"It was so sweet of you to offer to take us out to dinner like this," Ellie told Avery as they settled into seats at one of the most exclusive restaurants the magical world had to offer. It was called Brew, and was known most for its coffees and appetizers. "I've wanted to go here since it opened. Valerie and Charlotte say it's amazing!"

"It is," Avery nodded. She'd decided that it was time to tell them she was moving in with Malachai and figured they'd make less of a scene about it in public. "It caters to a very young, hip crowd, so I figured you would fit right in."

"They wouldn't by chance have a good wine menu, would they?" Lucifer asked.

"Of course," Avery nodded. "The server will bring it when he comes."

And he did, giving them time to look it over before making their selections. Avery was glad they were drinking. That would make it easy too.

After taking both Avery and Lucifer's orders, the server looked at Ellie, who'd gotten her ID out of her purse as proof she could drink.

"No need, ma'am," he told her. "I know your daughters. You're fine. What can I get you?"

Ellie froze. Her face twisted. "Ma'am?" She breathed.

Lucifer and Avery gave each other a panicked look. Suddenly the news about Malachai didn't seem so bad.

"Are you okay, Ellie?" Avery asked cautiously.

"No, I'm not okay!" Ellie cried. "Did you just hear what that guy called me? Ma'am! What am I, seventy?"

"Oddly enough, you don't have that same sort of reaction when the grandchildren call you 'Grandma', so how is this different?" Lucifer asked.

"You heard how he shouted it!" Ellie whispered angrily. "Like he wanted everyone to hear! I am not a ma'am! When am I ever-"

"When I'm being a very naughty student and you need to spank me with a ruler, you are," Lucifer replied, a wicked twinkle in his eye. "In fact, why don't we go home, and-"

"No," Ellie shook her head. "No, thank you. I think I'll order some wine."

"Good idea," Avery nodded. "Something white might be nice."

"Have whatever you want, but the one I'm ordering is mine," Ellie told her before flagging passing waiter. "Hey, Junior, can you get me a bottle of some white wine, please? Doesn't matter what it is. And make it quick!"

"Yes M-"

"Don't," Ellie interrupted him, eyes narrowed. "Just get it."

As the server scampered off, Ellie stood up and announced she had to go to the bathroom. While she was gone, Avery, eyes wide, asked, "Lucifer, have you ever seen her like that? Is she gonna be okay? Should we leave?"

"No, she'll be all right if we watch her. At the very least, we can carry her out and she'll sleep it off in the car," Lucifer replied. "Now, what is it that you brought us here to tell us?"

"Oh, we don't have to," Avery said, suddenly feeling very nervous. "I mean, you have enough to deal with, and-"

"Just tell me," Lucifer insisted.

"All right," Avery took a deep breath. "This might upset you, but Malachai asked me to move in with him and I said 'Yes'." She shut her eyes tight. "Are you mad?"

Lucifer's whole upper body tensed. "He asked you first?"

"He did," Avery nodded.

"I'm not so sure I like this," Lucifer replied.

"Why not?" Avery cried. "He has a good job. He cares about me. He-"

"Is he planning on marrying you? What are his intentions?"

"Excuse me?" Avery blinked several times. "What do you mean?"

"Well, does he intend to marry you or is he going to just keep you around and disgrace you?"

"I've...I've dropped hints about getting married, but we never actually discussed it," Avery told him.

"I don't want you moving in with him until he's made it clear he wants to marry you," Lucifer said firmly.

Avery rose to her feet, eyes narrowed. "Where do you get off ordering me around like that? I left Dad's because I thought you were cool and would just let me live my life as I saw fit without giving me a bunch of crap about it, but really, you're no worse than Dad is. Congratulations! I'm gonna go grab my bags and leave right now!"

But then she realized that her food still hadn't come yet, so she sat a few tables over, ate, and glared at them both.

"That's so funny!" Ellie cackled, second half-empty wine bottle in her hand. "She called you old!"

"I don't see what's so funny, ma'am," a peeved Lucifer spat. This was just as bad as in the other world when the students had mocked her for going to bed with him.

She got up, came around the table, and was about to dump the rest of her wine in his lap, but then decided against it. "I wouldn't want to waste this on you," she told him. "I'll go drink it in your car."

"Don't!" Lucifer got up and ran after her after paying and leaving a good tip on the table. "You'll get wine or vomit all over the seats!"

A few minutes later, Avery got a text: Taking Eleanor home. I can come back and get you.

Avery read it over and then texted back: No, thank you. I'll call Malachai.

"Where do you want these?" Malachai asked as he followed her into his penthouse, carrying every suitcase he could. "Why did you have to bring them all at once?"

"Sorry," Avery sucked in her breath. "I know it's a lot. But Ellie and Lucifer took it hard so I want to give them a cooling off period before I go back. It was tough enough leaving your house this morning to get my stuff in the first place."

"Oh, well that answers the question I had about whether they took the news well or not. And it explains why you didn't tell me what happened."

"I told them at Brew that I was moving in with you. Lucifer was more upset than Ellie was, but that's only because the server called her 'ma'am' and then she drank two bottles of wine by herself."

"Oh, dear," Malachai said.

Avery took some of her bags from him and they headed to the bedroom. "Does it matter where I put things?" She asked.

"You can unpack later," he said and kissed her. "I thought we would have a little something to nibble on first." He brought her into the kitchen where he'd laid out sandwiches made while she was getting her things. "Have a couple."

"Thanks," she smiled. As they started to eat, he asked, "I know you told me why you brought so much stuff, but is that the only reason?"

"Well, no," Avery admitted. "I need all that stuff to keep up with you. You're so smart and important and all."

"I don't think this has anything to do with me at all," Malachai snapped. "I think being God's daughter has made you believe you need to be fancy and have a lot, but you don't! You could wear a sack and be barefoot, and I wouldn't care." He scoffed. "I had no idea that you were such a selfish, materialistic witch!"

Avery's jaw dropped. "What in the world is the matter with you? What possessed you?"

He dropped all the suitcases he held and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I just...I'm just..."

"On edge since you asked me to move in with you?" Avery finished. "You do remember that you asked me, right? This wasn't a case of me barging into your life uninvited. If that was how things were, I wouldn't blame you for being nervous, but this...this is just...I don't know what it is! If you changed your mind, you should have told me before I moved all my stuff!"

"No, no!" Malachai quickly went pale and backpedaled. "That's not the case at all. Don't be ridiculous!"

"Is it?" Avery yelled. "Since I got here, you've barely looked at me, kissed me, or held me in your arms. When I told Lucifer about what we've decided, he was skeptical. He told me not to do this until you'd specifically agreed to marry me. I thought he was being an old fuddy-duddy, but now I'm beginning to wonder if he was right!"

"I just...I'm scared, all right?" Malachai cried. He was definitely looking her in the eyes now.

"Of what?" Avery asked. "If you love me, what's there to be afraid of?"

"Well, you know, you're this larger than life, powerful person and everyone knows you and lets you in places without appointments and, once again in my relationships, I'm just Malachai, that's all. And nothing."

"It is not!" Avery shook her head. "I chose you before I was even born. And it's not because you're nothing!"

"Well, we're certainly never encouraged to specifically be something," Malachai reminded her of the expectations for warlocks."Can't be too wrapped up in stuff when the gaggle of witches show up with marriage on the brain to mother the next generation of women that are going to run our lives."

"I won't be like that," Avery tried to assure him. "You know why? Because you're my other half. You're my everything."

Malachai scoffed at this sentiment. "You say that now. But what if you change your mind in a month like Helene did?"

Avery growled and pulled at her hair. "For the millionth time, I'm not Helene! Will you get it out of your head? I love you and I'm never gonna leave you!" She paused. "Now, whether that's reassuring or scary to you, I'm not sure, but...I don't know what else I can say."

"You don't have to say anything," Malachai shook his head. "I'll take these things to my room. What side of the bed do you want?"

"I don't think I want to sleep in your room just yet," Avery snapped. "Any other spare rooms around here?"

"Hi, Mom!" Valerie greeted Ellie the next morning. "Want some coffee?"

"What did you just call me?" Ellie snapped and sat down hard on the chair.

"What do you mean 'What did you just call me'?" Valerie asked. "I called you 'Mom' because you're my mom."

"Oh!" Ellie nodded and gave her a smile. "Sorry, my ears heard something else. I guess I'm still tired. And maybe hungover."

"I get it," Valerie nodded. "I've had those mornings too. It's okay." She came over and set the coffee down at the table. "You didn't have to come all the way down here. If you're not feeling well, you could have texted me or Dexter and we would have brought it to you."

"Oh, no, it's fine," Ellie told her. "Thank you, but...it was just a long night. I feel fine."

"Valerie, Lucifer, may I see the two of you in the small kitchen?" Dexter asked pointedly.

They left Ellie with her head on the table and scampered off. "So...what's going on? She doesn't seem quite right," Dexter got out.

"One of your friends at Brew called her 'ma'am' and wouldn't let her show him ID before she ordered a bottle of wine," Lucifer explained to Valerie. "It was...it was really..."

"Don't you judge," Valerie snapped. "I remember how you were when you got back from that place Grandpa and Aunt Gwen sent you where everyone called you 'old'."

"Well, being called an old man and being called 'ma'am' are two different things. I had an excuse, I don't know what hers is. Being called an old man, well...well it hurts!"

"Her excuse is that it's just as upsetting to her as your experience was to you," Valerie replied. "And it's lucky Angelica didn't hear you talk so flippantly otherwise she would probably have smacked you." Her younger sister was very sensitive toward women being talked down to.

"Oh, I'm sure she wouldn't," Lucifer shook his head. "Not Angelica."

"Well, then you clearly don't know her," Valerie shook her head, then headed back out to the dining room.

"What do you think we should do now?" Lucifer asked Dexter. "Clearly I need to do something to get Eleanor out of this funk she's in. Would you make reservations at Irene's for me? Usual room, roses and chocolates on the pillow, all that?"

"Sure, but...I don't know how well it'll work," Dexter told him. Irene's was a very pricey inn that had once been some rich fellow's summer house. Irene herself was a witch who was an old friend, and more than willing to give him and Eleanor a very private room with every extra they could want when they wanted a weekend or a few days away.

"Well, we have to try something," Lucifer urged. "I don't know if I can look at that upset face much longer."

"What are you guys talking about?" Ellie asked, her voice chirpy as she came into the kitchen. she'd zapped on some clean clothes and fixed up her hair. "I thought I would go into work for a bit today. Channel last night's shock a little more effectively." She paused. "Unless, of course, you have other plans."

"Nothing that will be completely ruined by a few hours' work," Lucifer assured her, feeling much lighter than he had before. "You go and lay down the law and then you can pack for Irene's."

"We're going to Irene's?" Ellie's eyes lit up. "What a good idea! I'll definitely not linger at the office now!"

But six hours later, she hadn't come back. Then seven, then eight...then, at last, Dexter's phone rang. "Why did it take you so long to call?" He snapped at the demon on the other end of the line. "We've been worrying for hours! Is she okay? Where in the world is she?"

He listened for a little while, nodding as his lips became a thin line. "All right, just a minute."

"Is that about Eleanor?" Lucifer asked as he took the phone. "Is she all right?"

"Apparently not as all right as we thought," Dexter sighed. "You'll have to go, you know, down, and get her. It's bad. At least that's what Tim says."

Lucifer sighed and rolled his eyes. "Damn. I hope she's not in the river. These are new shoes."

"She's not," Dexter reassured him. "She's somewhere nice and dry. Miserable, but dry."

Lucifer's expression softened. "Well, at least that's something."

When he reached Hell, he was immediately led to a tall, ornate white door, which was opened for him by two demons, who then gave him a nod and a bow and stepped away. The room he stepped into was pastel and fussy with an elaborately carved bed, plush carpet, and white wood furniture. And amidst all that sat Eleanor, in a chair in front of an ornate cherry wood dressing table, staring into a cloudy mirror and sobbing into a handkerchief. He wondered how you could see anything in it but clearly she saw something that she didn't like.

"You're not going to start slipping our daughters poison apples, are you?" He asked because he didn't know what else to say.

She immediately stopped crying, turned, and bared her teeth at him, hurling the little glass bottles from the table in his direction. They all missed him and crashed on the floor. "What are you doing here?" She growled and got up. "Isn't it bad enough that I'm punishing myself? Whose idea was it to have you impersonate my husband to come punish me too? Did he tell you? Go away!"

She began punching his chest until she finally just collapsed as Lucifer realized that she didn't know it was actually him. "I can't do this anymore. I can't. I know it's stupid and childish to be upset over this ma'am thing, but...I demand you don't do whatever it was that you came here to do and call Dexter to get someone to take me home instead!"

"Well, I should hope so," Lucifer whispered in her ear. "I thought we were going to have a lovely weekend at Irene's!"

She gasped, looking up at him, wide eyed. "It really is you, isn't it? I'm...Oh, honey I am so sorry! The mirror just kept showing you with all these people who were better looking then me, and you looked so happy, and-look, I know it's irrational because you would never, but it's like...I don't know, I...You start with ma'am and then..."

"Let's get out out of here," he said firmly. "Dexter's already made the reservations and he's going to drive us. I don't think we need to think about this anymore."

"Yeah," Ellie nodded and buried her head in his shoulder. "I love you. Let's get out of here!"

He kissed her soundly. "I could not agree more. On all counts."

"My goodness," Irene remarked when she met them at the door of the inn, her dark eyes wide with worry. "What's happened to you? Would you like me to send someone up to run you a hot bath?"

Lucifer and Ellie looked each other over. Clearly, hell had left its mark on them but they hadn't noticed before the tall brunette witch had mentioned it.

"Well, we had quite a day," Lucifer answered. "Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea. Thank you, Irene."

They ate a quick dinner, headed upstairs, had their bath, and then, after putting on comfy pajamas, settled into bed. "What are we gonna do?" Ellie sighed. Then she looked at him guiltily. "First, I should probably thank you for getting me out of there again. I just...I know it was dumb, but I..."

"Did you actually go and do work?" Lucifer asked as he took her hand. "At all?"

"I did," Ellie nodded. "For a little bit...but then...then I couldn't stop thinking about that boy calling me ma'am, and I just..."

"Snapped?" Lucifer supplied.

"Yeah," Ellie nodded and snuggled against him. "I snapped. For a completely stupid, illogical, childish, selfish reason." She paused. "And once I realized how stupid I was being, then I felt guilty because, I mean, look at me. Look at my life. I have no reason to feel like I was feeling. Not when so many other people-"

"Stop," Lucifer said firmly, putting a hand on her chin. "Please. Of course there are people in the world who have it worse than you. But that doesn't mean you can't feel bad. That you can't have a bad day. And the reason why doesn't matter. You're entitled to your feelings and you don't have to justify yourself to anyone."

"Even if those feelings lead to being drunk in public and almost puking in the front seat of your car?"

"Yes," Lucifer sighed. "Even then."

Ellie smiled. "That's very wise; where'd you learn it?"

Lucifer chuckled. "Isn't it good to know that therapy is doing me some good after all?"

"Oh, yes," Ellie nodded before quickly stripping down and straddling him once he'd undressed himself.

"Well, look at you," Lucifer grinned wickedly, his hands moving down her waist and coming round to cup her bottom. "This is something I wasn't expecting."

"Seriously?" Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Why not? What else do we do when we come here?"

"No, no, I meant you being on top!" Lucifer corrected. "Of course I expected it in general!"

"Good," Ellie grinned. "I was a little worried there." She proceeded as normal, and it went well until a mumbled 'Yes, ma'am' left Lucifer's lips.

"Okay, that's it!" Ellie pouted and got off him. "I don't want to be on top anymore! You try!"

"Well, all right, I will!" Lucifer nodded. They started kissing and everything was going extremely well until, all of a sudden, the thought of Avery moving in with Malachai specifically after he'd told her not to crowded his mind. He began thrusting hard, at least until Ellie's head hit the headboard and she cried out.

"What the hell was that?" She asked.

His eyes opened. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

"Yes!" Ellie nodded. "You were going at it so hard that I whacked my head on the headboard. What the hell's going on?"

"Sorry, I...I can't stop thinking about Avery," he confessed. "And how she moved in with Malachai. I have a bad feeling about it. One that is, unfortunately, not going away. This is very inconvenient."

They lapsed into silence and stared at each other. "We're not gonna have sex now, are we?" She asked at last. "Not good sex, anyway."

"Apparently not," Lucifer scoffed. "Not at the moment, anyway. But there's always later."

They dressed again and settled next to each other under the covers. "So...what's the problem with Avery moving in with Malachai?"

"It's just too early," Lucifer replied. "You know he hasn't returned her feelings for him with the same ardor."

"Yes, but he asked her to move in," Ellie pointed out. "That has to count for something. I hope he wouldn't ask if he weren't sure."

"Maybe he was just horny and wanting easier access," Lucifer suggested. "Maybe he truly thought it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that it's actually happening, he's getting nervous and wanting to back out because it's too much pressure."

"Yeah, guys do that sometimes," Ellie agreed.

"Hey!" Lucifer cried. "Watch it!"

"What makes you think I was talking about you?" Ellie questioned. "Or anything other than Malachai's feelings regarding Avery moving in with him?"

"Yes, well," Lucifer cleared his throat and avoided her eyes. "Never mind."

"You're gonna do something about it, aren't you?" Ellie asked. "Barge in there and pull her out by her hair?"

"Well we'll certainly be going over there," Lucifer nodded.

"'We'll'?" Ellie asked. "Why do I have to be sucked into this?"

"You know I can't lie about why we're there," Lucifer reminded her. "But you can!"

"So you want me to lure your sister out of Malachai's house under false pretenses so you can bundle her in the car and drive her back to our house."

"Yes!" Lucifer nodded, looking very pleased with himself. "It's an excellent plan, don't you think?"

"No," Ellie shook her head and snapped off the light. "And by the way, I was thinking about giving you a blow job, but now I'm too tired. Goodnight."

"But-"

"Good. Night."

"Oh, shit," Avery said as she sensed her brother parking outside the apartment building and making his way in and toward the penthouse "Should have known it wouldn't be long till he showed up."

She hopped off the sofa, thought several minutes about what to do, and yelled at Malachai. "Come in here a minute, would you?"

"Oh, look who's talking to me now?" Malachai grumbled.

"You're not allowed to be like that!" Avery cried. "You know exactly where I am. You could have come and talked to me! But I guess everything has to be about you, doesn't it? Why am I always the one doing all the work?"

Malachai grinned as the elevator heralded Lucifer's arrival. "Well, look, there's your brother. If you're so miserable, why don't you just go home with him? I'll even let him in, so he can help you pack."

Avery's jaw dropped as he jovially invited Lucifer inside. "What are you doing?!" She cried.

"Letting your brother in!" Malachai smiled. "We can't just be rude and let him stand in the elevator, can we? Now, Lucifer, it's good you're here because I think it would be best if you helped your sister-" He was then cut off as Avery tackled him, pinned him to the floor, and kissed him soundly as Lucifer watched.

"Sorry," she apologized as she got off Malachai, who was now trying to get a breath, his face covered in lipstick. "Sorry you had to see that, but when you get the urge, you know..." She chuckled nervously. Lucifer was watching her very carefully and could spot a lie a million miles away.

"No need to apologize," Lucifer shook his head. "I've had a lot of fun myself the past couple of days." This was true. He'd promised Ellie she wouldn't have to have any part of this whole thing and she'd given him a wicked smile and lots of other good things too. "I just came to check in and make sure you were still...happy with your decision."

"Oh, yes," Avery nodded and kissed Malachai again. "We're very happy, aren't we, sweetie?"

"Well, actually I'm-"

"He's fine," Avery interrupted.

"Now just a minute, let him finish," Lucifer told her. "Malachai, are you all right?"

"No," Malachai confessed. "I know it's weird and terrible and since I asked your sister to come, I shouldn't be the one to want to back out, but..."

"But you weren't as sure as you thought when you asked," Lucifer nodded. "You're not the first man to want to be in proximity to a beautiful woman and have a change of heart when he realizes the magnitude of what it means to live together."

"Thank you," Malachai breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. I have to make one more apology, though: you and Ellie were probably planning what to do with all the extra time you would have with Avery gone. I'm sorry for ruining those plans."

"Don't worry about it," Lucifer shook his head. "I knew this would happen. "Come on, Avery. "Let's go get your things."

Avery scoffed and followed him toward her bedroom, glad to be leaving but not wanting to show it. Malachai was no fun.

"Looks like we'll need more than one trip," Lucifer remarked. "Eleanor was very smart to advise me to bring the big car."

"If you say 'I told you so...'" Avery muttered between her teeth.

"Please, I'm a gentleman and a good brother," Lucifer assured her. "When I do gloat, it will be in private."