Her mind swimming with questions that she shouldn't have had to ask, Gwen strode into her and Steve's house, gave Pepper a quick pat on the head, then threw her bag into a chair before shouting loudly. "Steve Smith, you double crosser!" She cried as her heels clacked loudly on the floor. "You have some explaining to do! And it's gonna take more than a handbag like the one you got me for our anniversary to make up for this!" She came upon him without waiting for a response. "Imagine my utter shock when I was just innocently sitting at the Council meeting. out of absolutely nowhere, in barges Ellie, strides up to the stage, and demands that Alistair give her the job of head prosecutor! I almost had a heart attack!"

She continued to pace and wait for Steve to explain why he hadn't bothered to mention it to her until she realized that nothing was meeting her ears except silence.

"Steve?" She asked, noticing that, while he was sitting in his usual armchair, his head was bowed and he was leaning forward, eyes on his lap with his hands folded. "Oh, dear, I'm…" She pulled over one of the other arm chairs so she could sit next to him and put a hand on his arm. "What's going on? It's written all over your face. Something terrible has happened, hasn't it?"

"Yes," Steve sighed as, looking older and sadder than she'd ever seen him look, his eyes met hers and he gently kissed her hand. "You could say something bad has happened. But I should have been more prepared. Because I always knew in the back of my mind that it was a strong possibility. I guess I just…wanted so badly to have faith in my son after all that happened between us that I hoped it wouldn't."

"It's Lucifer and Eleanor, isn't it?" Gwen asked, grabbing both his hands, which were cold as ice. "Something has happened. She wouldn't be asking for a job unless something has gone horribly wrong!" She gave Steve a shake. "Would she?" She paused. "I mean, she could, if she wanted to, of course, but she wouldn't need to."

"I hate to admit this," Steve told her with tears in his eyes. "I hoped with all my heart that although it was possible, of course, that something like this could happen, it wouldn't. But it's…it's the end of them, my dear. For good."

Gwen chuckled, not believing it. "I think you're being melodramatic. They've had many bad times before. Their love is a rollercoaster, but they always pull through! Always!" The last word was spoken with a hint of desperation as though she was trying to convince both herself and Steve of her words, even as she began to believe her husband.

"Yes, they've always done it," Steve nodded, his voice harsh. "I've always been stunned up until now, whenever Eleanor has had a chance to escape what I forced upon her, she's always come back. She was a young girl I put in my son's life and bed in the hopes that she could make him a better person, but I've been delusional, I suppose." He sighed, shaking his head at his foolishness as he ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair.

Gwen cupped his face in her hands, his beard scratching her palms. "Yes, your method was wrong. We both know that. But your intent was good. And we can't deny that the things that stunned you were Eleanor's choices. Her and Lucifer's relationship was much more complicated than just her being put in his life and his bed to improve him. She genuinely loved him for a time, at least. Maybe she still does."

"I know you like to cling to that hope, but…she's really and truly met someone else this time. Someone of her own choosing, who will completely capture her heart."

"Excuse me?" Gwen asked, her eyes wide with shock. "How could she have met someone else when she and Lucifer have been meant to be together all along?"

Steve nodded. "Yes, but I'm no fool, as much as it might seem. I had an idea that things could go wrong for them in spite of my best intentions, so…just in case, I made a loophole for Eleanor."

"What kind of a loophole?" Gwen asked, eyes wide. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

"Well, if everything failed and my son became the worst version of himself, an egotistical monster who would hurt Eleanor, or the negative things about the relationship would outweigh the positives, I would release her and let her be with someone who would genuinely make her happy," Steve explained as he brushed a tear away. "Eventually."

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'eventually'?"

"Well, naturally, given how attached he's gotten to Eleanor over the years, my son, who, for some reason has trouble letting people go, isn't just going to take it all quietly. He's going to become quite vindictive and intent on having his own way. And I wonder just how much happiness Eleanor will be able to achieve, even with the loophole, poor girl."

"Oh, dear," Gwen sighed. "If your son becomes the darkest version of himself, if he becomes unable to show love or pity or care about anyone, what will become of us? What will become of the world?"

Steve shook his head and held her close. "I can't say, my dear. I obviously was not able to save him from himself, even though I did my absolute best. As did you when they were in the alternate universe." He took her hand. "Now all that's left to do is leave things up to him and hope and pray that something or someone will come along and finally help him see the light."

"Here's some chamomile tea with honey," Gwen said as she set the steaming cup on the table next to Steve's chair before bending down to kiss his cheek. "It might be good for your nerves." She paused. "How are you feeling?"

Steve sighed and locked eyes with her. "Much better, thank you," he told her, and kissed her lips gently. "I've made peace with it all, I suppose. Nothing much any of us can do for them now."

Gwen patted his shoulder. "You're getting wise in your old age," she teased and gave him a wink.

Steve sighed loudly, her attempt at humor lost on him. "I gave it my best and it wasn't enough. It's up to Lucifer to run his own life and make his own choices, hopefully for the better. I wish I could make a guarantee that something good will come of this, but I can't."

Gwen nodded. "Let's just hope he won't create chaos and some sort of apocalypse," she remarked with a roll of her eyes.

"Of course he will! Haven't you learned anything by now, dearest? The only thing we can do is try and survive it." Steve could do nothing but shrug.

"You're probably right. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it." She grabbed her own cup of tea and went to look out the open window, the sight of Noah Morningstar leaving his BMW in the driveway and making his way to the door. The sight made her chuckle.

"If something is funny, please share it with me, dear," Steve requested. "I could use a laugh."

"Noah just pulled up in his BMW," Gwen replied. "He's headed this way and we both know why, don't we, dear?"

"Oh, yes," Steve grinned and chuckled. "Of course. And really, I will admit that for once, Avery hit the mark with her matchmaking shenanigans. It was a brilliant idea to match my sex-obsessed grandson with Celine Mikaelson."

"Oh, for sure," Gwen agreed and went to get the door as the doorbell sounded. "Noah? What an unexpected and pleasant surprise!" She smiled as she greeted him.

"Always a pleasure," Noah said, although he seemed very distracted as he ran his fingers through his dark curly hair. "If you don't mind, Gwen, may I please have a word with my grandfather?"

"Of course," Gwen nodded, gesturing for him to come in. "You know that you're always welcome in your grandfather's and my home. Are you all right? You seem troubled. Is something wrong at the club, perhaps?" She asked perniciously.

"Thank you for your concern, but there's no trouble," Noah shook his head and swallowed hard. "And the club is fine. What would make you think there was trouble? There's no trouble at all."

"Well, look who's here?" Steve exclaimed with a smile and patted Noah on the back. "It's my grandson come to visit us! Isn't it a wonderful surprise, Gwen?"

"Oh, yes, a wonderful surprise," Gwen nodded, hiding laughter behind her hand until she got her bearings. "And apparently everything is fine and there's no trouble at all. Can I get you some coffee or tea, Noah?"

"No, thank you, I'm fine," Noah shook his head and took a seat in a chair near Steve, biting his lip. "Are you well, Grandfather? How's your health?"

"My health?" Steve raised an eyebrow. "What a kind but silly question. "Dear boy, of course I'm well. This body is keeping my being in perfect shape."

"Right," Noah coughed and avoided his gaze. "Silly me." He seemed very uncomfortable.

"What brings you to my humble abode, young man?" Steve asked, unable to keep the grin from his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest

"Well," Noah coughed and cleared his throat, and coughed again. "I was just, umm…"

More coughing led Gwen to ask, "are you all right, Noah? Can I get you a cough drop or some water?"

"No, thank you," Noah shook his head. "I was just…just wondering if you've paired me with someone lately." He clarified with a deep red blush.

"I'm sorry, my boy, I don't understand," Steve told him with a twinkle in his eye. "Gwen, dear, do you?"

"No, I don't think I do," Gwen shook her head and tried not to laugh. "Noah, dear, could you clarify what you're saying?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you've made a match for me," Noah said, forcing the words out of his mouth. "Paired me with a woman. Like you've done for so many people. Or was it Aunt Avery?"

"Oh, I see," Steve nodded. "Why would I do that? I thought you had everything under control with your…" He leaned close enough that a wide-eyed Noah leaned back. "Your…escort service."

Noah's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered. "Oh, yes, I have, but things change, you know, and…never mind. Obviously it was all thanks to Aunt Avery." He waved a dismissive hand and declined to elaborate.

"Yes, I suppose," Gwen tilted her head and grinned. "You say the club is doing well. Is it really? Sorry we haven't been around in a while."

"Oh, it's fine," Noah said evasively. "Thanks to Roxie, things are running as smoothly as ever and we're very busy. The Council School reserved it for a dance contest coming up."

"A dance contest, how fun!" Gwen exclaimed. "Don't you think so, Steve? Dancing is so fun! Don't you have fun dancing, Noah?" The last question had a hint of teasing to it, almost mocking.

"Oh, yes," Steve nodded. "A wonderful idea, and great publicity for the club. And if it's for the Council School, I'm guessing the Mikaelson triplets, including Celine, will be participating?"

"Yes," Noah swallowed wrong and began coughing. "Yes," he replied when he got his breath. "Yes, they are."

"Wonderful!" Gwen beamed. "You know, I saw them the other day when I was out buying some things for your grandfather and myself. They've turned into beautiful young women, Celine in particular. Don't you agree, Noah?" She knew it was wrong to tease the poor boy this way, but it was the only way to get him comfortable with his feelings. They were clearly there, even if he wouldn't admit it.

Noah was sweating now and tugging at the collar of his cashmere sweater. "It's hot in here. Is anyone else hot?"

"I'm not," Steve glanced at Gwen. "What about you, dear?"

"Not me," Gwen shook her head and bit her lip on a smile. "I'm fine, but Noah seems to be having a problem. Maybe we should open the windows and let some cool air in." She bit her lip to hold her laughter in.

"No, there's no need for that…I need to go. I can get air outside. There's lots of air outside. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for your time." He sprinted, ran into the door without realizing it was closed, then opened it, swaying on his feet as he practically threw himself out the door.

"Should he be driving after he hit his head like that?" Steve asked as they heard his car pull away with a squeal of tires.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine," Gwen replied. "What we did to him was terrible, but it was also so much fun!" She grinned.

"We have our reasons," Steve reminded her. "Although he's so in love with Celine that he can't see straight, he's very stubborn about admitting it, even to himself. Someone has to force those feelings to the surface and who better than us?"

"Or we could just tell him the truth," Gwen reminded him. "It would be gentler."

"It would be easier, but if the experience with his father taught me anything, it's best to leave that alone and allow Noah, in this case, to figure out for himself what his heart wants, all by himself, without someone giving him the answers. Even if it kills him. Figuratively of course." He gave her wink, and pulled her into his lap, kissing her soundly.

For what seemed like the millionth time that day, the doorbell rang, and Gwen found herself plodding over to see who had come to visit. Granted there were many options, but given how things were going, it would have been nice for Steve to give her a warning of who would be on the other side before she opened the door.

Gripping the knob tightly, she turned it and pulled the door open, surprised to see Angelica, looking very somber. "Hello," the older woman replied. "Angelica, this is a surprise. Do you need to talk? I was just about to go run a few errands."

"Hello, Gwen," Angelica cleared her throat. "Considering how things are going between Grandfather, Father, and I, I guess my presence here would be considered a surprise." She raised her chin as if daring Gwen to ask more questions.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Gwen responded, trying to steady her breathing because the young woman's intense gaze was actually making her nervous. "You know you're always welcome here, but I don't think it's the best day for you to visit. Your grandfather doesn't feel well but I'd be more than happy to schedule a visit for you some other day."

"I don't think so," Angelica shook her head, gently pushing the tall blonde aside so she could cross the threshold into the house. "I have something very important to speak to him about and there's no such thing as "good" time to discuss it. If he's already upset, it would do less harm to upset him more now than to wait until he's in a good mood later and upset him more." She paused. "I assume you don't want him to be upset if it can be avoided?"

"Well, of course," Gwen sighed. "I suppose since you're on a mission, you can do as you wish." She shut the door and led Angelica down the corridor to the living room. "This way, dear."

When they reached the living room at last, Angelica rolled her eyes as Gwen announced her arrival. "Brace yourself, my dear," she told Steve. "Angelica is here to see you and apparently it's not about something cheerful."

Steve raised his head from his joined hands. He'd been lost in thought and her sudden appearance was very surprising. The fact that Eleanor and Lucifer were breaking up hadn't left his mind all day. And now their daughter was here, standing in front of him, most likely the reason all of this discord had started. The reason his son had lost his mind. The fact that neither he nor his son could know anything about the man she was seeing, who seemed to be eclipsing them both in her estimation, was ruining them, his son in particular. "Angelica," he told her, eyes narrowed. "This visit is very unexpected."

"Yes but long overdue," Angelica shot back, her tone nonchalant and her arms crossed over her chest.

"I was planning on running a few errands, but…I can stay if you'd like," Gwen remarked as she looked back and forth between grandfather and granddaughter. "It might be best if the house is gonna stay in one piece."

"Oh, no, my dear, please do your errands," Steve insisted. "Angelica and I can be civil to one another, I promise."

Gwen looked doubtful but decided that her need for toothpaste, toilet paper, and deodorant was so great that she would just have to trust them.

"I am putting faith in both of you to behave while I'm gone," she said.

"I will," Angelica replied and then nodded in Steve's direction. "I don't know about him, though."

Gwen decided to ignore that remark and make her way to the door after grabbing her bag. "It was lovely to see you, Angelica," she called.

"Likewise," Angelica returned.

Once the door was closed and they were sure Gwen was gone, Steve and Angelica gave each other one long look before Steve cleared his throat. "Would you like to have a seat, dear?"

"You don't have to be polite and all that crap," Angelica told him. "I know you're done playing nice and so am I." She stomped her foot lightly.

Steve raised an eyebrow and rose to his feet, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at her. "Well, all right, if that's what you'd prefer. What do you want?"

"For you to tell Father to leave me the hell alone!" She raged. "I'm a grown-up woman with a job and a private life I'd really like to actually keep private! Is he your spy or something? He wasn't this bad when I went to college, or even moved in with Sammy! He's become the ugliest version of himself and I don't like it! He was afraid and little clingy before I left for college, and when I first moved in with Sammy, but it was never as bad as it is now!"

Steve allowed himself a loud, long laugh at her expense. "You think I have that kind of power over your father? If I did, we'd never have had any bumps in our relationship at all."

"I think he's the way he is because of all the power you've had over him over the centuries," Angelica replied. "My father is, at heart, a loving, kind, sweet, caring man. I wouldn't be the person I am today if not for the love and care he's always given me. But now I want to grow up. Spread my wings. See the world. But he won't let me because your response to him wanting that was to callously toss him aside. And now he's afraid that if I go out into the world, I won't come back. That if I have other relationships, there's not going to be a place in my life for him, which would never be the case. Not that he'll let me explain that, of course. He's a mess right now and it's all your fault! For once, would you take responsibility? It's ridiculous and cruel to expect more of me, of Father, of Aunt Avery, of anyone, than you do of yourself."

Steve's eyes were wide with shock. He shook his head and pointed a forbidding finger at her. "Watch your mouth, young lady. I won't accept such disrespect under my roof!"

"Well, boo-fucking-hoo!" Angelica cried and stomped her foot. "I won't be treated like a child you can manipulate anymore. I refuse!"

"You won't, and yet you act like one," Steve spat angrily. "If you would like your father to leave you alone and treat you better, you tell him yourself. I'm not your errand boy." He paused. "And with all that's happening, I doubt he'd listen to me, even if I were willing to tell him things for you."

Curious at that remark, she licked her lips and cleared her throat. "What do you mean 'and with all that's happening right now'?"

"Nothing," he waved a dismissive hand and declined to elaborate.

Angelica scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "Don't tell me you've done more to screw up my mother's life for your own twisted amusement. Newsflash, Grandfather: life isn't a novel! You can't play with people like a writer does with characters!"

"Tell me something, Angelica," Steve requested. "You seem to have quite the mouth on you now. Is it the man you live with now who has taught you to be so disrespectful and neglectful of your family? Maybe your father has become the way he is because you've abandoned him for that man."

"Are you kidding?" Angelica shook her head and threw her hands in the air. "How many times do I have to say that I'm not the root cause of any of this. You are the one whose cruelty and neglect traumatized him so badly in the first place. When I came along, our relationship was a band-aid for all the hurt he was feeling. Having someone around who loved attention as much as I did, and who was as clingy as I was, gave him an illusion of security for a time. But it's also become unhealthy. We're never going to be well-adjusted people if we don't pull off the band-aid and go through the pain to view each other as two adults. The only way he's gonna be able to have faith that there'll always be a place for him in my new life is if he's able to see it in action.

"Of course, it will take a while because Dad's made his bed by choosing to push me away and completely disrespecting my need for independence and space, but I hope that we'll be able to come back together again." She paused, not wanting to push what seemed to be very good luck, but she was curious. "Why do you keep referring to the man I'm seeing as just that? Why don't you ever refer to him by name? Of course, you know who he is." She rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to manipulate me into telling you. I'm not stupid. At least be open with me if you can. No more games."

Steve just glared at her in silence.

"Wait a minute," Angelica grinned as the realization hit her. "The reason why you're not naming him is because…you can't! You literally have no idea about my love life somehow! I can't believe it! No wonder you and Father are going nuts!" Dumbstruck by her good luck, she began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Stop that this instant!" Steve demanded, perturbed that someone who used to be so pliable and obedient was making a fool of him in his own house. "Tell me who the man is at once!"

"Yeah, don't think so!" Angelica shook her head and grinned, her eyes taking on a wicked sparkle. "I thought this visit was going to be a low point of my day, but it was nice! Thanks for cheering me up so much. I'll go right home into the arms of the man you don't know, and we'll have champagne and celebrate, making a toast to whatever is actually valuing my privacy when no one else will, not even people in my own family!"

"Mark my words," Steve called after her just before she slammed the front door shut. "I'll find out who it is! Savor your peace now, because I'll know your secret soon enough!"

"Mom? Dad? Are you home? Did you know there was a big thunderstorm outside when it was supposed to be sunny today? What's up with that? Cause I know it wasn't me. Is everything okay?" Avery closed the door behind her and put her key in its usual pocket in her purse. "Is anyone here?" She continued to yell, hoping for a response.

Making her way to living room, she sighed deeply at the sight of her father in his chair, her arms crossed. "Didn't you hear me shouting, Daddy? Why didn't you answer me? And where's Mom?"

"Out, running some errands, I think." Steve told her without looking up. He had his eyes on his lap and his hands on his knees.

"Well, that explains why I knocked and knocked and no one answered the door!" She scolded. "You're lucky I had my key to get in!" She tried not to sound too angry cause he was clearly in some kind of distress, but she couldn't help it if a little frustration came out in her voice.

"It is your home, Avery, and you are our daughter. You can use that key whenever you want," he said tiredly, continuing to avoid her gaze. "And may I remind you that it was your own choice to leave home and go live with your brother?"

"Well, of course I chose to leave!" Avery replied drly. "I can't stay here forever! I have to grow up and have some independence!"

"It seems everyone wants that these days," Steve remarked with a shake of his head. "What brings you back in spite of your newfound sense of independence?"

"Well," she said, pacing the length of the Persian rug. "You know you and I need to have a talk about what you've done with Malachai Fale and how it's affected my relationship with the poor man!"

"What more is there to say?" Steve asked, his voice weak.

"Well, the fact is that I would bet my life and all my designer shoes that you have talked to him recently and said things that gave him crazy ideas, turning him into a…jerk! He's become the worst version of himself that he could possibly be, and given how our relationship has gone thus far, that is really saying something! We never even had one, but where there was a remote chance for togetherness before, now I think there isn't one!"

Finally, she stopped pacing and came to stand in front of him when she noticed that he wasn't looking her in the eye. "Are you listening to me? Or are you avoiding what I'm saying because you don't want to take responsibility for how you interfered in my private life?"

Only silence answered her. Avery narrowed her eyes at her father before striding over to the chair where he sat hunched over in despair. "Father? Daddy? Are you all right?"

To her surprise, when he lifted his eyes to meet hers, they had tears in them, which were also running heedlessly down his cheeks. She was stunned.

"Oh, Daddy, what's wrong? What's making you cry this way?" She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that there was something out there making her father, the Almighty, cry freely for the first time she could remember.

She knelt in front of him and grabbed both his forearms. "Father, please talk to me, because seeing you like this is frightening. Tell me what's wrong so I can help,"

Steve shook his head and gave her a small smile, sniffling a little and wiping tears from his eyes. "Everything…nothing…it's hardly anything you need to concern yourself with, my dear. Don't worry about the mental state of your old man when there are so many better things you could be thinking about."

"I suppose, but I can't," Avery shook her head and took his bearded face in her hands.

"Why can't you?" He asked.

"Cause you're my father, it hurts me to see you in such distress with no one around to help you, and…I love you very much," she informed him with a smile, opening up her heart to a man who seemed to need it so badly, and lowering her forehead to touch his.

"Here," she remarked later, setting down a tray. "I brought us some tea and cookies. Do you want milk or sugar, Daddy?"

"Just a little sugar," Steve told her. "You know, your mother makes me tea when I feel bad. She says drinking something warm chases the blues away and she's right."

Avery mixed some sugar into his tea and handed him the cup.

"Thank you, dear," he said with a smile as he took it from her, blew on it, and took a small sip.

"Good?" Avery asked. "Cool enough? I could put some milk in it if you want to cool it down."

"No, it's fine, thank you." Steve smiled at her.

Avery sat down and took a drink from her own cup after adding cream and shook her head. "You know, I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around what you told me about Lucifer and Eleanor," she confessed. "I can't believe they're done now."

"Yes," Steve sighed. "It was a terrible shock for me too. I don't know what to think." He sighed again, louder this time. "I don't know what to say, but what is there to say when you're me and failing miserably?"

Avery watched ears fill her father's eyes and grabbed his hand to give it a gentle squeeze. "Honestly, Daddy, I think you're being too hard on yourself."

"Thank you," Steve nodded and kissed her hand. "But you have to know how important it is to keep your brother on some sort of leash. In my heart, I know there's a good man in him, but I have no idea how to bring it out for good!" He shared, his voice full of worry.

"I know," Avery nodded. "You meant well. You wanted to stop harm from befalling humanity or anyone else."

"Yes," Steve sighed. "Although some might not believe me, and I don't blame them, my intentions were always good. Despite that, I see now that it wasn't a good idea to use Eleanor as a sacrificial lamb. All it did was cause her distress in the end. And on top of that, I was so eager to try and fix things with your brother and save the world that I…I…Eleanor was just a child when I put her and your brother together! I don't know what I was thinking!"

"Daddy, listen to me, okay? I'm probably the one person in the world besides Mom who understands where you're coming from. I know how hard it is to pair people up and help them find true love and happiness. You think you have it, and then free will comes along and just…blows it all up. Every match you make, there's always a chance it could be wrong. That's just a fact. People have to be ready to accept what you give them, the good and bad parts of it. And Lucifer, though he is my brother and I love him dearly, is not an easy person for anyone to manage. I think I would have been absolutely shocked if your first match for him had succeeded, now that I think of it."

"I guess," Steve shrugged.

"It all comes down to his choices," she continued. "A long time ago, he fought you to be able to control his own life, didn't he? But I think he went into it thinking that being free of you would make everything perfect. He never really learned how to deal well with hardship. And while I can see how his past would make that hard, if he has his head so far up his ass that he can't see the effect his behavior has on his family, that's his problem, not yours."

Steve nodded. "I understand what your saying, and part of me agrees with you, but…as some people have pointed out…repeatedly, I am the one who created this mess with your brother." He reached out to caress her cheek. "I just hope the man I put in Eleanor's path now will make her happy, in spite of how Lucifer will try and destroy their happiness."

Avery's jaw dropped. "You put another man in Eleanor's path? Daddy, I don't know if this is such a…"

"I did it differently this time," Steve was quick to reassure her. "This is more like matching people on a dating service. I just set them in the same space to meet, as a back up plan in the event things went wrong with your brother. I want her to have happiness after everything she's been through. It's the least I can do. Julian is a good man Eleanor won't know what hit her. I wish Lucifer had been able to treat her half as good as Julian will."

"His name is Julian?"

"Yes," Steve nodded. "And he's human…for now."

"What do you mean 'as of now' Is something going to happen to him? Will it be Lucifer's fault?" Avery cried.

"You know I can't tell you that, Avery," Steve reminded her.

"Yeah, I know," Avery sighed. "But I at least had to ask."

They sat together in comfortable silence, drinking tea and eating cookies. Then Steve smiled. "I confess that I planted an idea in Malachai's head." He chuckled.

"What?" Avery demanded. "What did you tell him?"

"Well, I might have told him you two weren't destined to be together."

"Why in the world did you do that?" She demanded. Then her eyes widened. "Unless it's true!"

"Of course, it isn't, dearest daughter," he said, winking playfully and grabbing her hand. "But Malachai Fale has a way of getting on my last nerve where you're concerned, and I wanted to teach him a lesson. I know it was horrible. Are you angry with me?"

"Well," a grin curved her lips. "Now that I think about it, maybe I should teach him a lesson too." She winked back. Then they laughed, clinked their cups together, and finished their tea.