Malachai heaved a big sigh as he tried to start his car. "Avery-"

"If you tell me to smile or be nice to you, I'll kill you!" She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I wasn't going to say that," Malachai told her. "I just...please put your seat-belt on." He began backing out of the parking lot as Avery rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Dad," she mocked. "But really, what's the point? It's not like I'll die if we crash."

"No, of course not but it'll still hurt for some time," Malachai reminded her. "Do you want to be in the hospital? Do you want to think about what would happen to me if I had to tell your parents you were in the hospital?"

"Yes," Avery hissed. "And it would be your own fault if I got stuck in the hospital because you're a crappy driver!"

"Just put your damn seatbelt on!" Malachai yelled.

"There," Avery said, belt put on with a click. "I can't believe you're being such a pain in the butt about this! I hope you're happy!"

"Oh, very much," Malachai nodded, trying to keep his eyes on the road as they drove. It was very hard though, since she was playing with her skirt, and raising it to expose her legs and thighs, all very smooth and soft-looking. If only he could touch...

"What?" Avery asked, giving him a look. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Malachai blinked and vowed to keep his eyes on the road. "I just...I can't help but notice your beautiful dress. Is it new?"

"Yes," Avery snapped. "Now, Mr. Fale, will you kindly not say another word to me? I'm not in this car because I want to be and I'm very sure you don't want me to be either, but my mother forced me to be here by abandoning me at the restaurant. Let's just be quiet, get this over with, and then you can leave me alone...forever if you want. In fact, I would prefer that."

"Your mother didn't just abandon you," Malachai corrected. "She had to go home and prepare your father to find out what you've done."

Avery growled. "Don't you act like this is all my fault!" She burst out, crumpling sections of skirt in her fists so she wouldn't punch him in the face, and eyes in her lap as she muttered under her breath. "If you hadn't messed with my mind and treated me like dirt, then I wouldn't have gotten upset and cast that spell!"

"What was that?" Malachai asked. "I don't think I heard you."

"Nothing," Avery shook her head. "Keep your eyes on the road while you drive! Unless, of course, you can't see the road. I hear eyesight is one of the first things to go in old people."

Malachai shook his head and took a deep breath. He wouldn't respond; he wouldn't give in. She was hurting and trying to punish him by making him hurt just as much. But he wouldn't let her have her way. She'd never have the satisfaction.

They both lapsed into silence and when her eyes were placed firmly ahead, he sneaked another look at her: she'd never been more beautiful than she was today. Sophisticated, refined, graceful, demure...and actually demonstrating good manners. But even with all that, he could still feel her original passion underneath it all. The passion that (as much as he hated to admit it,) he was beginning to miss like a man in the Sahara looking for water. "You-You look beautiful today," he got out at last. "That dress was a wonderful choice!"

"Thank you," she said, turning her head to look at him. "And you don't look so bad either. Is the new look going to stay, because-"

"No smart remarks about the jacket," he said. "I can wear a leather jacket if I want to. I may be older than you, but I'm not ancient!"

"I'm not trying to insult you!" Avery shook her head. "It looks nice! Does your new girlfriend enjoy it?" She tried to keep her tone light and not betray how much she was burning up inside.

"I wore this because I wanted to," Malachai said firmly. "Not to impress Sybil or anyone else." Then he gave a sly smile. "So if anyone is impressed, that's their business."

"So basically your whole relationship with Astrid is that you'll fuck her as long as she's not fucking her soon to be ex in a bathroom?" Avery wrinkled her nose. "Geez, that's awful. I thought you had more self-respect than that! Any real man would!"

Malachai gave an audible growl, pulled onto the side of the road, and stopped the car.

"Have you finished saying your piece?" He yelled. "Are you done being a spoiled brat?" He hope she couldn't see the smoke coming out of his ears. Or maybe he wanted her to, so it would hit home just how mad he was.

"Only if you're done thinking you're Dad's gift to women when you can't even figure out what it is that women want in the first place!" Avery snapped back.

That was it. He'd had enough. He'd show her a thing or two! "You want me to show you?" He snapped. "Want me to show you how wrong you are?"

Avery burst out laughing. "Go ahead...if you can."

He ripped off her seat-belt and pulled her against his hard chest, his face moving to within barely an inch of hers as both their breathing picked up.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she took hold of the lapels of his leather jacket as he began gently rubbing his unshaven cheek against hers. "What perfume are you wearing?" He whispered and then nibbled on her earlobe.

"It's...it's Coco Mademoiselle," Avery said. "A bit childish I know, and I intend to get some more grown up scents soon, but-"

"No need to rush," he said, lips against her ear. "This one suits you nicely." He then kissed her ever so lightly, bringing his eyes to meet hers once more as he tried to control himself and not take her right there in the car, even though her fingers were in his hair and her hand was moving downward. "We...we should probably get to your parents' house before...before something happens..."

"Before I give Daddy another reason to be mad at me," Avery agreed, moving her hands to her lap. It wasn't that she didn't want to have sex with him; she did, but the thought of having to deal with her father's reaction to that along with everything else was too much. It would have to wait.

As Gwen paced around the room, not looking at Steve and grunting in an unladylike fashion, Steve got to his feet. "Dear, will you please sit down and talk to me? You're stressing me out and you know I don't stress easily! Why did you leave dinner early? Is Avery hurt? Ill somehow?"

"No, she's fine and healthy!" Gwen huffed and pulled at her hair. "If she wasn't, we probably wouldn't be in trouble! She's...done something. And I don't know how to fix it and I'm trying so hard to keep stress from your life!"

"So...Avery did something," Steve clicked his tongue. "There's a big surprise."

"Yes, and it's going to make you mad if I tell you, so if you want peace in this house, don't press me!" Gwen cried.

"Peace or no, whatever it is, we have to solve it, which means I have to know what she's done," Steve insisted. "Does it have to do with the dead walking the Earth? One can't help but notice if you know what to look for. And I know for a fact that Halloween isn't for a long time."

"You..." Gwen's jaw dropped. "You know?"

"Yes," Steve nodded. "I don't know why you think I wouldn't."

"Well, don't be mad, but it's not like you've seen what's going on with Avery before!"

Steve rolled his eyes. "Was that comment helpful or necessary?"

"No," Gwen huffed. "I suppose not."

Just then the doorbell rang and they stopped fighting. "All right," Gwen said after taking a deep breath. "That's our daughter and Malachai. Do not kill either of them!"

"For my sake!" Steve shouted. "Why would I kill my own daughter?"

"Come in, you two," Gwen yelled. "Let's get this over with!"

Malachai came in first, eyes on the floor before gently lifting them and trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. "Hello, Steve. Hello, Gwen. How are you?"

"We're doing fine," Steve said. "So...to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Avery," Malachai turned to see that she was trying to sneak away toward the stairs. He sped over and took her by the arm. "Oh, no! Come back here, you! I'm not facing this all by myself!"

"Let go of my arm!" Avery cried. "Unhand me!"

They tussled and struggled until Avery found herself facing her parents. She gave a nervous laugh and a small smile. "Mom, Daddy...you look well." She gave an audible swallow.

Steve shut his eyes and breathed in and out for several seconds.

Gwen growled in frustration, looking back and forth while Steve pretended to stress and Avery flinched. "Stop dawdling like a fool and tell her that you know! It'll be better for all of us! Then we can move on and fix this mess!"

"I do know," Steve told Avery firmly. "Luckily this is something with very visual consequences and not just a thing you can keep to yourself. What on Earth possessed you to recite spell like that? To go against my will and so something I very specifically have said not to do?"

"You never said it out loud!" Avery protested. "And I'm not a mind reader, Daddy! Besides, I just wanted to make people happy by letting them see their loved ones. It's not like I'm creating a super powerful zombie army that's gonna destroy the world and-"

"Stop," Gwen shook her head. "Please stop."

"As for why I did it-" She stabbed a finger in Malachai's direction. "Ask him! He was a jerk to me! This is all his fault!"

"I will concede that I behaved terribly and it hurt you," Malachai said. "But you have to take responsibility for your part in all this. Hurt or not, you still made a bad choice!"

"Yes, but you pushed her to it," Gwen got out in a show of passion that surprised everyone.

"Her choices are not his fault!" Steve corrected. "People have control over themselves. People have free will. Avery's choices were her own, regardless of how upset she was. How many times do I have to have this conversation with people?"

"You're right," Avery said. "He broke my heart, Father. He hurt me enough that I foolishly did something that I knew I wasn't supposed to do. But I'm proud to say I'm older and wiser now, and nothing like that will happen again. He no longer has that effect on me. Much too old!"

Malachai snorted. "Says the woman who had her hand in my pants not two weeks ago! And let's not forget, Miss Coco Mademoiselle, what we almost did on the way over here!"

Steve whispered to Gwen, "Have I missed something?"

Gwen tried not to burst out laughing. "Oh, you missed out on more than something! You missed out on a lot where our daughter is concerned, but now that it's all starting to be out in the open, I'm sure you'll be brought up to speed eventually."

"Are they a couple?" Steve wanted to know.

"No," Gwen shook her head. "I mean, not officially, but sometimes..." she shrugged and winked.

"Ah," Steve said. "Interesting. Now I understand all that nonsense with Astrid." He burst out laughing. "Why anyone would believe that they're a genuine couple is beyond me..."

"Because you set Astrid up with Alistair and she could never love anyone else," Gwen finished in a monotone. "Yes, yes, yes."

"Excuse me, can you two focus?" Avery asked. "I know I'm in trouble and I'd like to get the scolding out of the way as soon as possible. What are you whispering about?"

"We're whispering about how disappointed we are in your behavior," Steve said. Then he narrowed his eyes at Malachai. "And you, young man. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Malachai turned on her with a grin, ready to point out what Steve had just called him, but she let out a chuckle instead. "'Young man'?" She said. "I'm sure to you he is! But really...it's hilarious to even call him that!" She crossed her arms over her chest and just kept laughing.

"I'm deeply sorry about the spell I put on your daughter to keep her at a distance," Malachai apologized. "I didn't want to hurt her. I just wanted to keep her away. Encourage her to pick someone better."

"I see," Steve nodded. "Were you afraid of lowering your defenses in front of her?"

Malachai blushed. "Never mind. Just know that she is not entirely to blame for what has happened with the souls of the dead. That's all I'm trying to say."

Steve turned his attention to Avery. "Young lady, do you realize that by casting that spell, you have not only gone against my wishes, but toyed with the lives of...I don't know how many people?"

Avery pouted, looking adorable, even though she knew she was in big trouble. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Would you like me to go to my room?"

"Yes," Steve sighed. "Until I can figure out what we do next, go think about what you've done in your room." Then he looked up from his lap to see that she had her hand in Malachai's and was trying to pull him toward the stairs. "Alone, please, dear. Malachai will not be coming with you."

"Fine," Avery huffed and stomped up the stairs. "Whatever!"

"I'll be on my way too, now," Malachai said. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused. Hopefully you can salvage what's left of your evening."

"You should be sorry," Steve told him. "And I'm glad you are. Next week, you'll start educating Avery again. But at the Council building this time, where someone can keep an eye on you."

"Are you kidding me?" Malachai asked.

"I never kid," Steve told him with a shake of his head. He and Gwen then watched Malachai leave and once the door was closed behind him, Steve let out a laugh. "I think I like Malachai and Avery together," he said. "And now that I know that they want to be a couple..." He rubbed his hands together and grinned. "I'm gonna have so much fun charting their path out!"

"What about all the poor souls who got brought back to life?" Gwen asked. "Shouldn't you be thinking about them instead of all the ways you're gonna terrorize Malachai and Avery?"

"I would, but-" Steve shrugged. "Whatever has come back, they're Avery's creations, not mine. Anything to do with them is out of my hands now."

"Good morning," Gwen said to Steve as she sat down with her cup of coffee in hand the next day. "I really hope today will be much calmer than yesterday. Can I have that hope?"

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but I think you're hoping for too much, dear," Steve told her and took her free hand. "It's going to be another rough day, I'm afraid."

Gwen sucked in a breath. "Of course," she said. "Is it because of Avery again?"

"You'll see," Steve told her as the doorbell rang. Then he ran for the hills.

Gwen's eyes widened as she opened the door and saw a very perturbed Selina on the front step, hands on hips and looking like a bull about to charge, instead of a mom out of a fifties sitcom like she usually did. It was very disconcerting. Even a little frightening. And just looking at her, Gwen began to understand how she became one of the most notorious murderers of all time in the vampire world.

"What's the matter?" She asked. "Have you come to murder my husband-I mean, Steve? I'm sure that whatever he's done-"

"Oh, no," Selina grinned and spoke sweetly. "I would never hurt a fly. Nothing is wrong. I just want to talk to your husband, or Steve, or whatever you call him...is he in?"

"N-No!" Gwen tried to block the door. "He's gone out."

"Gwen, dear, who is it?" Steve called, feeling much more confident now that he was a safe distance from the door.

"Shit," Gwen muttered under her breath. "Just Selina. She wants to have a word with you!"

"Actually I have lots of words I want to say to you, but l think we should start with one in particular." She pushed past Gwen and made her way to the living room, where Steve was looking very peaceful, even though a close look would betray a body full of nervous tension.

"Selina Warren Mikaelson," he said. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, you can tell me why my human life was crap...why everyone I loved died while I was young or was miserable, and most importantly..." She stomped her foot. "Why the hell the one person I wanted to stay dead had to show up alive on my doorstep? What the hell did you do to Dorian Gray?"

"You wanted him to stay dead?" Steve raised an eyebrow. "My dear, he was murdered before his time! That's not very kind."

"Oh, well fine!" Selina huffed. "But couldn't you have at least given him a steady girlfriend or something before he showed up on my doorstep? I've moved on and married someone else, you know!"

"Dorian Gray is one of the ones who came back?" Gwen asked with a smile. "How marvelous. I always liked him! He was so dashing...and a gentleman too!"

"Dear, please don't speak," Steve requested through gritted teeth. "You're not helping!"

Selina put her hands on her hips, rolled her eyes, and scoffed. "I can't believe you're asking me if Dorian coming back is a problem! You know damn well it is." She began wagging a finger under his nose. "And you know what, fuck it! I don't care if you're God because I've been through a lot and I'll swear all I want to."

"Wait," Gwen shook her head. "Are you serious about Dorian? Is he really-?"

"Don't!" Selina snapped. "Don't even finish that sentence!"

"My dear Selina, I know you're in a lot of pain right now," Steve told her. "But if you'll just give me a chance to explain-"

"Damn right I'm in a lot of pain!" Selina nodded. "And once again, you're the cause of it!"

"Actually, this time he's innocent," Gwen got out.

"Excuse me?" Selina bared her teeth. "Why are you protecting him? I thought you were on my side!"

"I am," Gwen nodded. "But I also won't let you accuse Steve when it was our daughter who did the magic that brought Dorian and the others back. Steve had nothing to do with it."

Selina's jaw dropped a little and she turned to Steve. "If she...if she's telling the truth, I'm sorry about blaming you for Dorian."

"It's all right," Steve told her. "I understand you're angry...but I don't understand what about. How could Dorian coming back be a problem? You and Elijah have remarried, he built you a house and a marvelous kitchen...you two seem to be on much more solid ground than you've been in a long time..."

"That's all true," Selina nodded. "I love Elijah with all my heart! He's my whole life! And we've never been happier than we are on the farm."

"And not to mention he's another dashing, sexy, handsome man," Gwen added unnecessarily. "If you're torn right now, I don't blame you."

"Please stop helping," Steve told her. "In fact, I insist that you stop!"

"I'm not torn, I swear," Selina said. "Elijah is the love of my life and that's not going to change. But Dorian...he was one of the best friends I've ever had, and I wouldn't be the person I am today if he hadn't given me a safe place to express all the feelings and thoughts I've always had trouble expressing."

"There," Steve nodded. "You've answered your own question. Don't be here yelling at me when you could be talking to him and fixing-"

"No," Selina said firmly, arms crossed. "Just because he's the love of my life doesn't mean he can't also be a big selfish, possessive macho jerk! I'm not going anywhere near him until he changes his attitude toward me and Dorian!"

"Oh, boy," Gwen huffed. "This is going to be a long wait."

"Can't you just...not say anything for once unless it helps?" Steve asked. "That doesn't help!"

Selina sighed and stood up. "I'm sorry I was so rude and ruined your day," she apologized. "I'll be on my way now. I don't want to cause a fight. I've already done too much of that lately."

"No harm done, dear," Steve told her. "It didn't bother us one bit."

He breathed a sigh of relief as she walked toward the door and put her hand on the doorknob. Then she froze, slowly turned around, and strode back, getting right up in his face again.

"One more thing I forgot," she hissed. "If you ever try and pull any stunts with Ricky and Remiel's baby...if they lose it or something like that, I will kill you with my bare hands! Am I clear? Ricky deserves to be happy and Remiel does too!"

Steve's eyes were wide. "My dear, please remember that Remiel is my daughter. Why do you think I would cause her so much pain?"

"Because her mother didn't hesitate to," Selina replied. "And I have a longstanding friendship with a certain son of yours that shows quite clearly that you are willing to cause your children pain when it suits you."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Doesn't surprise me at all about my sister; Don't worry about her, dear. She's not the maternal type. But lucky for Remiel, you are, and it's going a long way toward fixing the damage she's caused. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Selina replied. "I'd do anything for her. She means a lot to me." Then she turned back to Steve. "So?"

Steve sighed. "If you need it, I give you my word that nothing will happen to Remiel or the baby. I know you've been through enough after what happened with Scott and Sophia, and Ricky is the same. I wouldn't do anything to either of you to cause more hurt. I swear."

Selina sighed. "All right, I'll take you at your word. And in a weird way, I got Mama, Daddy, and Uncle Andrew back and things are better than they could have been when we were alive, so...I guess it all worked out." She paused. "Sorry again for all this. Have a nice day. And...do you guys want a pie? I'd be more than happy to make-"

"Cherry, please," Gwen told her with a smile. "If you feel you must. Thank you, dear."

After a good night's sleep, Gwen, feeling very refreshed, came downstairs, popped a couple of waffles in the toaster, and then, once her coffee was made, sat down with the cup, feeling very happy with the state of things. Until she saw the look on Steve's face. "Oh, no! Not another trying day? What else could possibly happen? Who else could cause us trouble?!"

"Well," Steve sighed. "My son and Eleanor are back in town with little Milo. They're being checked out by Eleanor's father as we speak."

"So?" Gwen shrugged. "I don't see the problem."

Well, there isn't one at the moment...but soon they're going to see Maeve," Steve told her. "Do I need to explain further?"

"Oh," Gwen shook her head. "No, I'm good. I understand."

"And when Samael realizes that his sister is the one who brought back the dead, he's going to come straight here."

Gwen sighed and went to put some whiskey in her coffee. "Don't you look at me like that!" She said when Steve eyed her with a raised brow. "You want me to get through the day, I'm gonna need this!"

"You take good care of them," Lucifer said as he reluctantly released Ellie and Milo into the care of an orderly that he'd never seen before. After arriving home, they headed first to the hospital, at Lucifer's insistence, because he didn't quite trust the Las Vegas doctors. "In fact, you know what? I'm sure there are other nice pregnant ladies in need of your attention. Since everyone here has been checked once, I'm sure we can wait until her father comes."

The orderly rolled his eyes and strode off to help someone else as Ellie clutched Milo tight to her. "You know, I'm touched that you care and all, but he could have helped us just as well as anyone else."

"I don't want 'just as well'," Lucifer told her. "You're the most precious thing in my life, and so are the children. I'm not just going to entrust you to the first person who comes along. Are they going to call your father, or do I have to do it?"

"No!" Ellie cried as he impatiently strode toward the nearest nurse's station and called over the intercom.

"Will Dr. Mikaelson please come to the east entrance door of the hospital? Your daughter has given birth and we need a competent doctor!"

"Oh, dear...me." Ellie sighed, her lips a thin line as Lucifer turned and strode back to her.

"There now," he said. "Your father should be on his way. He'll look after you and Milo."

Just then, Junior came running at them, stuffing a sandwich in his mouth.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt your eating," Ellie apologized.

"Yes, we did," Lucifer nodded. "Thank you for being so prompt. Want to meet your new grandson?"

"Sure," Junior nodded and took him. "He's good sized and healthy! And a head of dark hair already!"

"His name's Milo," Ellie said, then swayed on her feet, luckily landing in a wheelchair before she passed out.

"We need to get her to a bed," Lucifer said. "Overnight, at least, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, wouldn't hurt," Junior nodded and gave Milo to his father. "How long did you stay in the other hospital?"

"Not as long as we should have, apparently," Lucifer told him. "But we've had a long couple of...well actually I don't know how long it's been that we've been gone. But I bet Dad and Gwen would know if you asked them."

"I was wondering about that, too," Junior said. "I was beginning to worry after not hearing from either of you for ages!"

As Junior wheeled a more awake Ellie toward the elevator and Lucifer kept a tight grip on Milo, a familiar voice gave Junior pause.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but...would you be able to tell me where our daughters are?"

He turned and froze, seeing Lucifer's old bodyguard, Maeve, approaching

them, her dark eyes wide with surprise and worry. "Maeve, is that you?" He asked her. "Or am I seeing things?"

"No, I'm alive now," Maeve shook her head, her black hair flying around her face. "Somehow."

"Well, good!" Junior smiled and gave her a big hug, which surprised Lucifer especially, since all his time with Maeve had told him that she didn't like being touched. "I'm glad you're alive! It's wonderful, however it happened."

"Yes," Maeve nodded. "Now...our daughters?"

"Oh, they aren't here," Junior told her. "They're on a round the world cruise with two of Lucifer's brothers and they seem to be having a wonderful time. Last postcard I got was from Paris. Emma thoroughly enjoyed the ballet, but Michael, not so much."

"Are you positive you don't know how you came back from..." Lucifer looked upward. "Up there?"

"No!" Maeve shook her head. "I just know that a spell was cast that brought us back somehow and here I am!"

"Well, that's simple enough," Lucifer got out. But his voice was tight and Ellie could tell something was up. "Do you need to go?"

"Yes, darling, I'm sorry," he said, kissing her forehead first, and then Milo's. "I need to see Dad but I promise I won't be gone forever. You'll be all right."

"Yes," Ellie nodded and eyed her father, who was looking shocked and a little pale. "I might be the only one who is. Go to your father. We'll be fine."

As they and Maeve got in the elevator, Maeve felt she needed to assure Junior and Ellie of something. "I promise I only came for the girls," she said. "I don't want to split you and Sarah up, Sean."

"You wouldn't," Junior told her. It was weird hearing his name coming from her lips. Even Ellie's mom called him Junior. "Not anymore. Sarah and I...we're solid now."

"Even so," Maeve insisted, "I think it would be best for me to go and see our daughters. Did you say Paris was where they were? I'll need to book a flight..." She began taking notes on paper that she took from one of the nurses' stations. "Find flight, get tickets...what else?"

"Pack clothes?" Ellie suggested.

"Yeah, that too," Maeve nodded. "Lots to do, so I better get on it. Good to see you all. Eventually I'll be in touch! And...you and Lucifer had another baby, Ellie? What number is that?"

"Eight," Ellie told her.

"Oh, my," Maeve shook her head, a grin on her lips. "Poor Dexter. I hope he's all right."

Lucifer's eyes widened with surprise when, just as he was about to knock, the door opened and he found his aunt looking at him. "All right, he's here, Steve. Just like you said!" Then she gave him a look. "Come in! We've been waiting for you!"

She sat him down on the sofa, and they plied him with food and drink. "So..." Steve said. "Milo's born!"

"Yes, and in very good shape despite what you two did to Eleanor and I," Lucifer said. "You kept us unconscious for weeks!"

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic!" Steve told him. "We had it perfectly under control. I made sure no harm would come to your son."

"And I made sure that in that world, Ellie made her own choices," Gwen added. "If it were up to your father, you'd still be dealing with the same mess!"

"Well, thank you, that's much appreciated," Lucifer nodded. "But I-I have a question about-"

"More cookies?" Gwen asked. "What color is Milo's hair? How much does he weigh?"

"No more cookies, thank you," Lucifer said, "and I'm touched by your interest in my son, but I came here to-I wanted to ask-" He paused. "You helped us in the other world? You looked after us?"

"Yes," Gwen winked. "Much more than your father!"

"Okay, good, wonderful, very grateful for that and the interest in Milo," Lucifer told them. "But before I forget why I came, who was the one that cast a spell bringing people back to life?"

"It was me!" Said a young woman's voice. "Sorry if I inconvenienced you too!"

He turned and found himself face to face with a dark haired, dark eyed young woman. "My sister?" He asked.

"Yeah," Steve nodded. "That's Avery!"

Maybe it was because they had the same features. Or maybe it's because he sensed something in her that he really connected with. But Lucifer suddenly didn't hate this new little sister anymore. In fact, he realized, he loved her. "So...you're Avery.

"Yeah," Avery nodded. "I am. And you're Lucifer?"

"Yes," Lucifer grinned. "I'm not used to people needing to clarify that."

Avery smiled back and came to sit next to him.

"So you're the one who brought all the souls back," Lucifer said to her.

Avery lowered her head in shame. "Yes, I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be sorry, darling! I'm very proud of you! You did something that really is driving our father crazy! That he has no control over whatsoever!" He gave her a big hug.

"Oh, please, try and be polite, would you?" Steve groaned.

"No!" Lucifer shook his head. "I won't!" He grabbed Avery and gave her another tight hug. "You beat Dad at his own game! Oh, I'm just giddy! We really must catch up sometime, darling, but it can't be now. I have to get back to my wife and son. Talk later?"

"Sure," Avery nodded as he made his way to the door. "Love to."

Lucifer breathed a sigh of relief as he parked his car in its usual garage and made his way into the mansion. Talking with Dad, even though it wasn't as trying as it used to be, still took a lot out of him. Thank goodness he didn't feel the same about Avery! She was really something!

Not wanting to talk to anyone but Ellie, (who, along with Milo, had been sent home earlier from the hospital after some sleep, a big meal, and a last check by her father) he bypassed the hallways where his children and their families lived and headed straight for the master bedroom, giving a soft knock when he saw the door was closed. He then opened it a little and whispered, "Eleanor, are you decent?"

"Yes, you can come in," Ellie said. It always made her giggle a little when he asked that. It was so him, yet so different from the man who would race her to see who could tear whose clothes off faster.

Lucifer made his way in and smiled when he saw her settled in a rocking chair and bundled up in a robe while Milo slept soundly beside her in his little bed. "Looks like we're all set here," he said. "Everything go all right? Sorry I took so long at Dad and Aunt Gwen's. You know it takes him ages to stop talking."

"It's all right," Ellie said, leaning down to kiss Milo's dark hair. "I fed him his milk and he went right to sleep."

"What a shame I had to miss that," Lucifer gave her a little grin. "I like being around when you feed our babies."

"Yes," Ellie smiled and then looked down her robe. "Two guesses why."

"Cause of the brightness and love in your lovely eyes when you do it," he said and kissed her lightly before ruffling her hair and giving her a wink. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Eleanor!"

"Right," Ellie winked. "Like I'm the only one whose mind has been in the gutter." She moved to the bed and sat down, with Lucifer following.

"May I sit next to you?" He asked.

"Sure," Ellie nodded and patted empty space on the mattress. "I'd like that." Once he was seated, she asked, "So..did you actually go and see your father? Did you find out who revived all the souls?"

"I did, and it was my sister, Avery!"

"Wow," Ellie's eyes widened. "That's impressive. Did you two meet? If you did, I hope you were nice to her."

"We did meet, and I was," Lucifer assured his wife. "I like her very much, actually. Very headstrong and devious like me. Dad has his hands full once again!"

"Oh, boy," Ellie said.

"She's not just out of control," Lucifer said. "She's beautiful and intelligent and sensible too!"

"Good," Ellie nodded. "That's what I was hoping to hear."

"Have you seen Isabella?" Lucifer asked, then gently rocked Milo's bed. "I know that's not the highest priority right now, but-"

"Yes, I've seen her," Ellie nodded. "She told me that she and Tyler took over Hell while we were gone."

"Right," Lucifer nodded. "I should probably talk to both of them tomorrow."

"You won't kill Tyler, I hope? The boy really did do his best while we were in that other place."

"And speaking of the other place...it was some sort of creation of Dad and Aunt Gwen's," Lucifer informed Ellie. "Dad wanted us to meet basically the same way we did here, but Aunt Gwen looked after us and made sure you had the most choice in everything."

"What a good idea," Ellie replied. "Cause keeping things your dad's way...I don't think that would have helped." She paused. "Now, do you promise you won't kill Tyler when you go talk to him?"

"I swear."

"Good," Ellie nodded and sucked in a breath. "Oh, and apparently, Layla is stuck in Hell too. We need to look into that."

"Yes," Lucifer nodded, tensing. "Yes, we certainly do." To ease both their minds, he began massaging the sensitive part of her wrist with a circular motion and then kissed her fingers. "I'm sorry I doubted you would love me if Dad hadn't thrown us together. It was silly. I should have known better than that!"

"I should have known better too!" Ellie shook her head. "I have no reason to think so, but sometimes, in the darkest part of my mind, I get to thinking that you wouldn't like someone like me cause I'm too boring! But clearly I was wrong."

They looked into each other's eyes and then burst into nervous laughter. "Does it...does it feel like we're dating all over again to you?" Lucifer asked.

"Yeah, any minute now, I'm afraid Daddy's gonna call and tell me I broke curfew!"

"Yes, except for our football team of children!" He winked.

"Even then I just...my brain doesn't register that," Ellie shrugged. "Sometimes, it's like...I live with my husband, a bunch of roommates I know I gave birth to, and their families. It's very strange." She settled down under the covers and Lucifer stood up from the bed. "Would you...would you mind if I snuggled in there next to you? Doesn't make a lot of sense for me to go to a whole different room when we could both be needed at any second."

Ellie turned and smiled at him. "Oh, it's more than okay. Wanna be the big spoon?"

"Of course I do," Lucifer smiled back and snuggled up against her, holding her close and kissing her forehead. Then, they both tried to get as much sleep as they could before Milo woke up again.