A/N: I know, I know, I admit, I have put all of you through quite a tough chapter before. That said, I hope you all enjoyed it nonetheless, despite how painful Lucifer's memory-recollection has been. He is obviously on his way of healing and with Chloe at his side, he's all the more brave to face his buried memories.

Today's chapter will be more for your and our beloved character's happiness. So, sit back, have a drink at the ready, and enjoy the read!

Recommended songs:

I Follow - Hidden Citizens (feat. Katie Herzig)

Rosenfeld - I Want To

Dark Synth Music - Testimony feat Lane Shi Otayonii

Chapter 12 – Home

[I Follow - Hidden Citizens (feat. Katie Herzig)]

The car ride was as quiet as the one they had had when they drove to Linda. Lucifer sat next to her, lost in thought. The only real difference was that she could see he was less tensed up, but he still seemed worried.

After the session at Linda's, she had called Dan to inform him about Lucifer's returned memory fragments of the warehouse and asked him to take further steps on Flora, including talking to her parents and updating the missing persons entry in the database with the information of her abduction. With herself feeling dead tired and Lucifer looking comparably exhausted, if not worse, she decided to use her overtime and take the rest of the day off. Being at the point of falling asleep within moments if she didn't focus with all her power, she knew her work could get unprofessional and sloppy which was something she couldn't risk. Not in regards to Flora and neither to Lucifer. She had to be functioning at her best levels for them both.

"What's going to happen now?" Lucifer suddenly broke the silence in a murmur, looking down at his ring and turning it nervously with his fingers. Things had been very simple after he had killed Pierce. Putting aside the fact of Chloe's world shattering to pieces at the sight of his Devil face, the whole police procedure had been a piece of cake and he had even had a bit of guilt because of that. He had expected there to be more questions that would put him in a bad position, but with the team having found out about Pierce's criminal connections and intentions, it all didn't need much of an explanation from him. He had been cleared from any charges immediately. Now things were very different though. Nobody had been there when it happened. Chloe didn't witness the fight for his life and the specific job that Zak was tasked to do was also not traceable. There was just Lucifer's word, a knife in Zak's chest with his fingerprints on and his hands covered in Zak's blood.

"Well, I'll put down your statement and, if you're okay with it, I'll add Linda's professional information as an evaluation of your experience. It can only help. But in any case, going with your information on what happened, it was an accident, Lucifer," she explained, glancing over to him, sympathetically.

"But what about the traces? I mean… I'm sure there must've been my fingerprints on the knife… and all the blood on my hands is his…" He turned to look directly at her, his expression pallid from worry. "Doesn't that make it look like I killed him intentionally?"

Chloe took a long breath and exhaled with a soft sigh, releasing some tension from her muscles. "It's not just those things that will be taken into account, Lucifer. There's more evidence. The drag marks in the mud, the cuts on your hands and arms, the residue of the drug in your system, Gregor's confession and so much more. It's pretty clear who the aggressor was."

Nodding in thought, he stopped fidgeting. He trusted her experience regarding her job and he knew that both her and Miss Lopez, heck, even Daniel, would do everything in their power to verify that he hadn't meant to kill Zak. Still, a bitter aftertaste remained from the incident at the warehouse. He wondered if there was something else he could've done, but nothing, absolutely nothing, came to mind. "I wish the memories of that butchering bastard would return, so we'd get his bloody confession."

"We'll find him, Lucifer. I promise," she mouthed assuringly. When she felt Lucifer's eyes on her, she made sure to sound as strong and determined as she could. "And I won't break that promise by any chance." Looking back at him briefly, she saw him still eyeing her with what she could only categorize as gratefulness and admiration. She knew he was a keen believer in the idea of a promise. It was not to be broken, neither by lying nor by misfortune. And she intended to stay true to her word, whatever would come their way.

"Thank you, Detective," he answered, glad that they were officially done for the day. He was in dire need of rest, some peace and quiet for his mind, to regenerate his strength and to process what had happened.

When they had finally arrived at Chloe's house, she stored away her weapon and headed into the kitchen, causing Lucifer to stand a bit dumbfounded at the counter. "What are you doing?" he asked, watching her open one of the lower cupboards.

Letting out a soft laugh, she took out two pots and put water in the bigger one of the two. "Well, I didn't really have anything to eat yet and I'm completely exhausted, which I imagine you can both relate to."

"I can indeed," he mused with a little smile.

"That's what I thought. I'm making us some pasta so we can get all stuffed and then we can blissfully fall asleep. How does that sound?" Throwing him a cheeky smile, she saw his mouth open with a little, desperate moan flowing past his lips.

"Sounds wonderful," he sighed happily and joined her behind the counter. Opening her fridge, he handed her the tomato sauce and upon spotting an opened bottle of red wine, he helped himself and poured them two glasses. Once Chloe had prepared the pasta and sauce on the stove, he noticed that she looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes he couldn't decipher. She just smiled back at him, obviously thinking about something. "What? What is it?"

He looked heartbreakingly fragile, innocent and so curious. She could see the fragment of his ancient-old soul that was the young angel Samael, shining through his older self and it made her chest swell with even more love for him. "I'm really proud of you, you know that?" she said, reaching up with her free hand to caress his cheek.

Her unexpected praise took him completely off guard. Staring back at her, stunned and like a fish gasping for air, he tried to fathom why she was proud of him. "For what?" he mouthed, confused, his heart thundering from her gentle caress.

"You've been incredibly strong today, facing those buried memories. I know it was difficult and painful, but you kept going, you didn't cower, but faced them head on." Brushing over his slightly frowning brow, she leaned up and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Oh…" was all he could breathe out, mesmerized over her explanation and bewitching touch. Sighing happily against her lips, he let his forehead rest against hers. "Can we just kiss until the pasta is ready, Detective?" he whispered, her aura putting his mind into a welcome, light daze. Not waiting for an answer, he quickly reached around her waist and sat her on the counter, crushing his lips against hers in a hungry kiss. Her legs immediately slung around the back of his thighs, pulling him closer, while her arms did the same around his neck, caging him up in the sweetest of prisons. He passionately tasted her, battling her tongue in a feverish battle where there was no winner, only satisfied losers panting hotly and exhausted against each other.

He needed this. Her. Purely her. His anchor he could count on keeping him secure. And he was beyond grateful for what she had done for him, for offering her help without pushing him and for staying at his side through the horrors of his flashbacks. Never has she been insensitive to his suffering, but had continuously supported him, without making him feel weak. Sure, he had cried, quite a lot, if he was honest with himself. But it had felt like a big relief, as the pressure of pain had been there all this time, but because of the memories not being fully present, he just couldn't let go of the pressure. Now that it was out, he felt much better. And he was sure that with a big dose of his beloved Detective, a decent meal and a good night's sleep, he would be able to continue his journey of retrieving his memories and help catching the man responsible for his condition.

They both slept like babies. After the previous short night and the crazy happenings over the past few days, nothing could wake them from their peaceful slumber until Chloe's alarm went off. Stretching their limbs and yawning away their sleepiness, they hummed in satisfaction.

"Good morning, Detective," Lucifer purred, relishing in the feeling of having her rest halfway on top of him. Her head was lying on his chest, her left arm slung loosely around his chest while her legs entangled themselves with his in a romantic lover's pretzel. Tilting his head, he kissed into her tousled, honey-blonde hair and lightly caressed over her back covered by her silken negligee with the tip of his fingers .

Smiling contently at his sweet wake-up-procedure, Chloe pressed herself a big tighter against him in a light squeeze. "Good morning, Lucifer." Looking up at him, she kissed him with two light pecks before pushing herself up.

"My, my. You're quick to get out of bed," he commented amused with a raised eyebrow, watching her fling down the blanket.

"Well, I'm thinking of taking a shower with a certain Devil," she cooed playfully, throwing him a cheeky smirk, the long hours of sleep having replenished her batteries and mood just as much as his.

[Rosenfeld - I Want To]

Delighted to see her in a good mood as well, he quickly sat up himself and pulled her back towards him. Taking her left thigh, he guided it over his lap to make her straddle him. "Oh, and I'm thinking of something the Devil wants to do in bed with you right now, darling." Letting out a playful growl, he rolled her beneath him and attacked her neck with kisses and tickling bites, causing her to cry out in heartfelt laughter and gasps for air. She jerked and writhed beneath him with giggles that turned desperate. Eventually he had mercy on her, stopped his ticklish attacks and instead kissed her deeply while grinding his hips into hers.

Her giggles subsided and were replaced with a soft moan that Lucifer greedily swallowed from her mouth. His desire for her was impossible to miss as she felt his hardness slide in between her legs and she shuddered when he rubbed over her sensitive bundle of nerves.

Slightly pulling his lips away from hers, he released a deep groan. The feel of her slick folds coating him with warm arousal set his body ablaze with desire. "Mmmm…. No underwear makes for great morning sex," he breathed and lowered his mouth to her ear to nip and suck at her lobe. "I didn't know you were so… appetent in the morning, Detective. I like that."

She didn't know it herself until Lucifer and her had officially started dating and shared their beds with each other. Something about him stirred her appetite and she knew it had to do with his impossibly sultry voice and him calling her by her profession. Arching up into him at the feel of his hot breath, her arms slung around his chest in primal need to feel his muscles, but when her fingertips felt the marred skin, she stopped. Lucifer hadn't flinched, so she wondered if he hadn't noticed or if perhaps he didn't mind. She decided to carefully test the waters and gently brushed over the big scars in a circular motion.

It was odd to him, because at first he didn't really notice her hands. Only a few moments later, he felt a soft tingling in his shoulders. It started like a prickle, almost tickling, but then became more enjoyable and soothing, thrilling even. "This is nice," he mouthed, looking down at her with hooded eyes. "Don't stop." He shuddered and moaned when her fingers continued to brush over his skin with slightly more pressure. And then, after a swift angle of his hips, he ground into her in a sharp thrust, feeling her wet tightness deliciously clench around him.

If there had been any sleepiness left in her body, it was thrown out the window when he pushed into her, stretching and filling her to perfection. She moaned out in bliss and her fingers automatically curled, pressing harder into his shoulder blades for sheer support to keep him right where he was. He waited a few seconds, both of them feeling into the moment, feeling as her muscles around him slowly loosened up and only then did he start to move.

Palms resting next to her head, Lucifer rolled his hips into her in slow, powerful waves, sparking her body in flashes of ecstasy. He panted hotly and moaned when her legs slung around him, letting him thrust deeper and at a more pleasurable angle. "Bloody hell, you feel sinfully good," he breathed and let out a short cry when her walls tightened around him in a particularly strong clench. Taking in her face, he saw her innocent smile, her eyes wide with lust, but he could tell she had done it on full purpose, which turned him on even more. "Careful, darling… or you'll make the fun end all too quickly."

She moved her hands higher to bury them in and grip his short, dark hair, and sensually tugged while she guided his mouth back on hers. Her core vibrated with each of his thrusts, sending her mind and body into a lecherous spiral of wanting more and more. The pressure inside her increased rapidly due to his skilful movements, pushing her closer to her release and she knew this was just what Lucifer wanted. He was persistent with bringing her to her climax first. Always. And just as she thought, this was how she was going to explode, Lucifer pulled away, gripped her hips and flung her over. "Oh my go-"

There was no way he was letting her finish that sentence as her subconsciousness intended to do. Pulling her up on her knees, he thrusted back inside her with a raw, animalistic growl and Chloe's response was immediate as he hit the base. Her last word transformed into a lewd, loud moan that she tried to tone down by burying her face in her pillow. Smirking secretly behind her back, he took her harder and faster, feeling as her inner walls began to jitter. He watched her ass bounce from his rampant plows, feeling his balls tight and heavy as they slap against her sensitive nub. Panting and growling, he reached around her chest to force her upright, making her back arch and her head lean in next to his.

Chloe's world was spinning from the flood of pleasure rocking through her and she knew she wasn't able to last for much longer. His hot breath tickled against her ear as she felt his hand along her jaw, demandingly but still gently holding her in place, giving her no way to escape his expert treatment. She tried to hold onto the last bits of control, the strenuous moments of wanting to prolong the build-up before the big explosion, but she could feel herself crumbling and her core tensing in the imminent release.

"I know this is your favourite position, being taken from behind like this, feeling my arms around you while I fuck you senseless with my cock," he whispered in between heavy breaths and groans, his speed and strength unwavering. "Come on, luv. I can feel you're on the brink of falling apart. Let go and make me feel how much your body craves to be filled with my cum."

It wasn't the particularly hard and perfectly aimed thrusts against her spongy magic spot, but his voice and words that cut the cord to her self-control. "Oh my f-fuck... Lucifer!" Crying out in ecstasy, her body started to shake and her walls clenched in fast, stuttering intervals around his cock, squeezing and milking him, pulling him in deeper if even possible. Her body was alight from sexual heat and she ground back against Lucifer to meet his thrusts and to increase the power of their impacting bodies.

Her vision blurred as her core's convulsing waves didn't begin to lessen but kept on going, the orgasm simply staying on its peak, as if each of Lucifer's thrusts pushed her right over the edge again and again. She rasped for air in between her moans and cries of pleasure and somewhere in her short-circuited brain she heard Lucifer hiss and curse obscene words that seemed to make her inner walls clench even harder.

"Ngh, fuck!" he groaned in sweet suffering and pressed her down towards the mattress. His body moulded against her as he ground into her, the pressure in his balls starting to push into his throbbing cock. "Oh yessss…. yesss… Come on, darling, give me everything," he panted against her neck, growling as her sex continued to squeeze onto him. She was still coming deliciously hard on him in her waves of multiple orgasms and he knew he himself could come at any moment, but he controlled himself in order to let Chloe fully exhaust from her climaxes.

Her desperate moans and cries went on for a whole nother minute and finally he felt her muscles starting to relax. That was his signal. With his last handful of thrusts, he let go of the self control over his cock and buried himself inside her all the way one last time. With a deep, tremoring growl vibrating from his chest and mouth directly into her back and ear, he came inside her. "Mmmmmrrrrrghhh, Detective…" he rumbled lowly between a growl and purr, rocking his hips against hers until his cock's shots subsided and he carefully pulled himself from her.

She was at the point of utter exhaustion. At least from a climax standpoint. Panting, she turned her face sideways, the cloth of the pillow damp from her moans. "Holy… Wow… That was… Wow…." she stammered in between her breaths, her mind stuttering along, trying to fathom what had just happened. Never before had she actually experienced something like that. She was pulled from her daze when she felt him pull off his weight from her and gently guided her to sit up. Brushing her hair back that had turned into a lion's mane, she turned around to look at him, finding him sitting with one leg bent and the other outstretched, in all his naked, sweat-covered, angel-muscle glory. Her lower parts tensed in longing for more of his skills in bed while her throat produced a little groan of despair as she knew she wasn't able to handle another round.

"You look mighty pleased, if I may say so," Lucifer cooed with a sheepish, wanton smile on his lips, his eyes roaming over her body unabashedly. He loved to see her like this, bathing in the afterglow, her skin hot and sweaty, her breasts heaving from her laboured breaths, her hair wild and her eyes dilated in sweet delirium. She was a divine beauty any artist would murder for, just to be able to paint her.

Chloe bit her lip in embarrassment and tried to hide the blush that shot into her cheeks. He knew all too well how good he was. "Right…. Now… I don't know about you, but I really need a shower. Cold, preferably." Giving him a pointed look with a little smirk, she scooted off the bed, but once she was standing, she had to catch herself on the nearby cupboard. Her knees were shaky from all the morning effort and she knew today's breakfast needed to be extra satiating for her body.

"Want me to carry you, luv?" Lucifer quipped as he stood up behind her, his tall, strong and still very naked body once again pressing against hers.

"No, no! All good!" she pressed, feeling her body tingling with excitement at his touch. It was impossible to just not get turned on by him it seemed and so she knew she needed to finally push her mind towards business: Shower, breakfast and work. Parting from him, she rushed towards the bathroom's shower. Yes. It needed to be cold. Really, freaking cold.

It took her all her willpower to survive the shower without yet another intermezzo with the Devil. Finally cleaned, cooled down and dressed up for the day, she headed to the kitchen and started with preparing breakfast. Following Chloe right after, Lucifer tugged at his shirt's sleeve and set his collar like the final stage to his attire's perfection. But far from being satisfied with his suit, he sighed dramatically.

"Ugh… This is not gonna do it, Detective. Could we stop by at my place before work, so that I can change into a fresh suit?" he asked, looking at her with puppy eyes.

Putting two sandwiches into the toaster, she answered his pleading look with an irritated one of her own. "What do you mean? What's wrong with this one? You only just put it on yesterday."

"Well, yes, but, as much as I hate to admit it, it's drenched in snot, tears and angsty sweat." Brushing over his sleeves and taking a sniff on his dress shirt, he cringed. "Ugh… I wish I could just… pop over to the penthouse right this second-" An idea suddenly shot through his mind and his mood changed. "You know what? I'll actually do just that." He stepped over to her backdoor and opened it. Taking in the fresh morning breeze, he closed his eyes, folded his hands together in prayer and concentrated.

Amenadiel? Lucifer here. Would you be so kind to hop by? I need your assistance! It's an emergency! … I know you can hear me, brother. Are you trying to avoid me? Listen, I told you it's an emergency, so move your precious chocolate butt over here! …. You think I'm going to stop praying? You do remember I'm the Devil, yes? So how about I start singing some Justin Bieber for an hour on your prayer-channel? Would you like that?... Alright then, here we go-

The flapping sound came with a disgruntled grumble from behind him. Of course that would work. Unable to let a small smirk slip, he turned around to see his brother dressed in an old grey printed t-shirt, red checkered pyjama pants and with big circles under his eyes standing on the patio. "Oh my word. You look absolutely horrible, you know that? Almost worse than me!"

"Good morning to you, too, Luci. And since you didn't seem to notice, it's only 6:30am. I just got up, okay?!" Amenadiel exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief over his brother's ignorance to other people's time schedules. "Wait… What do you mean 'almost worse than you'? You're dressed to the nines as always. What are you grumbling about?"

With the first plate ready, Chloe walked up the angels with a knowing smile. "You know his unfathomable need to leave behind a fresh, new impression of excellence every day," she stated with a tiny wink at him. "Good morning, Amenadiel."

Rolling his eyes with a nod he emminated the full 'Oh don't I know it'-feeling. "Morning, Chloe."

Lucifer threw Chloe a suspicious glare, sensing a hint of sarcasm, but dismissed it for the more important topic at hand. "This suit is ruined, that's all you need to know, brother! Now, the reason why I called you is because I need a lift to the penthouse and back." Looking at his brother all serious, he stemmed his hands on his hips, waiting.

"You need a lift?" Amenadiel asked, surprised. "Are you messing with me? If you need to go home then fly or drive over yourself, Luci!"

He ground his teeth, trying to not let his brother's words cut too deep. Of course he knew Amenadiel had no idea yet about what had happened to him, so he wasn't angry at him, but he was feeling the anger return for the person responsible. "Well, if I would have those options available, I wouldn't have felt the need to call you now, would I?"

"Lucifer…" Chloe chimed in with a mild, appealing tone.

Of course she wanted for him to tell Amenadiel, making him another person who'd know about his precarious situation. His stomach twisted itself in discomfort. He loved his brother, there was no doubt about it, but admitting to him in what weakened state he was, went far beyond their usual brotherly talks. So he figured, as always, he would have to do it his own way. Reveal only as much information as truly necessary and leave out those parts that were too hurtful for his dignity. The basics, so to speak. "I can't fly or drive at this very moment, because my car appears to be stolen and my wings are-" He swallowed thickly. "They are gone, because someone kidnapped me and took them off my back."

Amenadiel's mouth gradually opened while his eyebrows scrunched together in horror. "You WHAT?! How… Who… Why…" At a loss of words, he stammered along.

"Yes, all excellent questions to which I have no answers for yet, and please do not ask any further, because I'm really not in the mood to explain," Lucifer grumbled impatiently. "Now back to my original request. Would you please give me a lift to my penthouse and back? I really wish to change suits."

"Luci, hold on a moment," Amenadiel countered, scanning him with worry. "Why haven't you said anything to me? I'm your brother."

"You just answered your own question." Earning a smart-ass look from him, he sighed. "I didn't want you to push me on the matter, because it's been very… difficult for me. But I have the Detective and the Doctor helping me, so I'm in the best hands for emotional caretaking I'd say. And speaking of hands. Will you pick me up already?!"

Amenadiel's mouth opened and closed in search of smart words of either sympathy or protest, but after several seconds of not finding any he gave up, sighed in resignation and stretched out his arms in an open carrying posture.

"Splendid. Thank you, brother," Lucifer rang satisfied and hopped into Amenadiel's arms. "Next stop, penthouse, please. Chop, chop!"

Resigning to his fate as his brother's personal, angelic cab driver, he grumbled and forced himself to not lash out on Lucifer. With a heavy thrust, he pushed them up in the air and dashed through the baffle. Just a second later, he slowed down his flying again and came to a graceful landing on Lucifer's balcony. "You really won't tell me any more about what happened, Luci?" he asked carefully, watching his brother rush inside while already starting to undress.

"No, not if I can avoid it," Lucifer muttered loud enough for his brother to hear while he tossed his jacket and shirt into the laundry basket in his bathroom. Pants and socks followed right after.

Amenadiel could tell this was the end of that topic and there was no good use in pursuing it any further, if Lucifer had made up his mind about it. As he waited for the Devil to get dressed, he saw the penthouse looked like a bomb had hit it. "Luci, what on earth has happened here?!" he exclaimed, shocked. "Did someone break into your penthouse?!"

Sticking his head out from behind the bedroom wall, stark naked, Lucifer curiously looked at his brother to see what he meant and it hit him just then that his penthouse was still in chaos from his rampanage day of trying to avoid thinking about what had happened to him. Books, plates and all kinds of utensils were clustered around the room. The cushions of his couch and the chairs of his bar were in unusual disarray. The ashtray on his piano was overflowing and the bar was littered with empty and half empty crystal carafes. "Right… I totally forgot about that. No, that was no break-in… That was just me trying to pass some time actually," he explained matter of factly. "I'll text my cleaning lady on that."

Amenadiel stared at the utter chaos while Lucifer retreated into his closet to get dressed. It wasn't difficult to grasp that what had happened to his brother was likely connected to the results of what Lucifer simply called 'passing time'. He knew his brother's strange coping mechanisms, but was glad that it seemed he was at least open for help from Chloe and Linda, definitely something Lucifer wouldn't have done just a year ago.

A few moments later, Lucifer leisurely stepped down the stairs from his bedroom, straightened his collar and threw him a big smile. Dressed in one of his most expensive three-piece-suits in dark grey with a baby blue cotton shirt. "Alright, all dressed for the day. Now off we pop to the Detective."

After returning back to Chloe's place and telling his appreciation for the brotherly fly-by, Amenadiel took off again. Opening the back door, he found Chloe and her daughter both sitting at the table, eating on their sandwiches. A strangely warm feeling spread through his chest as he stepped inside, seeing both Decker ladies smile at him.

"Lucifer!" Trixie cheered, munching down a big bite of her cheese sandwich. "Join us for breakfast! Mom made you a special one."

"Good morning, spawn," he greeted back with a smile, sitting down opposite to Chloe where she had placed a plate with a double-decker sandwich for him. "Did she now?" Picking it up, he curiously inspected it, spotting a leaf of lettuce, salami, a fried egg and cheese on it. "Mmmm… Looks delicious, Detective. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Lucifer," Chloe said with a big smile, thoroughly enjoying the happy, ravenous look he had as he bit down on his sandwich.

"Oh… my… Dad!" he all but groaned out, his taste buds celebrating at the combined tastes of the ingredients. "This is divine!"

"Mom makes the best sandwiches, doesn't she?!" Trixie rooted for her mother, before taking a big gulp from her juice.

"Definitely praiseworthy," he agreed with a chuckle. He relished in it. The warmth both Chloe and her daughter were spreading and sharing with him , created a wonderful feeling of light fuzziness in his chest that just kept on buzzing. Noticing Chloe's observant look at him, he cleared his throat. "Are you enjoying yours? Because you should make sure to replenish all the used-up energy from any previous, straining activities. You know, there's always the possibility of more of those to come your way," he quipped with a suggestive undertone and a smug grin.

Chloe felt her cheeks burn. He was making innuendos in front of her daughter! "Lucifer!" she hissed warningly, giving him a pointed look, but she couldn't keep her stern expression for longer than three seconds, before she sighed and shook her head, smiling. It was great to hear him make jokes again.

They ate in a comfortable chit chat on topics such as Trixie's current school project and Chloe's undying wish to someday see some more of Europe. It was nice to talk about normal things, to learn new things about the Deckers' daily life and to feel part of it. When they were eventually done with their luscious breakfast, Chloe kissed Trixie goodbye and her girl rushed to the school bus.

[Dark Synth Music - Testimony feat Lane Shi Otayonii]

Just when the door fell shut, Lucifer felt the buzz of his phone in his jacket. A name showed up that he didn't expect at all. "Good morning, Miss Ivy Strange. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Lucifer," the collector greeted him with a tight voice. "You told us to contact you when we'd have a lead on your… wings?"

His smile dropped in an instant. He froze, his muscles tensed up and his stomach felt as if someone was pulling it downwards into a pitch black hole of dread. With a paling face, he looked at Chloe and swallowed. With all the horrors of his flashbacks, the actual recollection of his wings had been pushed into the background, but now that the topic was brought to the surface again, his body was overwhelmed with nervosity, fear, insecurity, but also longing. He wanted them back. He needed them back. They belonged to him and thinking of them in the disgusting hands of that butcher made him feel sick.

"Have you found them? Have you found my wings?!" he pressed agitatedly, his breathing quickening as if he had just run a marathon. "Where are they?!"

Chloe stepped towards him, her own heart thundering. Gently placing a hand on his other arm, she waited, nervously trying to pick up what was said on the other end of the line.

"Well, I'm not sure, but… I guess you have to see for yourself."

"Don't be so bloody cryptic, Ivy!" Lucifer growled angrily. "Have you found them or not?!"

Ivy was quiet for two, long-stretched seconds, before she simply said, "Check the news. It's on all channels."

Stepping over to Chloe's living room area, he grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV. What he saw first was the headline that was placed as a caption on the bottom of the screen, coloured in vibrant yellow on a red background, reading: GRUESOME MURDER - "ANGEL" FOUND IN CHURCH. Irritated, he looked at the footage that showed the outside of a church in South LA. Seven police cars were parked in front of the church, building a barrier together with over a dozen officers, pushing back bystanders that tried to get past. The big, double-winged door of the church was almost closed. Only the right door laid slightly ajar, but not enough for the camera to get a view inside.

The crowd in front of the church was strangely agitated. Several people held up cardboards about God and all of this being a sign of his wrath. They shouted chants of repentance and prayers, fell to their knees, crying, and even began attacking the police officers. A female reporter came into view, sniffing, her eyes red-rimmed. She obviously had cried as well.

"In the early morning hours a horrific crime took place at the First Congregational Church of LA. As the spokesman of the LAPD explained, a body was found inside the church by a homeless person. The crime scene has been described to be the most gruesome the officer has ever seen. A sacrilegious act of viciousness…" The woman dug up a tissue from her pocket as she started to sniff and cry again. With a tearful voice she continued, "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, but this is truly a horrific event. People from all across the city are gathering here, feeling, knowing, that this is the most diabolical, blasphemous crime this city has ever encountered and it stands to question what this means for the future of LA's citizens. Have we lost our right to exist? Is this God's wrath? I cannot tell you. All we can do now is pray for his forgiveness and-"

Lucifer blinked, coming out of his frozen state of shock. What the hell just happened? What is that woman talking about? Who's that 'angel'? What's going on?! Suddenly, the TV screen went black. Confused, he turned to the left to see Chloe with the remote control in her hand.

"We have to go. I just got informed we are needed there," she said, pocketing her phone in her jeans and tossing the remote control onto the couch. Heading towards the door, she took her badge and weapon from the counter. "Lucifer," she urged, pensively. "Hang up."

He looked over to her, still bound to his spot in front of the TV. Hang up? What? His gaze lowered to his right hand where he noticed that his call with Ivy was still on. "Thanks, Ivy," he muttered into the speaker, detached, and ended the call.

"Lucifer," Chloe's voice rang again, but this time sweeter, more in a whisper and it was much closer. She had returned to his side as he hadn't moved and now her hand gently took a hold of his arm, tugging. Her big ocean blue eyes searched in his, worriedly, pleadingly. "Come. Please."

Finally, at the feel of her hand, Lucifer came out of his strange daze. He wasn't even sure what had gotten into him. He didn't know how he was feeling exactly, only that there was an odd ache in his chest and that he had to concentrate to not start trembling again like he had done after his flashbacks. Sucking up a long breath, he nodded back at Chloe and followed her along outside towards her car.

His morning had started out so magically. A great night's sleep, an even greater morning ruffling the sheets with the Detective, and a filling meal together with her spawn. A perfectly joyful start in the day and now this happened. He couldn't even really grasp what it was, but he couldn't shake off the strange feeling. An 'angel', the reporter had said.

And then he could decipher the reactions of his body. It was a presentiment, a gut feeling. Something was there, in that church, and he feared it was worse than anything he could imagine.

A/N: Well?! I told you something bigger is about to come folks, and next chapter we'll step into the next big part of the story. This is far from being over….. I hope you appreciated this rather gentle chapter from me, cause it's soon going to be tough again for our characters and you, my dear readers. So, brace yourselves. Let me know what you think. I intentionally didn't give you a hard cliffhanger here. Ain't that a nice move from me? ;)

Take care folks and see you (soon!) in the next chapter.

- Luni