

Lucifer opened the bottle that Dakota had brought and poured two glasses, then handed one to the young man. "I noticed that you spoke of your grandfather in the past tense. May I ask how long ago he passed away?"

"He died last year, but Alzheimer's took the man from us about six years ago," Dakota said quietly.

"I'm so very sorry," Lucifer replied. "To your grandfather." He raised his glass and Dakota mimicked the gesture and they drank. "Let's sit outside," Lucifer suggested then crossed to the balcony. Once they were settled outside, Lucifer looked out across the skyline. "I do hope you realize that Beatrice is quite taken with you, young man. This is the first time that she's ever been serious enough about anyone to introduce her mother and I to them. You're also the first person she's dated that she has voluntarily spoken to us about, usually her mother has to just about sit her in an interrogation room to even find out if she's seeing anyone. You're an extremely important part of her life and she cares about you a great deal." He grinned as he pictured the expression that would be on her face right now if she'd overheard what he was saying. "I should point out that I'm sharing this with you at great personal risk; I'll certainly incur her wrath if she finds out I've told you any of this."

"Your secret is safe with me. I won't lie, I was extremely nervous to come here tonight, but I knew it was important to Trixie and, frankly, I'd do just about anything for her. I know she and I have only been seeing one another for nine months but, I already can't picture my life without her in it," Dakota admitted. After a moment he continued. "I know we're young and I would absolutely not want to rush her into anything, but I love her; as long as she's willing to let me be in her life, I'm going to be."

Lucifer looked at him now as he spoke, he could feel the sincerity coming off the boy; he was genuinely in love with Beatrice. There was also something familiar in the sound of his voice. It reminded him of the night he'd been talking with Linda not thirty feet from where he currently sat. That was the night that Linda had made him realize he needed to tell Chloe how he felt and by the time he'd gone to her, he'd found Cain proposing marriage, and her accepting.

The memory caused an unwelcome tightness in his chest as he thought about how close he'd come to losing Chloe because of Cain, not just as he'd proposed to her. The day he'd killed Cain when she'd been shot, the bullet had come so close to missing her ballistics vest. Just a few inches higher and… He shook his head as though doing so could erase the unwelcome vision of her bleeding to death in his arms.

"Speaking as someone who very nearly waited too long to be honest about his feelings, you should tell her if you haven't already. I speak from experience when I say that it will be the greatest regret of your existence if you lose her because you let pride and reluctance to be open about your emotions silence you," Lucifer confided.

"You're right, I should tell her. I don't know why I've been afraid to," Dakota muttered.

"Been there, done that," Lucifer admitted before finishing his drink. "Learn from the missteps of others, young man. Don't let your fear cost you your happiness. I very nearly did; I almost lost my chance to have Chloe and Beatrice in my life, because I was afraid. I am grateful every day that I got a second chance to tell my beautiful wife how I felt for her, but we don't always get second chances in life. Remember that."

"Thank you, Mr Morningstar. I will."

"May as well call me Lucifer, I have a feeling that we'll be seeing quite a lot of one another moving forward."

"Thank you, Lucifer. If you'll excuse me, I need to go face my fear."

Lucifer nodded to him and stayed on the balcony as Dakota left the penthouse. He stared out across the city and wondered how long it would be until his little Urchin would be wearing young Mr Radford's ring.