Just Adam First Draft
A group of people was already waiting outside by the time Chloe had located the classroom. Out of breath from the short sprint through the hospital corridor, she rested her hands on her knees for a moment.
The secretary at the front desk could not give directions, that much was clear.
But at least they were still in time.
Lucifer stopped next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Honey, are you alright? Why did you take off like that? Do you have to use the bathroom or something?"
"I'm fine," she wheezed. Christ, her condition isn't what it used to be. "I didn't want to be late."
Lucifer checked his watch. "We still have ten minutes left. No need to rush things, your ankles are already sore."
Chloe straightened, drawing in a deep breath. She tried to steady her heartbeat. "I know. I just don't want to miss anything."
He let out a chuckle. "Shouldn't that be my line? At least you have experience with babies and giving birth."
But that was just it.
She had given birth already, yes, but more than ten years ago. Her body isn't what it used to be.
She's sustained much more injuries and traumas on the job in the meantime, not to mention her age playing an important factor as well.
Rory is perfectly healthy and growing well inside of her, and for that she couldn't be more grateful.
But with Trixie everything had also been fine, yet she'd been in labor for a horrifying twenty-one hours.
There had been moments when she'd been so exhausted that the doctors thought she wasn't going to pull through anymore.
It had been a tense night, Dan growing paler by the hour. But she'd come through in the end, surprising everyone and delivering Trixie with the last of her strength.
The second time you gave birth was supposed to be smoother, but still.
She wasn't taking any chances.
"Maybe," she said, inclining her head towards the door. "Let's find out. Oh, wait."
Taking her phone out of her pocket, she opened her mailbox. "The baker sent us a mail to reschedule the date for our appointment for the cake tasting. The owner of the venue likes to call over the phone first."
"I'll check my calendar," he replied, making to take out his own phone but hesitating when the door to the classroom opened. A women in her fifties started to usher people in a with a sunny attitude.
Chloe pocketed her phone. "It's fine. We can check later."
If I don't fall asleep the second we get home.
Lucifer let her go first, as always. Ever the gentleman. He stepped inside after her and closed the door.
There were thirteen other couples in the spacious room, everyone standing against one wall while waiting for instructions. There was a lot of hand holding and embracing going on.
Yoga mats and bouncing balls in all possible colors were strewn everywhere, and relaxing music was playing in the background. The curtains were half-drawn against the stark winter light, giving the place a cozy atmosphere.
"Now that everyone has arrived," said a cheerful woman with cropped, gray hair standing in the middle of the room. "We can finally begin. My name is Erin, and I am a midwife here at the UCLA Medical Center. Today we will learn all about giving birth, and how we can make it as comfortable for you as possible."
Erin gestured to the mats. "Have a seat with your partner. We'll do a quick introduction round before we jump into today's class."
Lucifer dashed off, safeguarding the spot he'd deemed best for her. He smiled at her like a proud puppy when she waddled over.
"Is this one good?" he asked, gesturing at the teal yoga mat.
Chloe couldn't help her own smile. "Yeah, this one's fine."
A cacophony of grunts and groans sounded as about a dozen pregnant women sat down with aching backs and sore ankles, and for once she didn't feel out of place.
Maybe this is something after all.
Lucifer settled himself behind her so she was seated between his legs, his arms coming to rest on top of her belly. "Are you comfortable like this?"
Chloe let out a pleased hum, covering his hands with her own. The mat was surprisingly thick, the material soft and cushiony. And stretching her legs felt good after spending a day cooped up in the office.
"I'm comfy, thank you."
The introduction round passed quickly, although their turn lasted the longest (Dude, is your name really Lucifer? Yes. Like the Devil? Yes.)
Erin clapped her hands. "Alright! Now that we know each other, we can jump into our first class! My assistant will be a bit later today, but once he's here he can help us with some of the exercises."
Without further ado, she launched into a cheerful rant about the joys of parenthood and the miracle that was growing stronger inside of them each and every day.
Her speech was often punctuated by stories of her own children, twin boys who loved running around.
Chloe found her concentration lacking after a while, and started to look around the low-ceilinged room.
Posters with relaxing scenery covered the walls, ranging from sunlit forests to tropical beaches. A bulletin board hung next to the door, plastered with pictures of newborn babies the teachers had helped deliver.
A wide-armed gesture from Erin pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Ladies, you are a goddess! You create new life, you carry new life inside of you. Don't you ever forget how magical and how special that is. How magical and special you are."
She leveled a look at the men in the room, pointing a finger at each and every one of them. "Which brings me to my next point. A good pregnancy, and a good birth as well, stands or falls with the support the woman receives. As the partner, you play a vital role in the delivery."
Lucifer tensed behind her in anticipation, and Chloe twisted herself in his embrace so she could give him a little kiss on his cheek.
He smiled, and brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss before settling himself against her once more.
Erin didn't miss the gesture, her smile widening. "Giving birth can be a long and painful process, so it is your job to make her as comfortable as possible. Don't dash off into the hallway to find a nurse or doctor at the slightest change, or pace around nervously."
Very important to remember. She remembers Dan sprinting off at all times to find a doctor, and it left her feeling nervous and agitated. Not to mention that fighting the pain on your own is a lot harder.
"Instead, encourage her. Give praise, help her walk around during contractions or bring her some cold water. But above all, stay calm. In that moment, you are the person she depends upon. You are the person she trusts. "
"Be. Her. Rock," Erin said, slapping a birth ball each time for emphasis. "Stay calm. Stay rational. And most of all, listen to her needs. Listen to her needs, and you will be fine."
Every husband or partner in the room was quiet, blinking dumbfoundedly. All the pregnant women, however, were nodding along enthusiastically and grinning from ear to ear.
Chloe had to admit it, the woman knew how to deliver a speech. Even Lucifer was silent for once.
But from the lines at her temples she could tell she'd been doing this job for a long time, and obviously knew what she was talking about. No doubt all that advice came from real-life situations.
"I can do that," Lucifer whispered in her ear after a while. "Be your rock. I'm already your number one fan. This shouldn't be too hard for me. No pun intended."
She snorted, the sound loud in the silent classroom. Of course there wasn't a pun intended there.
"I'm serious. I'll put banners up and everything. Encourage you from the sidelines. Use my fantastic sense of humor to distract you from the pain."
Chloe patted his hand. "As long as you don't hire a cheerleading squad, I'll be fine."
"Does Maze count?"
Erin clapped her hands together. "Alright! Now that that's behind us, we can move on to the first series of exercises for today."
"During this first session, we're going to learn how to use a birth ball. Both during the pregnancy and during labor, it has many proven benefits. So, I want you ladies to grab one of the balls in the room and settle yourselves."
Lucifer rolled on his side and did a half-dive while sitting to grab the one closest to them. As if the room wasn't littered with those things.
He proudly rolled it towards her. The thing was larger than she'd expected it to be, and was a bright, lime green color.
Chloe got up carefully, her ankles groaning in protest. Lucifer held her hand as she slowly lowered herself onto the ball, keeping her steady as she searched her balance.
With her feet settled firmly on the mat, she let out a sigh of relief as some of her lower back pain disappeared. Huh. That really felt better. Maybe she'd had to get one of those for in her office.
"Now that we're all seated," Erin went on, sitting down herself to demonstrate. "We're going to start with an exercise that improves stability and strength in your legs. I want you to bounce gently on the ball for a couple of minutes. Not too hard, but search an easy rhythm that works for you."
Chloe was holding both of Lucifer's hands right now, trying to rock up and down. But she couldn't find a proper rhythm, feeling like she was sliding to all sides and accomplishing nothing but jolting Rory.
Her cheeks burned, and she let out a grunt of frustration.
"What's wrong?" Lucifer asked.
"I feel ridiculous."
"You're not ridiculous." He craned his head to look around the room. "Looks like everyone else is faring the same as you are, my love."
She sighed. How long was the exercise going to last again?
He considered her again, noticing her embarrassment. "Why don't you still for a moment? I have an idea."
Chloe stopped moving, and Lucifer let go of her hands when she was in a stable position once more.
For a moment, she wondered what he was up to. But then he picked up the biggest, bubblegum pink ball he could find and carried it over to her.
He placed the ball in front of her and sat down on it so he was facing her. After a few seconds of wobbling, he finally found his balance. They were sitting so close their knees almost bumped.
Lucifer took her hands again, grinning like a cat who'd caught a canary. "Alright, this is the plan. What if I bounce up first, and when I come down you bounce up? That'll make it easier to find a steady rhythm, and you can use the force of my energy for your own movements."
The idea took her by surprise. "That... might actually work."
He seemed pleased she was going along with his plan. "Excellent. I'll start. Just focus on me and ignore the others."
Lucifer did as promised, pushing himself off the ground with his feet and rocking on the birth ball.
The energy of his actions reached Chloe through their joined hands, and she used the disruption to bounce up and down on her own ball. The material was flexible but surprisingly sturdy, giving way to her motion but not causing her to sink down too much.
Her movement prompted Lucifer to bounce in turn, which then caused her to move again.
Chloe couldn't suppress her smile. This was actually working!
"You know -"
Bounce
"- we're actually - "
Bounce
"- quite good at this!"
Bounce
Lucifer chuckled, quirking a suggestive eyebrow. "I'd say we've had a fair amount of practice with these kind of positions, don't you agree?"
A faint blush colored her cheeks as memories of the summer rose to the surface. "Hush. It's probably how we got here in the first place."
"I'm not complaining," he said defensively.
"I know, honey." She gave his hand a squeeze as she bounced up. "I know."
Lucifer gave her belly a warm smile and opened his mouth to say something but Erin interrupted them.
"Yes!" Their teacher clapped her hands enthusiastically, letting out a little whoop of excitement that startled Lucifer. "Teamwork! A birth is something you both experience. Don't be afraid to help your partner out, even if you're not one hundred percent sure how to do it!"
Lucifer glowed at the praise, puffing his chest out like a peacock. She couldn't help but snort. He could be so predictable sometimes, but she loved him for it.
"In fact," Erin addressed the class, "I want everyone to try this in tandem just like these two here. It makes the exercise more interactive, and you get a better idea of how it works if you do it yourself. Also –"
The door swung open, creaking on its hinges. The classroom fell silent, all friendly chatter dissipating at the intrusion. A man stepped inside, giving Erin a wave.
"Ah, perfect! My colleague has arrived just in time to help us out with our lesson today."
Chloe looked at the newcomer, and the pleasant, giddy feeling she'd had only moments ago melted away into nothing. An uneasiness settled in her stomach instead.
His beard was longer since the last and only time she'd seen him, but trimmed at the edges. He'd had a haircut, and lost weight. He was – ironically – wearing a black t -shirt that read Feminist in pink, bold letters.
"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to my assistant for today."
The man locked eyes with Lucifer, and a brief expression of disgust crossed his features.
"Meet Adam!"
"Meet Adam!"
Nope nope nope.
This wasn't happening.
One day. Just one day without work or emotional issues or wedding problems or celestial interference. That shouldn't be so hard right?
Right?
Well, apparently it was.
"You," Adam hissed.
All heads in the room swiveled towards them, dozens of pairs of curious eyes zoning in. But Chloe wasn't focused on them.
"Do you know this man?" Erin asked carefully, sensing tension.
Adam huffed out a bitter laugh. "Of course I do. He slept with my wife."
Several gasps sounded, and a steady stream of whispers started to arise around them.
"You were already separated," Lucifer replied coldly, maintaining eye contact and not letting go of her hands. "I simply asked if she desired some company, and she said yes. We were both consenting adults."
"Why don't you set things up for the next exercise, Adam?" Erin cut in sternly, trying to deescalate the situation. " We still have forty minutes of class left."
Or the unspoken meaning, Behave the next forty minutes or else.
Erin may be happy and enthusiastic, but the only way you survived for more than twenty years on the job wasn't by behaving nicely.
He hesitated for a moment, but decided to listen to his superior in the end.
"Whatever you say, man. Whatever." Adam dropped his bag on the nearest table, and started unpacking several bundles of leaflets with what appeared to be tips and tricks for good postnatal care.
"Dude, is your name really Adam? Like Adam and Eve?" asked the guy who'd inquired if Lucifer's name was really Lucifer.
Adam gave the man a tight-lipped smile, shooting a withering glare at her partner. "It's just Adam."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable, to say the least.
The man on the mat next to them leaned over and pointed at her.
"That's his wife?" he whispered to Lucifer.
"No, that's my wife," he snapped, and the man recoiled visibly. "Or at least my future wife."
"Oh my god, you're marrying her, too? That's not cool, man."
"What? No, I –"
Chloe laid a hand on his arm, silencing him. He always jumped to her defense, even when they'd barely started working together.
Her own guardian angel, in a way.
She gave him a little squeeze. "Hey, it's doesn't matter, it's fine. It doesn't matter."
They don't matter.
The anger was apparent on his face when he turned towards her, a hint of red in his eyes, but it wasn't because Adam had tarnished his reputation. He could care less about that. Always had.
No, it was because he'd tarnished hers.
And that was something he wouldn't stand for.
Lucifer was torn between giving the man a snide remark or letting the matter slide altogether for the time being.
After a few seconds of indecision, he chose the latter.
He grazed the back of her hand with his thumb, shoulders slumping in an effort to relax. The redness faded from his eyes.
The murmurs in the room didn't die down, however. Shutting down Lucifer's discussion with the man next to them was proof in their eyes that she was supposedly married to Adam and had then cheated on him with Lucifer.
And now she was pregnant with his child.
Great. This was bound to make the remainders of the lessons… interesting.
But if Chloe had learned something from years of dating and or marrying coworkers, it was to ignore the rumors and gossip behind her back on focus on what actually mattered.
Her partner.
"Erin," Lucifer spoke up, not taking his eyes off Chloe. "Why don't we start on the next exercise already?"
Their teacher regained some of her former vigor. "Great idea! I'll do a quick round to assess this exercise, and then we can move on to the next one."
With Erin gone from their side and the other couples occupied once more, Chloe leaned in to whisper to him.
"What the Hell is he doing here? And why is he so hostile all of a sudden? I thought Eve and him had finally worked things out?"
She'd known of the tensions between Adam, Eve and Maze when he'd appeared a couple of days before their wedding. Hell, he'd kidnapped Linda just to delay it.
But after the ceremony he'd been civil and relatively friendly (albeit condescending), and it seemed like he'd finally left the past behind him. What had suddenly changed that?
Lucifer cast a quick glance at Adam, who was helping a woman across the room. "I have no idea. I had the feeling we'd somewhat buried the proverbial hatchet after the wedding. But it would seem I was mistaken."
"Did something happen in the meantime that we don't know about? Maybe Eve or Maze talked to him recently and some old jealousy flared up?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. It's possible, I suppose. I just don't know what the bloody tosser is doing here. Of all places on Earth, this is one of the last ones where I'd expect to find him."
A trickle of dread slithered down her spine. "You don't think he's here to harm you, right?"
Or Rory.
Lucifer's gaze hardened, and he unconsciously shifted closer to her by rolling his bubblegum pink ball forward. "Let him try. He won't get far. But no, I don't think that's why. As odd as it may sound, I think we ran into him here purely by chance."
Chloe glanced at the First Man, who was showing a couple how to properly place their feet while sitting on the ball. He appeared to be taking his job seriously, and from the appreciative look on their faces it seemed he was doing it well.
He followed her stare, being less subtle than she was. "Only time will tell what he's doing here."
She let out a hum in agreement. "I just hope you're right that it's a coincidence that we ran into him."
"So do I, my love," Lucifer sighed. "So do I."
The atmosphere in the classroom was tense for the remainder of the lesson.
No one asked either her or Lucifer about the situation with Adam, but there were a lot curious and often outright disdainful glances cast in their general direction.
Erin didn't comment on the situation, but tried her best to keep her assistant out of Lucifer's vicinity. Whether she expected a fight or just general unpleasantness was unclear, but Chloe was grateful for it nonetheless.
But pissed-off ex of an ex or not, the reason they were here was Rory.
And she was a million times more important than whatever was going on.
Time to focus on what really matters, Chloe thought. Enough with everything else..
They did several more exercises on the birth ball, such as the V-sit and hula hoop exercise. Lucifer had a field trip with that one, and received both admiring and blank stares while performing it.
She could have stopped him, but she didn't. Their reputation was already blown to pieces, so why not have fun while the lessons lasted?
I bet this is why Lucifer used to drink and party so much. If people already have a fixed image of you, why bother changing it when can just enjoy yourself?
Now the focus had shifted to breathing exercises, such as belly breathing and the classic pant-pant-blow technique.
Having given birth before, Chloe found these easy to follow and was quickly up to date with the latest techniques and methods.
Lucifer, however, did not.
Her partner was wheezing as he tried to keep up with Erin's instructions, even though he didn't need to practice it since he wasn't a pregnant woman. He just wanted to know how to do it so he could support her better.
He'd taken off his suit jacket so he was now in a waistcoat and dress shirt, and was getting more red-faced with each passing minute.
Chloe put a hand on his rapidly moving chest. "Honey, it's pant-pant-blow. Not pant-blow-pant."
"That is… exactly… what… I'm doing," he replied, out of breath, continuing to look at Erin's demonstration.
"You're almost hyperventilating is what you're doing."
"Getting… cheeky, Lieutenant?"
"You're the cheeky one."
Chloe moved in his line of sight on the mat, deciding to show him the proper method before he passed out. She sat down cross-legged in front of him, mirroring his position. She put her hands on his knees.
"Okay, just stop whatever you're doing and watch me for a moment. I'll show you how to do it and then you copy me, alright?"
"Alright," Lucifer breathed after a while, realizing resistance is futile.
"So, first we have two short pants. You quickly push two breaths out of your mouth, followed by an exhale. Then you repeat, but make you sure you exhale long enough. Otherwise you'll run out of air."
Chloe let out two short pants, making the classical hee-hee sound. Lucifer copied her movements and made the exact same noise.
Then she exhaled deeply, blowing out a long breath. "See? Pant-pant-blow. Now you try it."
Lucifer did as he was told, panting twice before letting out a deep breath. His features brightened as he tried it again, finding it a lot easier after her instructions.
"Well, I'll be damned, that actually works much better. And I am damned. Or was, at least."
Chloe shook her head, smiling. Sometimes he could be so stubborn, but when he saw reason at least he acknowledged it these days.
"You know –"
Erin clapped her hands twice in front of everyone, stopping the exercises. "Alright class, that's a wrap for today! Great work, everybody! I hope you all had nice time here, and I'll be happy to see you here again next week. Same time, same place."
Everyone started to gather their supplies, grabbing handbags and zipping up coats against the January chill. The relaxing music was turned off, and the lights in the classroom were dimmed.
To Chloe's everlasting relief, no one stuck around long around to bother asking them an awkward question. They all hurried outside, heading home and back to their no doubt busy lives.
Perks of living in LA.
They were already in the hallway when they noticed furious whispering behind them.
Through the open door, she could see Erin and Adam arguing in the now-empty classroom. The teacher's easy demeanor was gone, replaced by affront and anger as she lectured her assistant.
Chloe caught the words 'unprofessional' and 'no respect' and 'downright inappropriate'.
She couldn't be more right.
Lucifer snorted beside her. "Looks like someone's getting put in their place."
"Looks like."
But his glee vanished the moment Erin pointed to them in the hall, and Adam followed her finger and swallowed visibly.
Erin's telling him to apologize, Chloe thought. Great.
She didn't know whether she actually wanted an apology or just to go home as quickly as she could after everything.
But it looks like the choice wasn't up to them since he started heading their way.
"Oh, joy," Lucifer muttered.
Adam must have heard him, because he shot him a nasty glare, then straightened and corrected himself. He felt Erin's gaze burning on his back, who was watching them from the doorway.
Why was this job so important to him?
"I came here to…apologize," Adam gritted out, looking like he'd rather drink bleach than give them an apology. He hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets, puffing out his chest.
"Go on," Lucifer urged sweetly.
Adam bristled, and for a moment Chloe felt the urge to tell her partner off. But in the end, she thought better of it. Lucifer may be mad Adam had made her look bad, but she felt the same about her partner.
He'd smeared Lucifer's image, and that was something she wouldn't stand for.
"I shouldn't have behaved the way I did, dude. It was unprofessional and below anything an employee of this hospital represents. It is totally understandable if you want to switch to another class. In that case, we'll give you a full refund of the fee you paid."
Adam looked sick, like speaking those very words repulsed him. He glanced from Lucifer to her, raising his eyebrows.
"Happy?" he whispered so his boss wouldn't hear him.
"Yes," Chloe said slowly. He wasn't being sincere, but at least he'd listened to Erin's request. "But we're not done yet."
"What?"
Erin perked up in the doorway, sensing the flare-up in tension.
Lucifer quickly put a hand on Adam's shoulder and gave Erin an obvious fake smile.
"We go way back, me and him," he called out to their course leader. "But it seems like we have a lot of catching up to do. Don't we?"
Adam got the hint, his mood darkening. "Damn straight. You've got some explaining to do, pal."
"Splendid." Lucifer's grin widened but it didn't reach his eyes. "What better time than the present, am I right?"
"Why don't we go to the hospital cafeteria?" Chloe cut in. "I think everyone could use a drink."
Right now, it was best to move this conversation elsewhere, or Erin would get too suspicious. And even though she liked the woman, this was none of her business.
"Great idea." Adam didn't let go of her partner's gaze.
Lucifer extended his arm towards the hallway with an arrogance that belied his nerves. "By all means, lead the way."
With a grunt, the First Man started walking down the hall, striding like he owned the place. The typical macho walk had probably been invented by him.
I get now why Eve left him.
Chloe gave Erin an overly cheerful wave in goodbye, which had the opposite effect desired. Her confusion only seemed to increase, but Chloe was beyond caring at the moment.
Problems she could deal with next week.
Lucifer laid a protective hand on the small of her back as they followed Adam. They both knew the lay-out of the hospital by heart, having come here for various gynecologist appointments and now for the birth class.
The only reason he'd asked him for directions was so he could keep an eye on him.
Because neither of them was taking risks at this point.
The hospital cafeteria was empty, save for two elderly people eating a piece of dried-out chocolate cake. It was dark outside, and the personnel was starting to clean up the kitchen after dinner had been served. The rush of the sink and clanging of metal pots rang through the space.
Adam picked a table by the window, one that was as far away from everyone else as possible. Cars drove by occasionally, their tail lights causing a red glow in the night. The wind hissed through the palms.
Chloe maneuvered into her chair, having to set it back a couple of inches so her belly would fit between the table and her. She was going to be really happy when Rory's out.
The second they sat down, Lucifer dropped all façade.
"What the bloody Hell are you doing here?" he hissed, eyes flashing red.
Adam wasn't intimidated. Instead, he leaned forward over the table, spitting out his words.
"What I'm doing here? What the fuck are you doing here, man? Can you never leave me alone?"
"Leave you alone?" Lucifer retorted, a muscle flickering in his jaw. "Who decided to crash Eve's wedding? I didn't see you for thousands of years, and I can happily spend the rest of eternity without ever seeing you again."
"Eve made her choice," Chloe interrupted before either of them could react. "She made one millennia ago, and she made one this summer to marry Maze. You should respect that."
Even though it later turned out that Maze was the reason Eve's ex had shown up, that didn't justify the way he had acted. Before a court of law, he would have been charged with kidnapping and defamation.
A flash of surprise crossed Adam's features, then he sat back and huffed out a cold, bitter laugh. "You think this is about Eve?"
"What else would it be about? It was the first thing you mentioned the moment you spotted Lucifer in the classroom. And you would have ranted about it if Erin hadn't been there."
"Aren't you a cop or something?" Adam bit. "Why don't you use that pretty head of yours to think for a moment? See how far that gets you."
Lucifer's voice was lethal. "Be careful how you speak to her, or you will regret it."
For the first time that evening, it seemed to dawn on him that he was grating on the Devil's nerves. He backed down.
But only a little.
"You have no idea what this is about, do you?"
Adam looked from Lucifer to her and back, then scoffed in disbelief. "Unbelievable. You know, I shouldn't have expected any different from you. Still as self-absorbed as you were at the dawn of time."
"You don't know him," Chloe snapped.
Adam's gaze dropped to the swell of her belly. "But it seems like you do, huh?"
Lucifer bristled beside her, but Chloe put a hand on his arm to calm him.
They weren't getting anywhere if the two males kept butting heads and her partner would get upset over every jab made in her direction. Right now, everyone needed to be level-headed and rational for a second.
Which would probably be difficult with the current company she's keeping and their long history.
But she wasn't Lieutenant for nothing.
Chloe's voice hardened and she straightened in her seat. "Then what is the problem? Why were you so upset to find us here?"
"The problem? What's the problem?" Adam seethed, rage bubbling to the surface.
He pointed a finger at Lucifer. "The problem is that he's always in my business. First my wife, then my family, and now my job. I'm trying to build a life here, but I keep running into this fucker at every possible turn!"
The elderly couple across the room was staring at them, the woman's fork rinkling against her plate as she dropped it in surprise at the stranger's outburst.
"Your…family?"
But the moment those words left Chloe's lips she knew what he was talking about. What he was referring to. Or rather, who he was referring to.
Dread pooled in her stomach. Even after nearly three years, the memories that arose caused her chest to tighten. She'd gone such a long time without thinking about him.
Adam, the First Man. Husband to Eve, and father of…
Chloe exchanged a knowing glance with Lucifer, who'd paled a little as he realized what this was about.
"Ah, now it's dawning on you, isn't it? Now we're finally getting somewhere."
"Why didn't you talk to me about this the first time we saw each other again?" Lucifer asked, genuinely curious. "Why wait? Why seek us out?"
"Again with the arrogance," Adam growled. "I didn't seek you out. I ran into you here because this is my job."
"And I didn't know about it when I came back to Earth," he continued. "No one in Heaven told me what happened. No one was there. Expect for you two."
The rattle of gunfire. Glass shattering. Bloodied feathers everywhere.
"How do you know he died?" Lucifer asked, his face a mask.
"Eve told me. We ran into each other at the mall a couple of months ago, and I asked her how many of us there were in LA. I asked it as a joke. I didn't expect to receive the answer that I got."
Adam's lips curled back in disgust. "So imagine my surprise when I found out you were involved as well. Because of course you were."
Lucifer scoffed, holding his stare. "As if I asked to be –"
"No, you don't get to ask anything!" Adam lashed out, pounding a fist on the table. "I get to ask the questions now!"
His voice broke, and some of his anger gave way to an unsettling exhaustion. "I get to know what happened. How it happened."
Lucifer swallowed and was silent for a moment. That day entailed bad memories and trauma for both of them, and had almost succeeded in driving them apart.
If it hadn't been for Pierce, she wouldn't have reacted so badly when she found out the truth about her partner.
Adam was breathing heavily now, impatiently glancing between them in search of answers. She couldn't imagine what he must be going through. To have own your child kill your other one.
And then find out he was murdered as well.
"It was quick."
Everyone at the table fell silent when Chloe spoke, like all the oxygen had left the room.
"Go on," Adam urged quietly, clinging to the edge of the table like his life depended on it.
She looked at her partner, who seemed to be reliving bad memories as well. "It was self-defense. There was no other way."
Adam's eyes bored into Lucifer's. Any trace of anger was gone, replaced by a hollow acceptance "So it was you."
"I thought Eve had told you as much."
"Not everything," he replied evenly. "Not everything."
The rattle of glassware sounded when the elderly couple placed their used tray back in the holder, then left with a disapproving look cast over their shoulder. The scent of cold trout and mushy peas made Chloe's stomach churn.
Adam took a deep breath. "Why did you do it? Why did you kill my – why did you kill him?"
Lucifer's dark eyes were swirling with conflicting emotions, but the guilt had lessened over time. No sign of a Devil face this time. His voice was hoarse when he spoke.
"Because he shot Chloe."
Lucifer pleading her to step aside. Pierce's cold gaze. A blast, then darkness.
"Wait, her?" Adam frowned and looked at her. "What did you do?"
Chloe twisted the ring on her hand while maintaining eye contact. "Your son wanted to murder Lucifer, and he asked me to get out of the way. But I wasn't going to let my partner get shot like a rabbit. Not on my watch. So I didn't."
A confused blink. "The guy's the Devil. A bit of lead won't kill him, sweetheart. If it did, I would have taken a swing at him a long time ago."
Lucifer appeared offended by this bit of information and opened his mouth to retort. Chloe cut him off to preserve the delicate balance they had finally achieved in this conversation.
"I didn't know he was an angel," Chloe said, letting out the part about his vulnerability around her. He had no business with that. "I just thought he was human, and that a gun could kill him just as easily as it could harm any of us. I wasn't going to let him get hurt."
"And look where your heroic efforts got you," Adam quipped, taking a swig of his beer. "He has no honor. Had no honor. Look what happened with Abel. You should have known that, especially if what I heard about the entire engagement thing was true."
The strangeness of the situation hit her then. If she had gone against every instinct and married Pierce, Adam would have been her father-in law. Which would have made Eve, Lucifer's ex, her mother-in-law.
Nope. Just nope.
I have no problem with us being different ages, but it can make things…interesting sometimes.
"Are you berating her for having a good heart?" Lucifer bit.
"No," he sighed, passing a hand over his face. "No, I'm not." Then his features hardened once more. "But I still don't know your role in all of this."
Chloe reached for his hand under the table, giving it a squeeze. Lucifer briefly glanced her way, a smile touching the corner of his mouth. It vanished the moment he turned away from her.
"Cain shot Chloe, my partner, while she was defending me. He shot a woman who he supposedly loved, with whom he had been about to spend the rest of her life. Perhaps even have children. But none of that stopped him from shooting her in cold blood."
Adam's mouth turned into a hard line, and he shot a look her way. "Looks like it didn't stick."
"It didn't," Lucifer said, undeterred, the words tumbling out like a waterfall. "She was smart enough to wear a vest. She always is. I managed to get her out of the building while a dozen of his lackeys opened fire on us."
"But she would never be safe. Because we had figured out his little criminal plans. Discovered what he'd been up to and he knew we planned to inform the captain. Cain could never rest until we were out of the way. So I only had one option."
A silence fell as his words sank in. The stillness stretched on until Adam fiddled with his bottle on the table. "Are you trying to tell me you killed him…for her?"
"Yes," Lucifer admitted quietly, shame and remorse tinging his tone. "I did what was necessary, for both our survival. I promise you, I took no pleasure in it. But it was the only way."
Adam swallowed loudly, keeping his gaze trained on the label instead of meeting his eye. "How do I know you're not lying?"
"Lucifer doesn't lie."
Chloe had spoken before she knew it, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He'd just found out how his son died. She should be a bit more tactful.
But she didn't miss her partner's grateful look, either.
"I'm sorry for your loss," she added more softly.
"No."
The roughness of his voice caught her off guard. Adam was silent for a while, fighting the tears that were gathering in the corner of his eyes. He fists were balled on the table.
"I didn't lose anything. Satan here didn't take anything from me when he did whatever he did. There wasn't anything left to take."
"So don't be sorry," Adam went on, the lump in his throat audible. "I lost him the day Abel died. Both my sons have been dead for centuries."
He turned to Lucifer, and some understanding passed between the two men. "You didn't kill him that day. That wasn't my son. Not anymore."
Lucifer nodded, and although the atmosphere was dark and pressing, it also felt lighter. Like some long weight had finally fallen from his shoulder. He reached into his suit and handed him the flask.
Adam took it and lifted it in a silent toast before downing a few large gulps of scotch. He wiped the tears from his cheek with the back of his other hand. "Sorry, dude. All the crying, that's very unmanly of me."
Lucifer pocketed the now-empty flask. "Don't be. We try not to do toxic masculinity here."
The First Man hesitated, clearly not familiar with the term. "Whatever, dude. Thanks for the booze."
"Don't mention it. We can all use a little pick-me-up sometimes."
"Yeah," Adam replied as the intervals in their conversation grew longer and longer. His eyes landed on her belly, and his expression was unreadable.
"Why this job?" Chloe asked, unable to suppress her curiosity any longer. Of all things possible, why would a guy like him choose to work with pregnant women?
Adam huffed out a bitter laugh, raising his eyebrows at her blatant honesty. But a part of him seemed to appreciate it, actually. "You guys are really a match for each other, you know that?"
He sobered, and dark shadows entered his eyes. "When something like this happens to your kid…when he does something like that…you start to wonder where it went wrong. Where you went wrong."
"The kids were mostly Eve's domain. I didn't bother much with them. The Garden was as safe as can be, so I didn't really have to keep an eye on them when they were growing up. But I should have. Maybe I would have noticed he was off. Seen a sign. Something. Anything."
"But I didn't, and neither did Eve. And the whole world knows how that story ended."
Adam shook his head, clearing it from the fog of the past. "I started working here a couple of weeks after Eve told me what had happened. I'm not a nurse or a doctor, but I got a strong pair of hands and a good head. One of the midwives was still looking for an assistant for her classes, and the rest is history."
"And you took the opportunity because…?"
Lucifer had the air of a confused cat, not quite understanding the motifs but speaking without the disdain that had colored their earlier meetings.
He rubbed his jaw. "It's stupid. A guy shouldn't think like this. But when a kid's still inside its mother it can't do anything wrong. Can't hurt anyone. And whatever made him the way he was – whatever corrupted him has no hold over them yet. The world can't touch them. Not yet."
Chloe laid a protective hand on her belly, thinking of everything Rory had gone through. Of everything Trixie had already gone through in her childhood.
The marks it had inevitably left on her.
"They're still safe," she said quietly.
Adam met her eye, a distance behind them. "Yeah. They're still safe. And if I can help their mothers during the pregnancy, if I can give them a good start with the birth… Then maybe they'll be okay. Maybe this time it'll be different."
His sudden confession stunned everyone into silence. She hadn't expected him to be this honest with them, to pry the truth out of him so easily. At least not with Lucifer present.
Adam seemed to realize it, too. In a split-second, his walls went back up again, a sturdy shield against all the emotions that had come loose. He looked away and cleared his throat, picking up his empty bottle.
"I should go. Make sure the classroom is properly cleaned and all set for tomorrow. Otherwise my boss will hand my ass to me."
Lucifer recovered quickly. "Of course. Who are we to keep you from your job?"
He hesitated and tried to detect some form of sarcasm. An expression of pleasant surprise crossed his features when he didn't find any. "Sure, dude."
"Do you mind if we keep following Erin's class?" Chloe asked. She could only imagine what feelings their presence might cause to surface.
"Just – just stay out of my way, okay? I don't care too much if you're in the same room as me. As long as you don't get on my nerves."
Lucifer nodded solemnly. "That shouldn't be too hard."
Are you sure about that?
Lucifer took out his wallet and picked out a cream card. "Here. In case you ever need some help with everything that happened."
Adam accepted the card but didn't look at it. "What, with my sins? Or are you going to poke with a pitchfork or something?"
A muscle in Lucifer's jaw twitched but he forced a smile. "No, my specialty is guilt, actually. Not sins. And I've recently become a therapist. Well, recently in Earth years."
His brows shot up. "You're a shrink? That sounds like a bad joke."
"It's true," Chloe jumped in. She could have a hard conversation, but she wasn't going to let her partner get mocked. "He's a therapist. And an excellent one as well."
Lucifer shot her a grateful smile. He mouthed, Thank you.
"Well, I'll be damned." Adam shoved the card in the back pocket of his jeans. "Shit really changes when you're gone."
"One last thing," Chloe said casually, stopping the First Man in his tracks as he made to walk away.
"What?"
Her voice turned to ice. "Do not ever kidnap one of my friends again. Do not even think about it. If you harm one of my loved ones, I will chase you down. And there will be no place between Heaven or Earth where you can hide."
"Or the afterlife," Lucifer added smoothly.
Chloe lifted her chin. "We'll stay out of your way, and you'll stay out of ours. If that's what you want. Lucifer is offering you help, but on his terms. We can work all of this out between us. Finally leave the past behind."
The sudden change in her attitude caught Adam off guard. After a few awkward seconds, he gave her a tight smile. "Glad we're on the same page. But for now, I'll be more than happy to keep my distance. At least as much as possible."
And with those words, he walked out of the cafeteria without looking back.
Chloe leaned back in her chair with a sigh, head heavy and heart weary. Her cup of chamomile tea, now cold, stood untouched in front of her.
She couldn't believe that confrontation had just happened. Honestly, she'd thought she'd seen the last of him after Eve's wedding. Hoped she had seen the last of the arrogant, entitled man.
Apparently not.
"Well," Lucifer started, picking a piece of lint off his suit, "that was not how I imagined our first class would go."
"Me neither," she replied, blowing out a breath. "Is it coincidence that every celestial or Biblical figure seems to gather in the same city?"
"Probably not. We always have a sort of sixth sense for each other's presence, and ever since Amenadiel founded the community center downtown for angelic integration it's gotten worse. LA has the only safe space for celestials in the world sanctioned by God himself. I doubt it'll get better from here on."
Chloe looked out the window, watching the cars zip past on the brightly lit street. "Good thing I'm used to dealing with them, then." She turned to her partner. "But how are you feeling? I know things have always been tense between you two, and now this entire thing with Cain…"
Lucifer put a comforting hand on her knee. "Honestly? I thought I'd put this entire mess behind me. Coming to terms with killing Cain was…difficult. You saw what it did to me."
Scorched skin riddled with burns. Claws bursting from where nails had once been. Eyes like hellfire.
"But I made my peace with it over the years," he went on. "Eve knew what had happened and didn't blame me, so I thought it was all behind me. I just never expected to see Adam here. Never expected him to care this much."
He looked at her round belly and swallowed. "I can't imagine what he must have gone through. I'm not even a parent yet, and the mere thought makes me… it makes me…"
Chloe put her hand on top of his, searching his eye. "I know. I know. It makes you feel sick to the very core of your being. Like your heart's being ripped to shreds. The end of the world couldn't come any sooner." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "It's the worst feeling in the world. But it's not true. Not for us."
"I know." He put his cheek on top of her head. "But I didn't expect this to get so emotional. A part of me wishes he was just being an arse or annoying us. But not this."
"We seem to have an awful streak of bad luck with these sort of encounters." He slid an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss against the crown of her head. "But at least that's another part we can put behind us now. Another chapter in our past we can finally finish."
"I guess that's true." Chloe sighed. She rubbed a hand over her face. "Tonight was supposed to be useful. Maybe even fun. Instead we spent the entire class wondering what he was up to."
"Not the entire time," Lucifer countered lightly. "I have become quite the expert in the pant technique over the course of this evening."
Chloe snorted, remembering how red-faced he'd been at one point. "A true master. Just make sure you don't pass out during the birth, alright?"
Lucifer scoffed in mock-offence. "Such blatant distrust in my skills, Lieutenant."
"More a careful observation. But I have the fullest confidence in your skills." She angled her head to give him a sweet kiss, his stubble scratching against her chin. "Especially since we absolutely killed it on the birth balls."
He hummed in agreement. "Definitely. We were by far the best. Even the teacher was impressed by our ingenuity."
She made to reply, but her phone buzzed in her bag. She took it out and opened it. "Shit."
"What's wrong?"
"The baker already has another appointment Thursday. He doesn't have time for another cake tasting that evening."
Lucifer leaned over her shoulder to read the text. "But he says he has a spot next week Monday."
"I can't then. I have a meeting to prepare for our school campaign in the districts, remember?" She scrolled down. "But looks like he has time the following day."
He groaned. "Then I don't have time. That's the day I have the preparatory psychology classes before the semester starts. I have to take them since I begin my course mid-January instead of October."
"Crap." Organizing a wedding in less than two months with a full-time job, a partner who starts college in a couple of weeks, a daughter at home and a baby on the way wasn't as simple as you might think. "The next opening is three weeks from now."
"I'm sorry," Lucifer started. "I'll try and see what I can do. Maybe if I -"
"No, honey, don't," Chloe interrupted. She twisted so she could see his face. "You're doing the best you can. Your education is the most important thing right now. A stupid cake is nothing compared to that."
The tender smile he gave her told her how much he appreciated her words. "Thank you. But I just want you to have everything you want. To make it an unforgettable occasion."
Chloe cupped his face, brushing her thumb over his cheek. "I have everything I want right here. Everything I could possibly need."
She leaned her forehead against his. "I don't care about a stupid cake. All I care about is you."
"Even if that stupid cake is our wedding cake?"
"Even then."
The noise of the dishwasher in the cafeteria kitchen shook her out of her thoughts. Perhaps this wasn't the best place to discuss these things.
But then again, they'd just explained to a man how and why they'd killed his son.
We can have a conversation anywhere.
"This isn't working," she sighed.
"What?" A sheer look of panic crossed Lucifer's face as every muscle in his body locked up.
Chloe quickly put a hand on his arm. "No, not like that. I mean, this. Trying to organize an entire wedding in less than two months when we both have more important things to do at the moment. We didn't have it in mind then that we would rush things along. And I don't want to rush things."
"Besides," she added, "we promised to better take care of ourselves only a week ago. I think we should focus on that as well. Especially since you're feeling a bit better now."
Lucifer considered this for a moment. She could practically hear the gears turning inside his head. "That's true, I suppose. I'd sort of forgotten we were both still on holiday when we organized Maze's wedding. Lots of time for planning and…other stuff," he finished with a feline grin.
Then his features sobered. "But I'm glad you told me instead of bottling it all up. I'd be the one to know that it's not easy. Not at all."
"Not easy maybe, but it's necessary. We owe it to ourselves and to Trix and Rory to not break down and crash. And delaying a wedding is part of that, I think."
"So…we postpone?"
Chloe nodded to herself. "Yeah, I think – I think that's the best right now. For everyone. Does that make you sad?"
Lucifer blinked in surprise. "Why would that make me sad? I get to be with the love of my life. I get to kiss you and hold you and comfort you. I getto love you."
"I have everything I could possibly desire. I'm your partner, and you're mine. A marriage doesn't change any of that. Doesn't alter it in some way. It simply changes our legal status and adds some tax benefits. Not that I'm marrying you for tax benefits, mind you."
A rush of affection sent her chest glowing. She shook her head, laughing. "I never even considered that you would marry me for tax benefits. But you're right, Lucifer. It's like I told you when you proposed to me for the second time. Marriage is just a way of honoring what's between us. We don't need it. It's just a nice addition to everything."
Lucifer returned her smile. "Looks like Penelope is getting her grand summer wedding after all."
"Don't remind me," she groaned. "She'll be all over the place."
"I think she'll find fair competition in Miss Lopez and Eve. And I'm pretty sure the Doctor will want to have a say in this as well."
She hadn't even considered that yet. The mere thought of her mother's eccentric perseverance clashing with Ella's over-the-top enthusiasm and Eve's age-old love for planning and organizing events lifted her spirits considerably. Penelope Decker was definitely in for a ride the coming months.
"Shall we send the mail tot the baker, then?"
"For the date? What do we tell him, then? We'd like an appointment near the end of May instead of in January?"
Lucifer lifted a shoulder in an elegant shrug. He looked so out of place in his expensive clothes and rich allure in the hospital. "Why not? I doubt we'll be the only ones to make appointments for the future."
Probably. It just felt a bit weird to suddenly overthrow the schedule they'd working towards to for the past couple of months. But it also felt liberating, like she could breathe a little easier.
"Alright. Let's do it."
Chloe took her phone and typed out the e-mail to the high-end baker. Thank God for Lucifer's connections all over LA, or otherwise they would have never been able to get an appointment in so little time. So it was a bit awkward to reschedule, but she was sure he'd understand.
Hopefully.
She hesitated before sending the mail. She glanced sideways at her partner. "Do you want to press 'send' together?"
She felt silly the second the words left her mouth, but Lucifer didn't seem to mind her idea.
"I'd love to."
Okay. Why had she though he would think it was stupid? Never mind. It was a good thing she didn't have to worry about the wedding anymore for the coming months.
Chloe slid her phone towards the middle of the sticky table. "Okay. One…two…three!"
Their fingers touched the screen simultaneously, and the device froze for a moment before giving a notification that the mail had been sent successfully. It was done.
"There," Lucifer said. "One less thing to worry about for now. And I'm sure it'll be more pleasant for you once Rory's born."
"True," she admitted. "But I would marry you in any state. Pregnant or not."
"Likewise." He pressed a lingering kiss to the back of her hand. "But now can focus on spending our time with Beatrice and Rory. Cherish them. Keep them close."
The last words were spoken with a painful note. No doubt he was thinking back to their conversation with Adam. All the loss and rage and heartbreak that hid beneath the surface of the First Man.
Thinking back on their role in all of that, too.
How different everything could have been if Lucifer hadn't protected her from Pierce's men.
"Yeah. It just makes me feel bad somewhere deep down that I can go home to my daughter and hold her and that Adam…can't. He can't, and –"
"I know," Lucifer rasped. The weight of his actions darkened his eyes. "I know. But you didn't do anything wrong, Chloe. This is not on you. This is on him. He chose to go down that path a long time ago. It's not your fault how it ended."
"And it's not yours either, Lucifer. You did what you had to do. To protect me, and to protect yourself. He wouldn't have stopped hunting us. He would have never stopped. Don't forget that."
His gaze drifted down to her belly. "I just want her to be proud of me."
"She will, Lucifer. She will. Remember how Rory realized how much you loved just by reading about everything you've done for me in Linda's book? That included fighting Cain. And she loved you. She was proud that you were her father."
Chloe put a tender hand on his cheek, tilting his head slightly so he met her gaze. "You are the most incredible person I've ever met. And you will be an incredible father. The past will not stop you from becoming that. I've done bad things as well. Horrible things that I'm not proud of. I have killed and I've lied and I've cheated. And I've made my peace with it. Because the good still outweighs the bad."
She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "The same goes for you."
Lucifer swallowed around the lump in his throat, quiet adoration shining in his eyes. "I love you."
"And I love you. With all my heart."
The inner turmoil that had been so evident minutes ago was calmed by her words. He gave the back of her hand another lingering kiss. Then he laced their fingers together. "Do you want to get out of here? Leave the horrible smell of hospital food behind us?"
She couldn't get out of here soon enough. "Yes. Maybe we can pick up a snack along the way? I'm sure Trix will appreciate it." And she had a sudden craving for chicken nuggets, but shhh.
A chuckle. "Sure, love. Domino's or McDonald's?"
"…McDonald's?"
He smiled. "McDonald's it is, then."
And pit stop for fast food or not, the further they got from the hospital the easier it felt to breathe. Like the lingering darkness was sliding off them like thawing ice.
When they opened the door the apartment and Trixie spotted Lucifer with a familiar paper bag, she jumped and rushed over to him to crush him in a hug.
He handled it with more grace than in their early partnership, when he'd stiffen like a board and wait for it to be over. Now he returned her embrace, carefully wrapping his arms around the girl's little frame with a smile.
Their eyes met over the top of Trixie's head, and she could see he was thinking the same as her.
Alive.
Still alive and safe.
And she would be for the rest of her life if it was up to them.