Happy Spring! Naturally it's the perfect time for a little [okay, sorry it's really long] Christmas chapter! :)

Thank you so much for those of you that reviewed! That does a LOT for the motivation, but so do the favorites and follows. You guys rock!

Chapter 5

"Chloe," Lucifer whispered in the dark, padding at the silky black duvet over the detective's rump.

"Ten more minutes," she mumbled, hugging the pillow tighter, scooching farther under the bedding.

He kissed her bare shoulder, wrapping his arms around her chest and pulling her close, "You were sleeping on your stomach again."

"She's somewhere between an olive and a strawberry. It's okay." She patted his arm and turned her head to kiss his cheek, "That's cute though."

"No reason to squish the poor lad."

"Lad, huh?" She yawned, "You're taking this awfully well, Lucifer. Are you sure you're okay?"

She felt him shrug, "Unexpected is a bit of an understatement, but I'm fine with all of this."

"Fine. Right." Chloe chuckled, trying to sound less hurt than she felt, closing her eyes again.

Lucifer sighed, realizing what he'd said, "Excited, Chloe. As Miss Lopez would say, I'm 'freaking out', but I'm excited."

"That's normal," she smiled, rolling over to snuggle into his chest, "I'm freaking out too."

Kissing the top of her head, he ran his fingernails up and down her spine, grinning to himself when he felt the goosebumps rise in their path, "So when do I get to tell everyone the love of my life is carrying the spawn of Satan?"

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "When we know everything is okay at twelve weeks."

"What have I said now? You're crying again," he sighed.

"You probably have about seven and a half more months left of this. Especially if you insist on being so sweet."

"Should I stop?"

"Never." She sighed after a few minutes of listening to his heart thump against her ear, "It's Christmas Eve. I wanted to have Chelsea's case solved by now and I've only bought for Secret Santa and one thing for Trixie so far...and you."

"You're close though, I can feel it. And we're both taken care of, Detective. I'd been putting a wish list together of everything the Brat mentioned she wanted since that dinner party with your mum and the dry chicken. It all came in the mail a few days ago."

"Turkey. That was Thanksgiving," she laughed "Everything? Lucifer, I don't want her getting everything she wants. You know that. That's how she turns into a spoiled little-"

"Brat?" he smirked, "I drew the line at a goat. I hate goats."

Chloe laughed, "No, she asked for a goat?"

"She saw a video of baby fainting goats on Wobble and suddenly my iPad history is full of goats. I thought Amenadiel was back," he chuckled a little sadly. "Instead there's that All American Doll you made me send back before, the baking set for it, and a Corvette. Newer than mine, I'm afraid. And pink," he cringed.

"Just to be clear, we're talking a pink Corvette for the doll, right? Not an actual pink Corvette."

"Course. Besides, she's already requested a 'lime green Bugatti' for her sixteenth birthday," he laughed, "Your spawn's got decent taste."

"It'll change twelve times by then, but she can drive a beater like I did at sixteen. Don't let her give you any ideas." She shook her head, "You didn't have to spend that much on her though, I know how much that All American Girl stuff costs."

"I certainly don't have to worry about you loving me for my money, do I? Chloe, like it or not, I'm a big part of her life now. Her sibling is my child after all. You can let me treat her like I would if she were my own."

"You don't…you don't like kids, Lucifer. You called Trixie the best form of birth control."

"Clearly that worked well. But I wish you would trust me, Chloe. Other people's children I'm not too fond of, no. But Trixie's worn me down, I'm afraid. There's a certain respect there."

Chloe snorted, "That's why the Devil went all out for a holiday in his brother's honor that he'd otherwise never really mentioned…"

"Half brother."

"Trixie has you wrapped so tight around her little finger, it's adorable."

"She does not." He tried to sound offended.

"Sure," she smirked, but reached up to put a hand on his cheek, "I do trust you. And I like that you're a big part of our lives. This is all just going to take a lot of getting used to." She paused, brow furrowing, "What did you buy yourself? You said you were taken care of too."

He reached over to his side table and grabbed the picture from the sonogram, "That one you still took care of."

Chloe rolled her eyes, "Ugh, cheeseball."

"What, no tears? I thought that was a good one." He laughed, putting the picture back in the drawer and climbed on top of the Detective, careful to not put any weight between her hips. He started kissing her collarbones, his tousled hair tickling her face and making her squirm. "It's been more than a week, you know."

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, this time for a very different reason. Lucifer was doing that thing with his fingers again, "We could rebuild our streak." Her hips rose to meet his tongue, working its way down her belly button. Her toes curled as he got closer, his own hot breath and moaning driving her wild. Until he stopped. Frozen. "What? No, don't stop. Lucifer?"

"I never even thought…" He actually looked a little terrified, "Can we?"

Chloe gently tried to coerce his mouth back to where it was, the area still begging for attention, "I thought you read the book? Yes, it's fine. Healthy even. Please."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, Lucifer. Please."

"Why Detective, I do love hearing you beg." His most devilish grin spread across his worried face as he slowly crawled back up, kissing her in the most tender places. "I dunno if I should…" he whispered in her ear, knowing exactly what he was doing to her as she bucked under his busy hand.

She weaved her fingers into his hair, kissing him hard. "Pretty please," she braced herself, expecting him to plunge right in, hard and fast like he so loved doing to her. Instead it was slow and gentle, causing a low moan to escape her lips, his size feeling even bigger the slower he went. "Oooooh yes," she breathed into his neck as his slow thrusts went deeper and deeper until he stopped again. "What's the matter?"

He leaned himself up on his elbows, cradling her face in his hands, "I just…I don't know. I don't want to hurt it."

"I was pregnant the last time we did this, you know." She gave him a comforting smile, caressing his scruff with her thumb. "You're not gonna hit her head, I promise. Besides, we have to enjoy it now before I'm too big." She wrapped a leg around his thigh and lifted herself to slide up and down his shaft, egging him on. He bit his lip and gave a low growl himself. It was working.

"I can think of several different positions that will do just fine then, Detective." He pulled out oh so slowly, leaning down to kiss just above her pelvic bone, "You're going to want to plug your ears for this, little one." Chloe laughed, her heart fluttering at his soft smile. He picked up her feet and slid a pillow under her back, kissing the inside of each ankle before placing them on his smooth, muscular shoulders. His soft silky hair tickling her legs and sending goosebumps down her thighs. Teasing her with his raging erection, he turned serious for a moment, "Tell me if I'm getting too rough."

"Just avoid the boobs, that's all I ask."

"You can lay on them, but I have to be gentle? What will I do with you, Detective?"

Chloe woke up feeling movement between her hip bones. Knowing better, she carefully lifted the duvet enough to see Lucifer's big hand gently rubbing the ever so slightly swollen area below her belly button. He was still fast asleep, though a small smile played at his lips. She sighed, still unable to truly believe any of this was real. She still expected to wake up any moment to find Maze sitting across her bedroom eating popcorn and enjoying the show.

She carefully adjusted herself so she was laying on her back to look up at his beautiful…well, angelic face, his hand still caressing her belly. This loving, protective, vulnerable, even cuddly Devil made her stomach tie itself in knots. They weren't the nauseated kind brought on by her tiny passenger he'd helped to put there, but the kind she'd put there herself.

Chloe very gently reached up to put a hand on his cheek, "I'm sorry I told you to go back to Hell, Lucifer." She whispered, barely audible, "Please don't ever leave me."

"What if I went to make breakfast?" he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"Depends on what's for breakfast."

Lucifer thought for a moment, "How about French toast, scrambled eggs, and some more Devil meat?" he grinned, his eyes still closed.

Chloe shook her head. He'd had a week of innuendos to make up for afterall. "All but the Devil meat since I'll just want seconds and there's no time for that today," she teased.

"There's a stash of candy canes in your nightstand if you need one," he opened one eye, letting go of her enough to let her roll to the drawer.

"No, I mean the party starts in," she looked at her watch, "seven hours and I haven't cooked anything. And Trixie and Dan might be here a little earlier since they're coming straight from afternoon Christmas Eve Mass with Dan's parents."

"Poor child."

"Dan's parents are super Catholic." She stopped, putting a hand on the Devil's bare chest, "Ohmygod, Lucifer."

"Wrong deity," he smirked, but she didn't even notice he'd said anything.

"Am I going to be like...the Satanist's Virgin Mary?" She sounded a bit panicked.

Lucifer started laughing and, still mostly asleep, moved his hand a little farther south, "Well we both know you're not that."

Chloe purred at the light massage. "Was she?"

"You know, I'm not entirely sure. Ask Amenadiel if he ever decides to show up again."

The massage stopped, but she figured the mention of his brother probably killed his mood. The look on his face was more of regret, however. "I thought Gabriel told her she was pregnant? Was it really Amenadiel?"

Lucifer pursed his lips, now fully awake, trying his hardest to carefully remove the foot he'd placed in his mouth. Yes, she'd chosen him time and time again, but this wasn't exactly the way he wanted to have the discussion about his brother's involvement in her life. That was coming eventually, he knew, but not on this ridiculous holiday that meant so much to her.

Instead, he shrugged, "I wasn't paying much attention to dear old Dad's drama at that point. Amenadiel's just the suckup that might know."

"Suppose Amenadiel's ever coming back? Maybe once Charlotte is...is settled the right word?"

Lucifer ran his hand up to play with her hair and kissed her forehead, "That's a good way of thinking about it. A nice new apartment. Beachfront, of course. Sunshine year round. Bit chilly though." He smiled, more for Chloe's benefit. It had been so long since he'd been there, he wasn't exactly sure what it was like anymore. Noticing a tear rolling down her cheek, he kissed it away, "What now?" he asked gently, though he couldn't help the snigger that made her laugh too.

"Sorry. I was just picturing my dad knocking on her door with a welcome basket full of his special sandwiches."

"On Hawaiian bread?"

She nodded, "And she'll tell him all about Trixie."

"And his daughter, the beautiful," he started planting feather light kisses all over her face and collar bones between adjectives, "wonderful, brave, brilliant, cheeky, caring, sickeningly good, successful Detective and mum."

"Okay, now I need that candy cane." She wriggled out from under him and dug through the night stand Lucifer had insisted she fill with her stuff. She really was feeling a bit nauseous, but it was more so she could wipe away the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks without him noticing.

Lucifer got up and grabbed for his silk robe, still as naked as he was when they fell asleep the night before, and again in the middle of the night. "That mean you're not hungry?" He wasn't getting a response, but what she was doing to the candy cane while very obviously ogling him was sure giving him one. "Detective?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Pregnancy brain, sorry."

"Right, right. Already." he pretended to be mad, "Really Chloe, you make me feel like a sex object." He in turn swept down the two small steps from the bedroom to the accompaniment of Chloe's kissy noises.

Feeling much less nauseous after a quick barf, tooth brushing, and shower, Chloe walked into the kitchen in her favorite of Lucifer's big fluffy white towels. The smell of bacon was a much more enticing invite than the recent struggle she'd been having with the small wardrobe accumulated in the giant walk-in closet.

She stopped at the doorway to take it all in. Against the sexy decor of dark wood, black granite, subtle orange backlighting, and clean lines, the Devil himself looked like he belonged in a romantic comedy. He was singing along to Mr. Fahrenheit, playing on the kitchen's sound system, his hair was curly and free of the usual product, and his blue silk robe hugged every chiselled cut of his perfect frame. Even appearing completely domesticated, dunking the thick cut bread into the batter, every single thing about him oozed genuine sex appeal. She bit her lip and felt herself becoming a hot, quivering mess, nonchalantly crossing her legs to try and control what this side of him was doing to her.

Snap out of it, Decker. You've got shit to do. She scolded herself, taking a deep breath as she made her way to the fridge before panic set in. "Lucifer, what the hell?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, not missing a beat of the song as he laid the bread on the griddle.

"Sorry," she rolled her eyes, "but seriously? We have what? Seven, maybe eight people eating Christmas dinner and the only thing you have in your fridge is stuff for breakfast? It's Christmas Eve! Nothing's open! What do you expect me to do with...with" she pulled out what was left of the carton of eggs, "four eggs and a bottle of ketchup?" That gave her a pause, "You have ketchup?"

"That's your offspring's faut. She likes it on her scrambled eggs." He shrugged, flipping a section of bacon.

She smiled, momentarily forgetting the dilemma. "She does," she could feel her skin growing hot again. Decker! "But come on, you had literally everything else already done, but not the groceries? What are we going to eat?"

His hands full, Lucifer unfurled a wing and used it to pull her close and hold her tight to his side, causing Chloe to jump. He chuckled self consciously at her reaction. "I think we'll have prime rib, ham, lobster, mashed potatoes, maybe some baked potatoes, a vegetable of some sort, and the Brat requested something called Ready Mac. Oh, and we have a vegetarian option for whoever decides to hate themselves this week. I even thought of the Douche and ordered a chocolate pudding dessert that I think he'll find quite delectable."

"Ordered?" Chloe relaxed a little, reaching for a slice of bacon draining off to the side, but her hand was lightly swatted away with a spatula.

"Honestly, Detective. You think I'd let you stress over a meal I could just as easily have catered?"

She leaned her head on his arm and sighed, that particular giant weight off her shoulders. Absently stroking the pure white feathers around her waist, she didn't realize that Lucifer started moving much slower, having completely lost his concentration.

He put the tongs down and grabbed her hand, his breath noticeably ragged, "Chloe."

She froze, her eyes growing wide and a lump formed in her throat. "I'm so sorry, I thought…"

"No," he cut her off, shaking his head, "no, it's fine." He grinned, "You just don't want any devil meat for breakfast, but keep doing that and I'll have no choice but to feed it to you."

That caught Chloe completely off guard, "Angelic erogenous zone, huh?" she asked with a higher than normal giggle. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."

He very carefully unfurled the other wing and leaned down to kiss the detective behind her ear, "They're sensitive. Does to me what this does to you…" Lucifer wrapped his arms around her and nibbled on her earlobe. His hot breath and massaging hand in her wet hair sent her senses into overdrive. His other hand wandered down to lift the towel and cup her bum as he pulled her close, the result of her touch pressed against her belly. She was breathing hard against his neck. "That primal urge is stronger than you right now, isn't it, Detective?"

"We do have time now that I don't have to cook," she bargained, breathless.

Before she knew it, the towel was gone, Lucifer's robe was open, Chloe was up on a cleared section of cold granite counter, and all of the Devil's concerns about being too rough with her from the night before seemed to have dissipated. They were both completely lost in the moment, the detective pulling him in tighter with her ankles around his lower back, frantically gripping at the base of his wings for something to stabilize herself, Lucifer with his hands flat on the cupboards behind her, his tongue hungrily groping every surface of her delicious mouth.

"So we're just gonna let breakfast burn, or…?"

Chloe screamed, biting Lucifer's tongue when he nearly jumped out of his skin. His wings retracted into his back faster than they had appeared and as quickly as she had been thrown onto the counter, the blond was back on the floor, Lucifer's robe wrapped around her. Chloe's towel forgotten, he grabbed for a dish towel to hide his own assets, both of them trying to catch their breath from exertion and the pure shock of the intrusion.

"Maze, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Lucifer was finally able to bellow, though it was a bit mushed from the bite. Had Chloe not still been at his side, he wouldn't have tried so hard to control his eyes from blazing.

Mazikeen cackled, "Enjoying the show. Find a new kink, Decker?"

The woman in question went scarlet, furious. She couldn't quite tell if she was shaking from humiliation or frustration, having been so very close to what would have been an earth shattering orgasm. "It's called knocking, Maze."

"It's the kitchen! Remind me not to eat anything here tonight."

Chloe stormed out, leaving Lucifer fuming as well. "Will you…" he took a deep breath to calm himself, "just...flip those."

Maze rolled her eyes, grabbing a piece of bacon and poked at the already blackened french toast. "Welcome back Mazikeen! How was Iowa, Mazikeen? No? Nice."

In the closet, Chloe was still upset and already trying on her second shirt with a pair of grey skinny jeans. The jeans still fit just fine, but the shirts were not laying right.

"Are you okay, Detective?" Lucifer knocked, although he was already halfway in, switching the dish towel for his robe.

She shook her head and huffed, sending the pink shirt flying. "It's useless, they're gonna figure it out. My face is even puffy already."

"Figure what out?"

Chloe turned so her profile was between Lucifer and the mirror, standing up straight. There was a definite, though very small bump stretching the waistline of her jeans. A smile played on the father's lips, his heart squeezing with pride. "This isn't funny, Lucifer. I don't want anyone to know yet."

"I know, I know." He felt a little deflated, but really did understand why she wanted to wait, no matter how hard it was. "Look, I see it because I know it's there." He grabbed her olive green sweater and held it over her head until she put her arms up, kissing her when her head came through the neck and lifted the bullet necklace out to be seen. "You are beautiful, Chloe."

She gave him a half smile, but looked to her side in the mirror and shook her head again, "Too flowy. That's the first thing they'll look for."

Lucifer sighed, placing a hand on the bump, "No one will know, Chloe. If anything they'll just think you helped the urchin finish a couple chocolate cakes and a gingerbread house or two," he smiled, wiggling an eyebrow.

"So I look fat. Great. That's...that's real nice, Lucifer. Thanks." Her tone was icy as she jerked away from his hand.

"I really don't think that's what I said," his brow furrowed. "No no, I actually know that's not what I said." But before he could finish, Chloe was already out of the walk in closet and he could hear her and Maze talking more or less like their normal selves. He still felt a little dazed, not sure what he'd done to piss her off this time, but tried to shrug it off as the hormones he'd read about and headed to the shower.

By the time five o'clock came around, Chloe had managed to bake four dozen chocolate chip cookies while Maze sat on the kitchen island, half of the whiskey bottle she'd brought in with her gone. The demon had been telling the detective about her exploits in Iowa and how the country would do much better if they just cut the midwest out, but she wasn't exactly paying attention. In all reality, she was still fuming about Lucifer's comment.

"Ass," she growled, eyes widening as she realized she'd actually said it out loud.

"What?" Maze shrugged, "So we'd lose out on the corn. Big deal."

"Detective, are you willing to surrender the kitchen to the caterers?" Lucifer popped in the swinging door, now dawned in a red button down shirt and a grey three piece suit, hair and scruff groomed perfectly enough to bug the crap out of Chloe.

"Mhm," she nodded, not looking up from moving the cookies from the cooling racks to the platters.

Lucifer sighed and slipped back out, leaving Maze with a smirk on her face, "Well well well! What did I interrupt this morning?"

"It's nothing," Chloe handed her a platter, stacking the racks in the dishwasher and grabbed the other. "Come on, let's put these on the bar."

"Yes your highness," she rolled her eyes, dunking a cookie in the whiskey glass and replacing it's spot with the bottle. "Did someone forget to check the sex swing for leftover thongs?"

"Maze!" Chloe blushed as the caterers started hauling their supplies into the kitchen, "I haven't seen that thing since I told you to get it out of my living room."

"Oh it is still your living room?"

Chloe glared at her, "My name's still on the lease, isn't it? Besides, we stayed there last week."

"You got Lucifer to stay somewhere other than here for a week?"

"Well, no," she checked around to make sure the man in question wasn't listening, "I just needed some space so Trixie and I had a girls' week. No big deal."

"Uh huh…"

Just then, the bell for the elevator dinged and Lucifer stepped down from the bedroom stairs to put an arm around the Detective's waist. She very subtly nudged away from him, but not subtle enough to keep it from Maze. The demon's eyebrow raised at the pathetic kicked puppy expression she saw in the man's eyes, though it only lasted a moment.

Trixie's jaw dropped as she stepped off the elevator, "Holy shit!"

"Trixie!" Chloe warned, trying to sound stern, but she was also trying not to laugh.

Lucifer grinned, "Is that an approval?"

"This is amazing!" the little girl dropped the bags she was carrying and ran over to the three Christmas trees, inspecting the packages underneath.

"Is this why Target was out of Christmas lights?" Dan looked a little shocked, and shook his head, "Way to show me up, man."

The Devil shrugged, "I'd say it only happens but once a year, Daniel but I'd be lying. We all know I don't do that, now don't we?" Chloe huffed and elbowed him in the side before Trixie came back and wrapped her arms tight around his waist. "Oh, hello child," he awkwardly patted her head, but unlike times in the past, he left his hand there and ruffled up her black locks.

Her mother noticed and grinned, much to her annoyance. You're still mad at him, dammit.

"This is so cool, Lucifer!" Trixie looked up at him with a huge smile, "When can I open my presents?"

"Ask your mum."

"Tomorrow morning," Chloe chuckled at the pair's expression, hugging her little girl as she let go of Lucifer and ran over to her. "How was Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa, Munchkin?"

"Dad and Grandpa and I cut down our own tree yesterday, but Grandma didn't feel like decorating it so Dad and I threw tinsel at it and it looked super cool."

Her mom's eyes grew wide at the mental picture, "I can imagine."

"But they thought I had an All American Doll so I got a bunch of clothes for that and some books for school. It was kind of a dud this year."

Lucifer snorted, pouring himself a drink.

"But what did I get you, Trix?" Dan asked, setting down the large black rectangular box he was carrying.

"Oh yeah!" Her eyes lit up, "Dad got me a pink electric guitar."

Maze was busting a gut and the Devil started choking on the sip he'd just taken. "Oh Sir Douche, you didn't."

"Wow," Chloe plastered a smile on her face, though it looked more than a little forced. "That's...that's fantastic, Sweety."

Dan grinned, throwing up rock horns, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Espinoza." Maze sauntered over to hand him a drink, licking her lips and letting her hand and eye contact linger long enough to make everyone but Trixie uncomfortable. The little girl was so used to her antics that it just didn't even phase her.

Dan was the one to break the eye contact, looking to Chloe for help. His ex just pursed her lips into a questioning smirk. "Uh…Thank you, Maze."

"Come on, Monkey. Let's go put this stuff in your room before Ella and Linda get here. I want to see your loot." Chloe motioned for her daughter to pick up her other bags and went to grab the guitar case, but was quickly stopped by Lucifer grabbing it instead. "What are you doing?" she snapped.

"Allow me, Detective," his eyes pierced hers, trying to get her to understand. "It's heavy. I've got it."

Realizing what he was doing, she cocked her head, eyes widening in her trademark glare, "I'm perfectly capable, Lucifer."

"I know you are, Detective. I'm trying to be chivalrous," not waiting for her response, he grabbed the case and followed a very confused Trixie.

"Everything okay, Chlo?" Dan asked, cautiously taking a sip from the glass Maze had handed him.

Backing up to follow the other two, she waved it off, "Oh jeez. Yes. Everything's perfectly fine. He's just a little skeeved out by the whole Christmas thing. Being the Devil and all, you know." She playfully rolled her eyes, knowing her ex was still clueless.

When she got to the corner room that Lucifer had the decorators assault with twinkle lights and garland, the pink guitar was already out and he was showing Trixie a rather complicated looking chord. "You play guitar too?"

"It's not like I haven't had time to learn," he handed the instrument off to the beaming brunette and went to leave.

Chloe grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hall, away from the door, "What the hell was that?"

"You're not exactly supposed to do any heavy lifting."

She rolled her eyes, "It's a guitar, Lucifer. What's next, I can't pour my own coffee?"

"I just…"

"Well knock it off. I'm pregnant, I'm not dying."

"I hear someone's ready to rock the house down!" Ella popped around the corner in full elf rigailia, her best frontman voice booming down the hall. "Oh no, did I walk in on something again? Sorry guys. Kinda my specialty."

Lucifer sighed but smiled at his friend, "Oh we know, Miss Lopez."

Fully taking in her appearance, they both started laughing. "Ella you make an adorable elf." Chloe reached out and gave her a hug, "I'm sorry you didn't get to go to Detroit this year."

She shrugged, "It's all good. I facetimed with everyone this morning and saw the snow in the background. I'm good right where I'm at."

"Ella!" Trixie ran to the door, "Come see what Dad got me for Christmas!"

"OHMYGOSH!" Ella fanned herself dramatically, "It's Trixie Espinoza! Someone grab me a Sharpie so I can get her autograph!"

"I'm gonna go see that the little sex thug hasn't slipped anything in Daniel's drink yet," Lucifer turned to tell Chloe, but she was already in the bedroom, laughing with Ella and Trixie. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes went soft, looking at the tiny clothes, even if they were for a doll. His heart squeezed again, this time accompanied by the same horrible feeling in his stomach that always came when she pushed him away like this.

He tried to shrug it off again, but the guilt was still weighing on his shoulders as he made his way back to the living room to find Linda, a bottle of wine in hand. "Doctor!" he turned on the charm as an attempt to distract her from noticing anything was wrong in front of the others, but noticed they were actually out on the balcony. Odd.

She smiled, slightly apprehensive, and checked to make sure no one was within ear shot. "I brought non-alcoholic wine for Chloe...if she needs it."

He nodded, a little sadly, "That's perfect. Thank you, Linda."

Her smile fell at the man's reaction, "Wait, did she…?"

"No, no, everything's fine. We're just having a little uh...tiff."

"Lucifer, what did you do?"

"I don't know," he took a sip of whiskey from the glass he'd left earlier. "Everything was perfectly fine until she asked me if she was showing."

"Oh no." The therapist pinched the bridge of her nose, "What exactly did you say?"

"I said what I thought she'd want to hear."

"You didn't…"

"I said the only way you could tell was if you knew, otherwise she looked like she'd just eaten a cake or two." He looked a little sheepish, rubbing his neck. "That wasn't the right answer, was it?"

"Go apologize to that woman, Lucifer. Or no one's having a merry Christmas."

By the time dinner was over, all of the tension in the air was gone. Lucifer had apologized to Chloe and she decided that trying to resist him was pointless, Dan had let his guard down with Maze and the two of them were chattering throughout dinner, and Ella, Linda, and Trixie had taken over the penthouse sound system and started blasting the most upbeat Christmas playlists they could find.

"You know I never really thought this would be how the Devil does Christmas," Dan snickered cynically, joining Chloe in the corner by the piano. She laughed along with him, but noticed the man across the room, now talking with Linda, a small package in her hand. The blond looked a little forlorn, slipping it back into the bag she'd brought out with her other gifts to put under the tree. Lucifer squeezed her arm and gave her a comforting smile.

"He knows how to throw a party," she shrugged, tearing her eyes away from the two, making a mental note to ask about it later. "Candy cane?" She asked, pulling a couple out of the box on the bar.

Her ex's brow furrowed, "Hitting those kinda hard this year."

Chloe's cheeks grew hot, but even with all the twinkle lights, she doubted he would notice. She shrugged, "Any new breaks on Chelsea's case?"

"Oh yeah," he pulled his phone out and opened his Wabble app. "I did some more digging on Judy May last night."

"We already looked at her Wobble profile and didn't see anything."

"We looked at her public profile. I found her personal one."

"Dan…"

"Yeah," he puffed up his chest, obviously feeling very proud. "I created a fake profile and sent a friend request. She accepted. Not her brightest move."

Chloe's eyebrow raised, "Is that legal?"

"You want to see what I found or not?" He hid the screen, knowing that would change her mind. She sighed and held her hand out for the phone. "Look in the album labeled Changes."

She started scrolling and her jaw dropped, "That's Mitch…" the Detective pointed to a picture of Judy and Mitch, obviously taken a few years back. They were both cheesing out to the camera, Judy holding up her left hand and displaying a beautiful new, shiny engagement ring. "I wonder what happened there?"

Dan shrugged, but the two were interrupted by Maze pushing glasses of red wine into both of their hands, "No work at the party, losers."

Chloe's mind was racing, trying to put everything from the case together. She didn't notice what she was doing when she clinked glasses with the other two and took a drink, turning around to see Lucifer wrapping his arm around her waist, a glass of wine in his hand as well. "Detectives, I thought we agreed. No working tonight."

"Dan was just showing me something he'd found on May's Wobble profile. I'll tell you about it later when I decide what it means."

"Right," Maze sounded completely disinterested, pulling Dan out to the makeshift dance floor where Ella was twirling a very giggly Trixie. Dan looked back at his coworkers, an almost scared, confused look on his face.

Chloe laughed, motioning to the wine glass, "It's okay Lucifer. One glass won't hurt. Otherwise they'll think it's fishy I'm not drinking. They're resilient little buggers."

Lucifer opened his mouth to protest, but Dan was back, reaching for his phone, "Whose resilient?"

"Mom and pop wineries," Chloe blurted out. "We were just talking about all the cute little family owned vineyards in Napa Valley and how uh…" she looked up to the man with his arm around her waist for some help, but his eyes were just sparkling with amusement, "how big wine companies aren't pushing them out of the way, so they just keep working and working and stomping and fermenting and...uh..."

Dan nodded a little slowly, putting his phone back in his pocket, "I didn't know you were so passionate about the state's wine industry Chloe."

"Oh totally," she nodded, more enthusiastically than she meant to until he headed back to the dance floor. "Wineries?"

"Nice save," Lucifer chuckled, handing her his glass, "Linda brought the non-alcoholic stuff."

"Thank you," they switched glasses, peaking around to make sure no one saw. "Is she okay? What was the present she put back?"

The man shrugged, "It was for Amenadiel. She thought maybe I had more news."

"Ah," she smiled sadly, but perked up again, watching Linda join in on the dancing, entertaining everyone with her rather bad version of the robot. "Are you having fun?" She reached up to scratch Lucifer's back, noticing he was grinning from ear to ear.

He tried to control his face, looking down at the detective, "Not quite the liquor fueled orgies of Lux Christmas past, but it's enjoyable."

She laughed, knowing he was just trying to save face, "See? Christmas doesn't have to just be about your half brother. I didn't believe in all that stuff growing up, so it was about spending time with family and friends and eating as many holiday treats as physically possible." She raised her glass, the wrapped candy cane still between her fingers like a cigarette. "Thanks for stashing these everywhere."

"You are very welcome my ironic darling," he leaned down to kiss her temple. "Is it time for that Secret Santa thing yet?"

"Thanks for coming guys! Merry Christmas!" Chloe and Trixie waved to their guests as the elevator doors closed, everyone laughing and buzzed, carrying their gifts and leftovers.

Secret Santa had turned into a game of who could give the best gag gifts along with their other presents to each other. Dan received a Costco sized case of pudding with a padlock from Linda, who in turn received a Kilty Pleasures of the day calendar from Dan, Trixie got a ginormous stuffed green alien with a shirt that said Trixie for President - 2044 from Maze, Lucifer was a great sport when he unwrapped a set of flashing red Devil horns from Ella, who received a Marie Curie action figure from Trixie, and Maze of course rolled her eyes at the ginormous foam battle axe for indoor practice from Chloe. Lucifer, having ceased the opportunity of drawing the Detective from the hat they'd passed around at the precinct a couple weeks before, had picked out the tiniest, most risque Mrs. Claus themed lingerie he could find.

The look on her face when she snapped the box shut without letting anyone see still made him chuckle as he waved from his spot at the piano, flashing horns still on his head.

Chloe looked at her watch, "You, young lady, should be getting to bed."

Trixie folded her arms and shook her head, but she looked exhausted from dancing and playing with Ella all night. "I have some work to do first."

"Ooh, right. I almost forgot. You do that, and I'll grab our Christmas Eve presents, okay. Then bed."

Her mom disappeared up into the bedroom and Trixie went over to sit at the piano, "Lucifer, do you have any paper somewhere? I need to write a note to Santa to leave with the milk and cookies."

He smirked and pulled a pen out of his jacket pocket, "There's bar napkins up there."

"Thank you," she grabbed the pen and climbed up a bar stool and got to work writing her note, leaving three cookies on another napkin and turning back to Lucifer, concern spreading across her little face. "You don't have milk, do you?"

He shook his head and got up from the piano, handing the girl a small glass and a bottle of the least expensive whiskey he kept in his inventory. "I guarantee this will get you more presents."

"Even better!" She flashed him a toothy grin and poured out a glass.

"Really, Lucifer?" Chloe sighed, exasperated, but not exactly surprised.

He shrugged, "What? It's bottom shelf."

She sighed and handed the presents to both of them, "PJ time, you two."

"Pajamas?" Lucifer scoffed, "Why on Earth?"

"It's tradition." Chloe continued, under her breath, "Trust me, you'll want them."

Trixie tore open her box and shrieked with pure bliss, "NASA onesie!"

"Oh you've got to be kidding me…" Lucifer looked up through his lashes, holding a pair of cotton Grinch sleep pants and a lime green t-shirt that said Mr. Grinch.

Chloe just laughed, "Alright Trixie, you go change and I'll tuck you in in a sec, okay?" When she ran off to her room, she turned to Lucifer and smiled, wrapping her arms around his middle, "I'm not wearing that dental floss you bought me, but come on. Let's go change." She grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom, dying to see him in his new pajamas.

It was even better than she'd expected, once he lost the chip on his shoulder and ditched the devil horns. He really could look drop dead sexy in anything. She had changed into the Cindy Lou Who pj's she'd bought herself and joined him where he stood by the fire in the living room. He handed her one of the cookies from Trixie's offering to Santa and was chuckling at the note. "Lucifer, you shouldn't read that."

"You know how you said you didn't want to get her everything she wanted?"

"You found a goat?"

"Hell no, but your kid's trying to make a deal here. Dear Santa, I'll give it to you straight, Claus. I want to ask a favor. I know I still owe you for the last one, but I'm 10 now and let's be honest, I deserve this. What was the last one and why does she sound like a Soprano?" Chloe just laughed and he continued, "I do want an All American Doll, but that's just for practice. What I want from you is to get me a baby brother or sister. I don't think she knows how that works."

Chloe's eyes were a little wide, "That's fine. She doesn't need to know details."

"I've replaced the whiskey that Mom's boyfriend told me to put out for you with 18 year old scotch to help persuade you. She really did too. I think she switched the bottles. Clever little miscreant. Do this for me and I'll get Maze to put out Pot Brownies next Christmas Eve. Safe Travels, Trixie. Did you know you raised a mob boss?"

Her mother shook her head, "Oh Trixie. At least now we know she'll be okay with it. I may have to have a little talk with her about bribery, however. And drugs. That came up sooner than I thought."

Lucifer smiled and put the napkin up on the mantel, pulling her close to slow dance to the soft music, "Does that mean we tell her tomorrow?"

Chloe shook her head, "I know you're optimistic about it all, but just in case anything happens, I'd rather not have her remember Christmas as the day she found out her mom was pregnant with Rosemary's baby…"

He put a hand in her hair and kissed the top of her head, sighing. No matter what he said, she'd still be worried and that only made him feel all the worse. "It's going to be okay, Chloe. I'm not going to start lying to you now."

"I know," she nuzzled into his chest and and swayed along with him, "Merry Christmas, Lucifer."

He laughed, "Not something I thought I'd ever hear and not feel like throwing whoever said it out the window."

Trixie had woken up the couple by jumping on their bed in her NASA space suit onesie at 6am sharp. Lucifer growled, partly at the early hour and partly because Chloe was right about the necessity of the pajamas. Chloe yawned, "Merry Christmas, Miss President. Why don't you go see if there's a note back from Santa and give us a few minutes, okay?" When she scurried out, she kissed the man on his cheek, "Welcome to parenthood, Lucifer."

"My child will not be a morning person," he mumbled.

"Everyone's a morning person on Christmas."

"Not the Devil."

By seven o'clock, it looked like the All American Doll store in Times Square had moved to the penthouse of Lux. Trixie had promptly named her dark haired, tanned skin doll Magagsy after her other favorite demon from Maze's stories about Hell. She loved the pink corvette, the baking set, the rather dominatrix looking leather doll clothes from Maze, and the rockstar set complete with a pink electric guitar just like hers. Linda had slipped in a few packages worth of space themed outfits, as well as several famous women in history sets from Amelia Earhart, Sally Ride, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg just to name a few, and Ella had found a laboratory complete with a tiny chemistry set. She was thrilled and, much to Chloe's relief, gracious.

Now, Chloe was lounging on the chaise of the couch, admittedly trying to just let a wave of nausea pass. She was focusing on the bracelet from Lucifer through misty eyes, smiling as she played with the shiny platinum charms. There were three, including Trixie's Alexandrite birthstone, an anchor with her lime green peridot birthstone on one side of the cross section and a shiny black onyx on the other, and a ruby, July's birthstone. She tried not to think about how expensive it was, but it was the beautifully handwritten note that came with it that made it all the more valuable.

My Dearest Detective,

You know better than anyone that innuendos and double entendres come easier to me than genuine words of love and romance. But for millennia, I thought I was incapable of feeling either. You are the miracle that has happily domesticated the Devil, made me realize the joy of staying in to cuddle on the couch, playing a cheesy board game with a small human, and even have fun at Christmas. You keep me grounded, sane, and blissfully at peace in a world my father has tried so desperately to keep me from enjoying. More than anyone, you have helped me prove to myself that I am not my past, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us. Thank you for being my anchor and the foundation of this unexpected family I have found with you, your beautiful offspring, and our amazing child together.

I love you, Chloe.

Lucifer

Lost in thought, she didn't realize he had set one of the stockings from the fireplace on her lap until Trixie started giggling. "Come on, Mom! He wants us to open them together."

"What?" she asked, wiping a tear from her cheek and trying to focus.

Lucifer looked a bit out of place, but somehow so natural in his Grinch pajamas, beaming at them. "I want you to open your stockings together. Now, I did my research, thank you Pinterest, and found out the stocking presents are supposed to be the cheapy stuff, but as you know, I'm not cheap, Detective. So these are more symbolic gifts, if you will."

Chloe smiled, "You researched for Christmas?"

"First one I'm not avoiding," he shrugged. "Come on, dig in."

The mother and daughter looked at each other and started unwrapping the contents, growing more and more confused with each piece. "Paint chips, Lucifer?" Trixie held up a pile and fanned them out to see all the pinks, purples, blues and greens. Her graciousness was definitely being tested. "Mom, I think he lost it."

Chloe was slowly unwrapping a clip of fabric swatches. The hamster jumped on the wheel in her mind. "Lucifer? Is this…?"

He nodded, "I just want the two of you to feel at home here. You decorate your room however you want," he raised an eyebrow at Trixie's first choice of a rather bright neon purple, but was a Devil of his word regardless. "Move in with me, Chloe?" he asked, voice thick with nerves.

Chloe was already in tears as she ran over to him by the Christmas trees and grabbed his cheeks, pulling him down to plant a kiss on his lips for her answer, "For the record, I wouldn't change anything. Except maybe the bathroom," she winked. Turning around, they both looked at Trixie for hers.

"You mean live in a skyscraper with a pool and tennis courts and make all my friends jealous?" She rubbed her hands together a little menacingly, "Yes please."

Lucifer wrapped his arms around Chloe from behind and gave the woman's daughter a devilish grin, "I think this could work."

Everyone still out there? Woo, sorry! Like I said, it was a long chapter, but I wanted to pack in a lot just in case life gets too hectic and I don't get to update right away next weekend.

I hope you liked it! Please let me know what you thought and thanks again for all the love!