Family Dinner
Chloe finished putting her mascara on, reaching for a paper towel to dab away any excess around her eyes.
The sight in the mirror wasn't one she was used to these days. Mostly she was just happy to have rolled out of bed in the morning feeling relatively fine and finding a fresh pair of clothes.
Darkened lashes, lips a soft shade of pink, hair loose and tumbling down her back in soft waves. She was never one for over the top make-up (except for her gothic phase but we don't talk about that), so she naturally took a liking to this subtle yet visible look. Combined with an artfully knitted, extra soft cream jumper and black jeans, she looked like herself for the first time in days.
Carefully lifting the necklace from her jewelry box, she put it around her throat, turning the clasp so that it was hidden under hair. The ring she kept on even at night, only taking it off to shower and whenever she did the dishes.
Never had she been so attached to two pieces of jewelry.
But still a thousand times more so to the one who had given it to her.
Quickly throwing her make-up supplies in her bag, she glanced at her phone to check the time. They were going to be late if she didn't hurry up.
Pocketing her phone, she paced out of the bathroom, only to stop in her tracks in the doorway.
Lucifer was lying on her bed on top of the sheets, holds folded over his stomach, eyes closed. He wore a navy suit in a shade so dark it almost seemed black, the color of his pocket square matching her jumper.
Having just arrived back from Hell, his last couple of clients had been deeply troubled, difficult to connect with, and the inability to make progress wore heavy on him. For the first time in months, there'd been dark shadows under his eyes.
Chloe tiptoed around the bed, slowly lowering herself on the edge. There was a crease between his eyebrows, caused by the slight scowl he was displaying.
Even in dreams he's still worrying.
Unable to help herself, she kissed the spot, the worry line disappearing at her touch, his eyelids flickering but remaining shut. Next, she dropped a kiss to his temple, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile.
"We've got to go," she murmured against his skin. "Otherwise Linda will have our heads."
"If I stay very still, will you promise me you won't stop?"
Chloe hummed and leaned in, brushing her lips against his, the slight contact prompting a direct reaction from him. His eyes flew open, a pleased grin spreading across his face, all traces of sleep erased.
"I have to fall asleep more often." He propped himself up on his elbows, looking her up and down in a way that made her cheeks heat. "Especially if it means waking to such a lovely sight."
"Charmer," she chided.
"Can't lie, remember?"
She rolled her eyes fondly, having to restrain herself from kissing him again, knowing that if she did, they wouldn't leave the bed for the first half hour.
"But I meant what I said," she continued, resting her hand on his shoulder. "We really have to go if we want to be there at seven."
Or else all her planning would have been for nothing, and the surprise would be ruined. A pissed off Maze was never fun to deal with. Besides all that, they had a question for Ella.
"Alright," he said, sitting up and adjusting the lapels of his already perfectly pressed jacket.
She made to get up, but Lucifer stopped her gently by her lower arm. "Wait. I ummm..." He opened his mouth, then shut it again, looking a little embarrassed. After a long minute he decided to ask her anyway. "Can you show me again before we go? Please? If only just for a second?"
Chloe sighed happily. "How could I say no to that?" She reached for the hem of her jumper, fingers grazing the bottom of the soft material, then lifted it upwards.
Lucifer's expression turned to one of soft wonder, any lingering embarrassment forgotten, as he ever so carefully grazed the tips of his fingers over the barely-there swell of her belly.
Most of the time, especially when she wore loose clothes or blouses, it wasn't even noticeable. But when she wore a tight-fitting shirt, or a sports bra during her yoga, and you squinted for a moment, you could tell.
Sort of.
She was starting to show, if only the teensiest, tiniest bit.
When she'd walked in in her underwear to fetch clothes from her dresser before she showered, at first she hadn't understood why Lucifer had jumped up all of a sudden, taking her by her upper arms to gently turn her this way and that.
It was only when he'd started inspecting her from the side, then the front, then the side again that she realized he hadn't seen her like that yet.
He pressed his palm flat against her skin, the sudden warmth sending a shiver down her spine. "She's in there," he whispered, awed.
Chloe chuckled, covering his hand with her own. "Where else would she be?"
He remained silent, softly brushing his thumb over her abdomen, as if in a trance. After a while, he said quietly, "Is it weird that I miss her, even though she's right here?"
"No. No, it's not. I miss her too."
After Rory had gone back to the future, having succeeded in keeping her father alive, they'd both been so lost.
They'd sat in an empty Lux for a while, her sideways on Lucifer's lap, head resting in the crook of his neck while he played the piano. Three sonatas, five covers and a rendition of 'Heart and Soul' later, they'd both ended up at the bar.
She'd request a cocktail off the top of her head, and he'd serve it to her with a tiny umbrella, albeit an alcohol-free version. But even that couldn't quiet their minds.
The world had suddenly felt a lot emptier without her in it, and neither of them could quite make sense of it.
In the end, they'd gotten into Lucifer's car, and driven down Sunset. She'd watched the neon lights flash by, his free hand drawing comforting circles on her thigh, until they'd reached the ocean.
And they'd settled themselves on an abandoned pier, legs dangling over the edge, listening to the soft rush of the waves rolling on the sand as the midnight tide swept in.
They'd sat there long after their skin had gotten numb from the whipping wind blowing off the coast, long after even the rowdiest bars closed and the drunks had staggered off, until even the moon herself had taken her leave from the night sky.
His arms around her, her head on his chest. So similar, yet so different to their trip to the beach from the day before, when she'd still thought she'd lose him. Both of them.
"I miss her too," Chloe repeated, the familiar pang of loss in her chest. "But in six months and a half, she'll be back. And then we can hold her again, and never let go. "
"I don't intend to." Lucifer's smile turned wistful, and he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her belly, sending her stomach fluttering. "Until then."
Chloe opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by an alarm going off on her phone. She huffed in frustration. Why did their moments always have to be disturbed by something?
She fished it from her back pocket, pressing a little too hard on mute. Granted, she'd set the alarm for a good reason, in case of distraction, whichever form it took, but still. Didn't mean she had to like it.
Lucifer had straightened herself beside her. "Last call?"
She pulled her jumper back down, getting up from the bed to snatch her dark, woolen coat against the October chill. "Yeah. Otherwise we're going to have to bribe her into forgiving us if traffic's a mess."
He pecked a kiss to her cheek, then bolted upright and made for the door, adjusting his cufflinks. "I'll get the wine, you get the pastry."
-
Through whatever miracle God saw fit (and she'd thank him for it over dinner), the LA traffic jams had mostly died down for the evening, and they stood on Linda's doorstep at two minutes before seven.
The sun had already set, the last of the golden light clinging to the rooftops, the cold starting to rise from the damp earth.
Chloe rang the bell. "Do you think we should tell them before or after dinner?"
Lucifer shifted the wrapped gift basket with the wine and confectionery to his other arm. "I believe after dinner is customary for these sorts of announcements, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but then I might look as if I ate too much. It's not that obvious yet."
Lucifer inspected her in the growing dusk, and there wasn't anything noteworthy to see when she wore the loose jumper under her coat, the garment doing an excellent job at hiding her form.
"I can't see anything from here, and I know what to look for, love. She's still a tiny bump." Even though she couldn't see his face, she noticed the fondness of his tone.
He readjusted the weight of the basket in his hands, the wrapping foil crackling. "Take your pick. We can do it before or after, it's all fine by me. Whatever makes you feel comfortable. I do suggest we ask Miss Lopez after dinner."
Chloe chewed on a fingernail, mentally rifling through her options. At least one of them must have suspected something by now, especially Ella. "Alright. What if we-
The door swung, the light from inside suddenly illuminating the dark porch, revealing a very frazzled Linda. Fogged glasses, hair standing on end from the humidity in the kitchen and an apron stained with what she hoped was tomato sauce, she looked every part the mad doctor.
"Oh, no. You're too early," Linda breathed, glancing between them both.
Crap.
"I thought you said seven," Chloe replied the same time that Lucifer frowned, saying, "Hello to you, too?"
Nerves jittered in her chest. She'd said seven, right? Good God, she hoped she hadn't screwed up last-minute. They'd been planning this for too long and looking forward to it as well.
"No, you're on time," she said, not completely being able to hide her surprise. "But you guys were supposed to arrive last. It's just that Maze and Eve are still handing in a bounty at the precinct, and Amenadiel's still doing God knows what."
A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. Their neatly organized order of arrival had fallen apart. Now they wouldn't all be there for the surprise.
Linda sighed, leaning against the doorframe and taking her glasses off to clean them with corner of her apron. Putting them back on, a smile was starting to form on her features. "Though I've got to say that it's really, really good to see you both." Her gaze lingered on Lucifer for a second, then moved to Chloe. They'd just have to do it this way, then.
"Oh, is that for me?"
He extended the gift basket to her. "For you, doctor. As an... apology for being here too early."
She accepted the gift, eyes widening as she read the label on the wine bottle. "Is that a real-"
"- Château Lafite, indeed it is. Though I unfortunately cannot be sure it came from the cellar of Thomas Jefferson. Wasn't in America at the time. "
Though Chloe wasn't a wine connaisseuse in any sense of the word, the way Linda cradled the basket with the utmost care after hearing the name told her it was probably really expensive.
Giving Chloe a look that said, Keep an eye on him, the therapist inclined her head. "Come in, then. No point in having you waiting outside."
Lucifer gaze her a confused look, not understanding the situation or why she was upset. Chloe just shrugged, following Linda inside the warm house.
"Is that Maze and Eve?" a familiar voice called.
"Nope. They're already here, Ella." Linda answered, putting the basket on the table and jogging back into the kitchen as a cooking alarm went off.
She shrugged off her coat, Lucifer taking it gallantly from her to put it on the coat hanger next to the door.
As she made her way down the short staircase, Chloe frowned when she put her hand on the bannister, feeling a weird texture.
Bubble wrap.
She looked up. The fan and ceiling beams were covered in it, along with the doorframes and handles. Basically any surface or object that could cause damage when bumped into.
"Ah, it would seem that my nephew has finally sprouted wings," Lucifer said from behind her, poking a bubble until it sprang apart with a loud pop.
"Looks like."
Would she have to do this as well? When exactly had his wings popped out? Could he fly already, or was it more of a fluttering around? Thankfully, they hadn't been there when he was born, meaning she still had time to consider a strategy.
This takes baby-proofing your house to a whole new level.
"What do you mean, they're already here? Weren't they supposed to come last?" Ella shouted after Linda.
"Change of plans! Just improvise" it came from the kitchen.
At the sound of the front door closing, the scientist softly swore. "Ay, dios mio."
Ella was perched precariously on top of a ladder, stretched out in order to fasten the left side of the banner to the wall. After a tense couple of seconds, she managed to hook the loop on the nail in the wall. Wiping her brow, she stuck out an arm in an effort to hide the words on the cloth.
"You can't see this yet!"
Lucifer immediately screwed his eyes shut, bumping into Chloe when he reached the foot of the staircase. He stretched out an arm to steady her. "Sorry, love."
She patted his arm. "It's fine, don't worry."
Well, that was one way to prevent him from seeing anything. If it had been up to her they'd just waited in the backyard until everything was ready.
"Good to see you, too. Miss Lopez. Though I must admit that everyone has a peculiar sense of greeting me tonight," he added, more to himself to anyone else.
Chloe walked over to Ella, who was climbing down the ladder. "Hey, no sign of Maze and Eve?"
She blew a lock of hair from her face that had escaped her ponytail. "They were supposed to be here at six thirty but had to pass the precinct to drop off a bounty all of a sudden." Looking over Chloe's shoulder, she added, "Sure, that's a temporary solution, but we can't have him standing there with his eyes closed all evening."
"Depends on how long it takes the rest to get here." Chloe dropped her voice to a whisper. "Also, I love the banner."
Ella glanced at it, then grinned broadly. "Yeah, took me a lot of time. And glitter, but it was worth it in the end. I just hope he likes it."
"He will, trust me." Chloe cast a look at the clock on the wall. A little past seven. "What do you say we give them twenty minutes, then decide to reveal it? That way it won't get too late before we eat." And we have a surprise of our own as well.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
Chloe gave her a thumbs up. "Great! I'll keep him distracted in the meantime. "
Ella smirked. "Sure you will, Chlo."
She rolled her eyes and was about to retort when Linda called.
"I need some help in here!"
With a last wink at her, Ella sprinted into the kitchen. "I'm here, I'm here -"
Chloe padded over to Lucifer, who was leaning against the wall next to a potted fern, arms crossed and eyes closed. Though he was still clearly exhausted, his features were more relaxed now he was surrounded by his friends.
She rose on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss against his lips, feeling him smile.
"Come to wake me up again?"
"Don't fall asleep now. You'll miss the surprise."
"I had a feeling that was the reason everyone was acting so weird. Is that why you were so adamant about being on time?"
She hummed, kissing the corner of his mouth. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
He slid his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. "Very much so," he whispered.
"Just a-"
The loud rumbling of a motorbike outside interrupted her sentence, but her mood lifted at the sound. They'd still made it on time. Somewhat, but it was better than nothing.
Ella came bounding out of the kitchen, towel slung over her shoulder. "They're here!"
Linda followed behind her, having cast the grizzly apron off. "Thank God."
"Nice distraction," Ella said under her breath as she passed them by.
"Thanks." With a squeeze on his bicep, Chloe said, "Wait here for a second, okay?"
"Won't move an inch," he mumbled, arms falling away from her sides.
The door opened, and Eve's soft voice floated into the living room. "We are so, so sorry. We left home on time, but on the way here we-"
"- spotted the bastard we'd tracking for weeks just walking down the street. Sorry Linda, but otherwise that dumb sack of flesh would have walked," Maze finished, taking Eve's motor helm to store it alongside hers. They were both still in leather riding gear, and each time Chloe was struck by how good a couple they made.
Linda sighed, waving a hand as the two women filed behind her. "It's fine. One less criminal on the street, right?"
"She's such a good fighter," Eve crooned, running an affectionate hand down her wife's arm.
Maze turned her head to peck her on the lips. "Couldn't have done it without you, babe."
For a moment she wondered if that was what she and Lucifer looked like to other people, then decided that she didn't really care. They'd all earned the right to be as cheesy as they liked with their loved ones.
The couple stopped dead in their tracks when they saw her.
"Shit. What time is it?" Maze asked.
"A little after seven," Chloe answered. "But -"
"Fuck me," Maze breathed when she noticed Lucifer leaning against the wall. "What did he see?"
"I saw nothing, Mazikeen, no need to worry. Whatever it is you have planned will baffle me just as much as it would have done half an hour ago," he drawled, eyes still shut.
Chloe looked to Ella, who nodded. "Alright. Since Amenadiel told us not to wait for him, I think we can all get into position."
Lucifer frowned at the commotion around him, hearing plastic rustle and giggling. "What on Earth do you have planned for me? Do I have to be afraid?"
"Just wait and see," Chloe called, grinning, adjusting the diadem on her head before helping Eve with hers, the material getting all tangled up in her long, brown curls.
The four women stood side by side under the banner Ella had made, barely able to contain their glee and excitement. Even Maze's familiar scowl was softened for the moment, something only Eve was capable of most of the time.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now," Chloe called.
Lucifer obeyed, and blinked once, twice, a mix of delight and confusion on his face.
"Surprise!" they all chorused.
"What- what is this?" He walked into the seating area, caught off guard.
He looked at the banner. In great, red glittering letters was written 'Welcome Back Lucifer!', with two devil emojis painted in the corners. Everyone stood below, wearing little red devil horns, all with the same ear-to-ear grin
"It's welcome back party. For you," Eve explained, holding a glass that said 'Not-So-Holy-Water'.
"For... me?"
His eyes sought Chloe's, and she nodded, smiling. How could he think they were just going to let this pass by with any form of celebration?
A dazed smile spread over his face, and he shook his head. "But why?"
"Because you all scared the living crap out of us, you asshole," Maze said, and Chloe wondered if she'd imagined the quiver in her voice.
The demon stepped closer to him. "We thought we'd seen the last of you, or that you were about to do something incredibly stupid. Probably both. I thought you were going to die."
"Mazikeen-"
All of a sudden, she wrapped her arms around him, in what seemed more like a vice grip than a hug. Still, for Maze, that was out of the ordinary.
He rested his chin on top her head, aiming it between the devil horns. "I was. Going to die, I mean." His gaze met Chloe's and turned even softer. "But I survived. It's going to take much more to kill this Devil."
Maze pulled back, then punched him on the arm.
"Ouch!"
She pointed a finger at him, gritting her teeth. "You pull shit like that again, and I will kill you. Properly, this time."
And the old Maze was back.
He lifted his hands in surrender. "Fine."
"She's right, though." Linda pushed her glasses up her nose. "We were all scared something bad was going to happen." The therapist swallowed, straightening the horns in her wild hair. "But it didn't. And that's more than enough cause to celebrate."
"Hear, hear," Ella chanted, voice a bit hoarse.
"Hear, hear," they all repeated.
Lucifer seemed at a loss for words, eyes shining. "Thank you," he said, looking at all of them. "Just... thank you."
Chloe walked over to him, lacing her hands behind his head. "Anything for you," she whispered, before leaning in to kiss him.
Cheers and clapping erupted all around them, Maze even whistling.
She pulled back, ears burning a bit with embarrassment, but that was soon forgotten when she spotted the complete look of adoration on his face.
Before he had to chance to say anything, Linda clapped once and announced, "Alright, everyone. As your host for the evening, I say we get started with the appetizers and snacks already. I'll throw the roast in the oven when God has at last dragged his feathery butt down here."
She waved an arm towards the sofas. "Until then, make yourselves out home. That's never been a problem before for some of you," she said with an amused glance at Maze, who was completely oblivious to the jab.
"I'll add the last touches to the soup before I join you," she said, with the resignation of someone who had to fight a great beast and had already lost the two previous rounds.
-
Half an hour later, and God still hadn't dragged his feathery butt down to Earth.
"- and that kid, who always hated science with a passion, now wants to become a forensic scientist," Ella explained, gesturing with her hands, the wine in her glass threatening to spill over the edge. "It's incredible, really, what can happen if someone has the right tutor."
They were seated on the sofas, Lucifer next to her with a lazy arm slung around her shoulders. Maze, Eve and Ella were seated on the one opposite to them. Linda perched on the edge of the couch, sipping her wine, darting into the kitchen every now and then to fetch some more snacks or stir the cooking pots.
"A good teacher is everything," Lucifer said, glancing sideways at Linda.
"I know, right? You know, you should really come along with me one of these days. This wouldn't have been possible without you."
Lucifer smiled. "I'd be honored to."
Maze checked her phone for the time, Eve having laid her head on her shoulder, having taken off the horns to be able to do so. "I am so not going to let Amenadiel forget that he was late when he scolds me for being a few seconds too late."
Chloe sipped her glass of sparkling water, which had earned some weird looks when she'd declined the wine. She'd avoided explaining it by claiming she had a headache.
"Speaking of absent people, it's a shame Carol couldn't join us tonight." Putting her glass back on the table and pricking another olive on her toothpick (she'd lost count ten olives ago), she settled herself back against Lucifer.
Ella had tucked her feet under herself, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth at the mention of his name. "Yeah, I mean, kind of, but he had to give training at a convention in Sacramento on undercover work." She shrugged. "And things are going good. Like, really good. I don't want him to freak him out if he saw baby Charlie's wings."
Maze shrugged. "Hey, if anything's a relationship test, it's that. Better than wrestling with a hellhound, anyway."
Chloe turned to Linda, who was already on her second glass of wine. "When exactly did his wings come out? Like a rough time estimate?" She tried to sound as nonchalantly as possible but could tell by Lucifer's chuckle that it failed.
"Oh, on the day of his second birthday. He blew out his candles and poof! There they were. Had to rewrap this place again," she said gesturing to the bubble wrap covered ceiling.
"That's so cute!" What color are they?" Eve asked
"Gray, just like his father's."
Chloe leaned forward in her seat, intrigued. She had to take notes, didn't she? "Are they, like, out all the time? Or can he make them disappear?"
Linda laughed, nearly tipping off the edge. "Chloe, he's two! He can barely control his own limbs, let alone his wings." She seemed to sober up a bit. "We can't send him to daycare. I had some time off since it first happened, but Amenadiel's going to have to take him to Heaven with him during the day until he learns to control it."
Cool. That's cool. Her daughter was going to pop her wings out within two years, meaning they couldn't send her to daycare. And how long would it take before she learned to control it? Weeks? Months? Years?
Sure, Amenadiel could take Charlie with him to work. It was Heaven. What better and safer place for a child to be? He literally had angels watching over him.
And it wasn't that she didn't trust Lucifer. She did, blindly, with her life and both her children. But the thought of her baby girl spending her days in Hell made her... uneasy, to put it mildly.
And time worked differently there. A couple of hours for her could be days, even weeks down there. The thought of seeing Rory again in the evening who was suddenly two months older made her insides twist into a knot.
Lucifer sensed her unease, sliding his arm around her waist. He lowered his head to her ear. "Hey," he whispered. "It'll be alright. We'll find a solution. We always do."
She sighed, then nodded. They always did. This time around it just meant getting more... creative. Putting her hand on his knee, she gave it a squeeze.
Maze frowned at them, Chloe's sudden shift in mood not having gone unnoticed. Opening her mouth to say something, she was cut off by Ella.
"Can we see him? Or is he sleeping?"
"I'll go see if he's up." Linda put her glass down and took the empty olive bowl with her to replenish it for the third time.
"Thanks," Chloe muttered, slightly embarrassed at her appetite.
"How was your honeymoon, Eve?" Lucifer asked in an effort to fill the silence, leaning back against the armrest.
A feline grin spread over her face. "Oh, we had a wonderful time. Brazil is truly lovely this time of year." She angled her head in order to peer at her wife's face, whose expression was identical to her own. "Though I did not get a lot of sleep."
"Thought I was lying about demon stamina, did you?"
Eve twirled a curl around her finger, resting her head on her shoulder again. "Just exaggerating a bit. But it seemed I was wrong."
Maze scoffed. "Wrong is-"
"Charlie!" Ella called, not wishing to hear every detail. "Holy cow, you've gotten big!"
"He's a big boy, now isn't he?" Linda cooed. A metallic rattling sound came from the kitchen, as of a pot overboiling. "And if your daddy doesn't show up within the next ten minutes, he can create a meal of his own," she continued in the same high-pitched voice.
She handed the toddler to Lucifer, who looked confused but managed to recover quickly. "Go say hi to your uncle. You two have a lot to catch up on."
Charlie babbled incoherently, happy to see Lucifer again if the smile on his face was anything to go by.
Chloe inspected the boy from where she was seated. No wings.
"Hello, young man," Lucifer started, setting the toddler on his lap. "Goodness, you really have grown. It still freaks me out how humans do that. Or half-humans, in your case."
The sight of the two of them together nearly made her heart burst. Three years ago she wouldn't have even considered the possibility of him voluntarily holding a child.
"A shame you're too old for me to practice on you," he muttered, causing the three women from across him to perk up and frown.
Lucifer froze, Chloe alongside him, realizing his mistake.
It's going to be a miracle if one of us doesn't accidentally announce it before dinner.
Quickly deciding to change the subject, he said, "Uh, I think you're a bit shy to show us your wings, aren't you? Why don't I give you some encouragement?"
To her, he whispered, "They can sit up at this age, right?"
She smiled. "Yeah, just put him on the couch, he'll be fine."
For someone so old it was never not funny to her how he could be completely oblivious to some things, like the stages of human development. He was in for a ride the next couple of years.
Lucifer did as she told him to, propping the boy up against a pillow, then stood up.
"Alright, nephew. Wings," he said. "You know what that means, right? The big, feathery, flappy things that sprout from your back?"
Charlie giggled next to her, reaching his arms out to his uncle. The kid really was adorable.
Lucifer sighed. "I guess not then."
"Nice going."
"Shut up, Mazikeen."
He straightened himself, going for another angle. "If words don't work, allow me to give you a demonstration.
Lucifer took a step back, then shrugged his shoulders in way that had become familiar by now.
"Honey, watch out for the-"
Huge, white wings burst from his back, sending napkins flying and knocking her glass over on the coffee table, water spilling down the edge of the wood.
"-glass," Chloe finished a beat too late.
Lucifer lifted a wing to check the damage, and in doing so sent an unopened box of cheese cubes flying across the room.
"You stupid pigeon, hold still," Maze scolded, getting up from the couch.
Ella just gaped at the scene before her, clearly awed. Chloe wondered what it must be like to be religious, believing in angels all in her life without requiring proof, and now being surrounded by them.
I just hope she says yes when we ask her this evening.
Lucifer gave her a sheepish smile as Maze took him by the shoulders and scooted him away from the seating area. Sorry, he mouthed.
It's okay, she mouthed back with a smile, mopping up the spilled water with a leftover napkin.
"There. Now you can do your weird chicken dance without hitting anything," Maze said with a dismissive wave of her hand, plopping down next to Eve again.
Though she tried to sound offhand, Chloe hadn't missed the intense fascination with which she had watched Charlie moments ago. Perhaps Maze was taking notes for later, too.
Charlie craned his head, letting out frustrated noises, having difficulty seeing his uncle from this angle.
Chloe pulled the boy onto her lap, taking pity on him. "There you go, baby."
Lucifer's gaze softened as he saw her holding his nephew, then recovered his posture.
"Alright, Charlie. Wings. You can do a lot with them. For one, you can... stretch them." He spread out his wings, whipping up a mild gust in the process. This time he didn't hit anything.
Maze gave him a sarcastic thumbs-up.
The toddler cooed in delight but made no attempt to bring out his own.
Undeterred, Lucifer continued." But you can also fold them!" He tucked them in, the edges peeking from behind the top of his head. "And then out again!"
He quickly repeated this process several times, blowing everyone's hair awry.
Chloe released some of her locks that had gotten caught in the horns, holding the boy close with one hand.
Charlie clapped his hands in excitement.
"To the left!" Lucifer said, curling his left wing around himself, grinning with fun. Who would have ever thought he would come to like this?
"Take it back now y'all," Ella whispered under her breath, causing Eve to laugh next to her.
Lucifer continued twisting his wings this way and that, Charlie practically bouncing with glee. And suddenly, he went poof.
The living room fell silent, and everybody leaned forward to get a better look.
Charlie's wings were a soft gray, the exact same shade as Amenadiel's. They were rather small in proportion to his body, and instead of being covered in smooth, sleek feathers like Lucifer's, they were fuzzy and downy instead.
Like a baby bird.
Relief washed over her. With his size of wingspan and type of feathers, the boy wouldn't be able to fly yet. It would at the very least take a couple of more months for them to grow, and even then. So she didn't have to worried about her toddler flying off when she wasn't looking for the first few years.
A soft whoosh sounded, and Amenadiel stood on the staircase, watching the scene unfold before him with a frown.
Lucifer with his wings almost twisted in a knot, the women wearing red devil horns and leaning forward in their seat, clapping and cheering. The napkins strewn on the floor - was that a box of cheese in the corner? - and his son with his wings out, sitting happily in Chloe's lap with his arms outstretched towards his uncle.
"What did I miss?"
-
"That truly was a great roast, Linda. One of the best I've eaten recently, " Amenadiel said for the third time in twenty minutes, seated at the head of the table.
"Uh-huh." The therapist eyed him suspiciously over her glass of Château Lafite, having given God hell over not being on time.
"Remind me again why you were late, brother," Lucifer asked with a smirk from the other end of the table, enjoying seeing him squirm.
He sighed, putting his fork down. "Jophiel had messed up a prayer, then retrieved Zadkiel to help him fix it."
"Let me guess, he only made it worse?"
"They'd put a mammoth in the community center. A mammoth, Luci."
"He always thinks he can do it better, doesn't he?" His face darkened as memory overtook him. "Though I'll forever be in his debt."
Zadkiel. The stoic angel who'd tipped the scales in their favor during the war. What better reason than love? She'd never gotten to thank him personally for his life-saving support. But now that Amenadiel was rotating groups of angels in LA to learn about humanity, she might still get the chance to do so.
"Is this what a day as God is like?" Ella asked curiously, her plate empty. "Putting out fires caused by your siblings?"
Amenadiel chuckled. "Some days, yes. But I'm just glad I don't have to worry about him anymore."
Lucifer lifted his glass in a mock salute.
"I'm serious, Luci. I am proud of who you've become."
This sobered him up, and his eyes shone. "Thank you, brother."
"This party is for you, after all." Amenadiel raised his glass. "To Lucifer."
Raising their glass, they all chorused, "To Lucifer."
As Chloe sipped her water, her hand found his under the table, and interwined their fingers. He smiled at her, overtaken by the emotion of the moment. She leaned in to press a soft kiss against his cheek.
"Good to know you guys are still as cheesy as ever," Maze said, scraping the last of her potatoes together. The finesse she handled her knife with never failed to both fascinate and unnerve her.
"Some things never change," Chloe replied, feeling content on a full stomach, surrounded by her family.
The food had been simple, but good. Tomato cream soup, mashed potatoes, green beans, pasta salad and a roast for eight people. And she'd been able to eat decently without feeling nauseated for the first time in a long, long time.
"At least this family dinner is better than the last one," Linda muttered darkly.
Lucifer and Amenadiel both blew out a long breath. "You could say that," her partner said. "Pretty sure that evening came close to being my hell loop." An uncomfortable silence fell. She'd heard all about the infamous evening and counted herself lucky for not having been present.
"Now?" Chloe whispered. She'd been waiting all evening for this and didn't know if she could stand being silent any longer.
Lucifer put down his glass. "Let's do it."
They both got up from their chairs, Chloe joining him to stand at the head of the table. He put his arm around her waist, drawing her close to him.
"Alright, everyone. We have an announcement to make," Chloe stated.
Everyone exchanged knowing looks, but the conversation fell silent, as did the clatter of cutlery against the plates.
Chloe angled her head to look up at Lucifer, who had an identical excited grin plastered over his face. He nodded, giving her the signal to go.
"I'm pregnant!"
Cheers erupted from the table, everybody rising up to congratulate them both.
Chloe was surprised to find Maze suddenly embracing her. "I'm happy for you, Chlo." The demon pulled back, and said in mock-seriousness, "But I really hope the kid takes after you."
"Maze!" Eve chided from where she'd kissed Lucifer twice on the cheek.
"I'm kidding. Obviously."
Ella pulled her into a tight hug. "I knew it!" No way in hell you just gave up coffee, Decker. No pun intended, by the way."
Linda embraced her, then kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations! I mean, I already sort of knew, having done the family therapy sessions with the both of you. It's so nice to know that I won't be the only person on this planet stuck with a fluttering infant."
Amenadiel clapped Lucifer on the back. "I'm so happy for you, brother. You are going to be a great father, I know it."
Lucifer swallowed, almost glowing at the praise from his older brother. "Well, I have you as an example to learn from, don't I?"
After the commotion had died down, they'd all made small talk, catching up with one another.
Lucifer and Linda had discussed psychology, especially the variation used in the penitentiary system for rehabilitating inmates. The therapist didn't know much about it but was able to suggest some books on the matter. The last time they'd all been together had been at Maze and Eve's wedding, and they'd all missed each other.
Three rounds of Scrabble, two bottles of wine and a plate of cakes later, they'd all drifted back into the living room again, minus Maze and Eve. The couple had gone home ten minutes ago, and Amenadiel was putting Charlie to bed while Linda was already cleaning up a bit.
That left her and Lucifer alone with Ella, who was hugging a pillow against her with one hand and gesturing excitedly with the other as she explained the working of DNA sequences. "And bang! You can see the entire thing in detail on a computer screen! How neat is that?"
A pang of guilt went through her at seeing how happy she was tonight. They really hadn't handled the situation with her well and had unknowingly excluded her on many occasions. That fact still didn't sit well with her, with Lucifer either.
Yes, she'd been in a lot, a lot of crazy situations the past years, but that did not change anything. There had been good moments, quiet ones in between everything when she could have told her. And she hadn't.
She'd known Ella for almost eight years now. Ever since she'd gotten promoted to Detective, they'd been a team, from day one. Friends. Chloe could always trust her to have her back, to find a solution or to defend her in front of her superiors during a though case.
Ella Lopez had a lion's heart, and of gold, too. The entirety of what she'd been through was unknown to her, but the bits and pieces she was aware of made her wonder how on Earth she was still able to smile. To show kindness.
"You alright there, Chlo? You seem a little off this evening."
Chloe blinked, shaken from her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm just a bit tired." She stretched her legs, groaning at her bloated stomach. "And I ate too much."
Ella laughed, patting her own. "I know the feeling. But at least you're eating for two." She clapped her hands in delight. "I still can't believe you two are having a baby!"
Lucifer squeezed her knee, his features lighting up at her words. Sometimes it still felt like a dream to her, too. But one of the best she'd ever had.
"Did you- did you guys plan it? If it's okay for me to ask that," she added quickly.
"It was a surprise," Lucifer beamed. "Well, sort of. But I'd never thought it was possible for me to have children."
Ella smiled, that genuine Ella Lopez-smile. "I'm so happy for you guys. I really am. You deserve something good after all the craziness of the past few years."
Chloe glanced sidelong at Lucifer, who was regarding her with the same anticipation. At the dip of her chin, he spoke. "Actually, Miss Lopez, there's something we've been wanting to ask you."
Ella perked up, a crease between her eyebrows. "Me? What for?"
"We know that it's still early for this," Chloe continued, unable to suppress her smile. "But we didn't see the point in waiting after we'd made up our minds so quickly."
They looked to each other, leaning forward, then at Ella.
"We want you to be the godmother," they chorused.
"If you want to, of course," Lucifer added graciously.
Ella's jaw slackened. "I- uh- really?"
Chloe nodded. "Yeah. But if you don't want it, that's okay. That's fine." She couldn't completely hide the disappointment bleeding into her voice.
"No, Chlo," she blurted, realizing she was giving off the wrong impression. "I would love to. Seriously, you guys. I'd be honored to take care of your little angel."
"No, Miss Lopez, we'd be honored to have you taking care of her." Lucifer's dark eyes stood wistful, then brightened as a glint of humor entered them. "And rest assured, now we know that their wings don't pop out until they're two. So in the meantime we'll have hopefully angel-proofed the house."
"We don't know if that'll be the case with her," Chloe muttered under her breath to him. "But it's we who are honored, Ella." She put a hand on her belly. "I can't imagine anyone else who's better for this."
"And we're sorry. For everything," Lucifer apologized. "You are part of our group. The heart of it, actually."
"You're family, Ella. And I am truly, truly sorry for ever giving you the feeling that you weren't."
Ella's eyes shone with budding tears. "Thanks, guys. That means a lot to me." She stood up in one swift movement, crossing the distance to wrap her arms around them both in one of her trademark hugs.
Pulling back, she wiped her cheeks dry with the back of her hand. "Geez, sorry for getting all emotional."
"It's fine," Lucifer croaked, drying his own.
Casting a glance at the clock on the wall, she swallowed. "Crap, I have to get up tomorrow to drive to Sacramento." She peered in the direction of the bedroom, taking a step towards it but then decided otherwise. "I'll leave Amenadiel and Linda some alone time with Charlie. Tell them I said hi, okay?"
"We will," Chloe said.
"Great. That's great. Goodnight, you guys."
"Goodnight," they both said.
"And thank you. I promise I'll take good care of her."
"No need to thank us," Lucifer amended. "We have faith in you."
Standing in the doorway, she cast a final look over her shoulder, looking lighter than she had in months. And before any of them had the chance to say something, she'd closed the door behind her with a soft click.
Chloe let out a deep sigh, laying her head on Lucifer's shoulder only to find the horns in the way.
"You're poking me; love."
"That's my line."
She took them off and placed them on his head, grinning at the sight of the literal Devil with cartoonish devil horns. It reminded her of a dream she'd had long ago.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Very," she said, now properly nestling her head in the crook of his neck, his arm settling around her.
Crying sounded from behind the closed bedroom door, along with the sound of Linda singing and Amenadiel making some sort of shushing noise. Looks like someone didn't want to go to sleep yet.
"Are you a bit relieved now? " he asked, twirling a lock of her hair between his fingers.
"Yeah." The wounds between them hadn't been mended, not in the least, but the first steps had been taken. She wasn't just going to give up their friendship without a fight.
"About the baby or Miss Lopez?"
"Both. I mean, I'm glad that at least Rory won't be born with her wings out, regardless of how fast they might appear afterwards."
Lucifer glanced at the bubble wrapped ceiling. "I do think I'm going to stop by the craft store one of these days. We can never be too prepared, can we?"
Chloe chuckled, wrapping her arms around his middle to hug him closer. Although the birth was still months away, she had the feeling that he sometimes suffered from the jitters. His way of dealing with it was trying to already gather as much stuff as possible. This week he'd bought a batch of tiny, adorable pajamas because she can never have too many, right? And what if something happened to them in the laundry?
"I guess not. But mostly I'm just relieved Ella said yes. I honestly couldn't blame her if she'd refused."
Lucifer sighed deeply, passing his free hand over his face. "Me neither. I messed up so badly. We should have just told her. Shown her, in some way."
Chloe remained silent, guilt churning her insides. At least they'd taken the first steps to restoring their bond.
"And you," Lucifer started, cupping her cheek with one hand so she faced him. "Stop worrying so much, you're taking over my part of the burden. We'll figure it out, with daycare and all. And if we're really out of options, we could always try to find a very religious babysitter."
"To babysit the Antichrist?"
He considered this for a moment. "We can leave out certain details," he amended. "They don't have to know everything, do they?"
Chloe snorted, failing to take him one hundred percent seriously with the horns still on. Getting a hold of herself, she replied, "That's an option, I guess. Thankfully LA is filled with weird alternatives. There's got to be something that works for us." She settled down again.
Lucifer pressed a kiss against her hairline. "See? We'll find something. It's not the biggest obstacle we've ever conquered."
He was right. Of course he was. They'd faced much weirder, much more dangerous situations over the years, and eventually they'd gotten out alive. Together. Because if there was one thing she could count on, it was him.
She brushed a hand over his middle. My partner.
There were so many things she still had to figure out, to make up for. And sure, she was probably still in for a few surprises when it came to Rory, but at least she wouldn't be able to fly off the first couple of years. And if that somehow managed to happen, at least her dad could retrieve her.
Whatever she had to face next, she wasn't alone. The love of her life was right beside her, along with rest of her not-so-human family.
Whatever the future held, it was bright, and full of possibilities.