April 22, 2022

Los Angeles, California

"You're doing great, Chloe..."

A sweet and warm voice of the nearby female nurse spoke up as she was assisting Chloe between her hospital gown. Chloe's forehead along with her blond hair was glistening with sweat as she was trying to maintain her breathing. She couldn't help but smile every time she would hear the nurse or doctor encourage her. As if it was her first delivery.

Just as the thought of her family—her mother and Trixie—patiently waiting in the lobby to hear news of the little angel that was about to be born into this world. Well... half angel. Of course. The thought of meeting Rory for the first time, encourages Chloe to push past the pain and exhaustion.

"Aaahh—" She cries through her clenched teeth. Wishing to hold her little baby already.

"That's it! Almost there. Just a little more. We can see the head..." The nurse said in excitement.

Chloe's head was swimming, threating to spill the tears that were pooling underneath her eyelids. "I—I can't..." She slumped back against the pillows, trying to catch her breath. For a moment, she felt scared. What if I'm doing something wrong? What if I can't do this without him? What if?—All these questions went on in repeat.

As if someone senses her concerns, loud commotion starts to come from outside the room.

"EXCUSE ME!" A loud demanding voice outside from the room suddenly caught Chloe's attention as it makes her pause for a second. "MAKE WAY! FUTURE FATHER COMING THROUGH!"

Chloe's mouth spreads into a giddy smile at the familiar British voice.

Just when the door opens to reveal her tall—6'3 with a dark three-piece suit all covered with blue protective layers and a mask—gleaming devilishly handsome man.

Chloe eyes start to sparkle whether from the happiness of seeing her soulmate for the first time in months or the tears that threaten to release at any given moment. Either way her voice fills with a relieved sob.

"You came."

Even though she couldn't see the smile on his face due to the mask concealing it, Lucifer's brown orbs glistens warmly at his Detective. "Of course. Even if the bloody world was ending, I wouldn't dare to miss this moment." He says beautifully as he makes his way over to Chloe who resumes to push.

Chloe's right hand finds the strong left one of Lucifer's and slides her fingers through his, closing their hands and locking them together. A warm pair of lips find their way to her temple as Lucifer places a kiss to her head. "You CAN do this, Chloe." He supports her, letting Chloe squeeze his hand in comfort.

Minutes pass, if not hours for the couple who were waiting for all the hard work to be paid off. Not long and Chloe gave out and fell against Lucifer's side just when a small scry erupts inside the room.

"Oh, my God." Chloe cries out in happiness as the little bundle of joy is finally born.

"Oh, my Bro indeed." Lucifer says with a relieved smile, not caring for the weird looks the Doctor just gave him.

The new father was soon given the honor to cut the umbilical cord with a pair of surgical scissors that still connected Chloe to their little girl. He holds his breath just when he makes the cut. From the outside it looks like he's not even fazed by the act, but inside he's screaming his metaphorical lungs out, scared he might have hurt the little one.

Both the doctor and nurse help to clean and get the newborn ready to cover her with a soft and comfortable white blanket. Letting Lucifer and Chloe get to know their new precious family member.

As the door closes, both Chloe and Lucifer watch as their new baby daughter squirms slightly in her mother's arms. No doubt a feisty one, ready to spring and fly out to the open world around her.

"Rory." Chloe says as the tears that were delayed finally fall down her cheeks. "Our little Rory." As she sniffs her nose, Lucifer continues to kiss the tears away.

"I thought we'd never see you again." Lucifer quietly speaks while gently letting his thumb over Rory's little eyebrow. Remembering the months back when her older self left for the future. The feeling of seeing his daughter right here and now makes his heart melt in relief and warmth. She's really here.

Minutes pass with just the three of them together in a feeling of endless bliss. Lucifer slowly embraces parenthood, while Chloe smiles watching him stand while holding the little bundle against his chest protectively. Gently rocking little Rory to sleep.

"You know, for a moment I thought she was a boy." He blurts out with a small laugh.

"Lucifer." Chloe hushes his statement, rolling her eyes.

"What? It was just a wild thought. Isn't that right, Rory?" Lucifer coos the last part out and ultimately makes a face as he cringes at his own words. Reminding himself that he's not used to babytalk.

While watching Lucifer gently sway Rory, Chloe becomes curious also. "But what if we did have a boy?" She suddenly realizes that it never occurred to her to even think of it, with the information that they would have a daughter in the future, they never needed to consider other options if they had a son instead of a daughter.

Lucifer eyes snap to Chloe, without interrupting the baby in his arms, he spoke quietly but surely. "Darling, I think we got lucky with Rory. Could you imagine another, male, mini version of me running around and starting a rebellion against the Devil? Brother forbid." He lightly laughs at the thought.

Chloe smiles and shakes her head when Lucifer walks towards the bed and hands over the little Nephilim to her mother.

Lucifer saddens, realizing how much he would miss witnessing. "Her first word, first steps, first fall." He goes on as Chloe looks up to him with sorrow. "I know I can't but... I've never wanted to teach someone in my life than now. How much I want to be there. To help take her to school and back. Help her learn how to fly. Help her make friends, learn social skills, and how to invest in stocks—because knowing her incredible fashion sense that she greatly inherited from me—she'll need it."

"Lucifer, we've been over this. She'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."

"I know. But I can't help but dream. The only thing I can wish for her is that, even if I can't be there, I wish she wouldn't live her life always resenting and being angry with me. I just hope she'll be, well... happy."

Chloe's lip morphs into an adorable smile at hearing Lucifer say that. Knowing just how much becoming a parent changes someone's priorities and how much they would do anything for their child. She wanted to reassure him, but their beautiful moment is cut short as the light sound of knocking quickly interrupts them.

"Chloe." A feminine voice quietly asks from behind the door. "May we come in?"

Chloe's gaze connects with Lucifer's. "It's my mother and Trixie."

Lucifer's eyebrows furrow, knowing he should go, even though he did not want to. He quickly presses his lips onto Chloe's, letting the heat of his lips linger for a moment. Not knowing when the next time he would have the chance, before slowly pulling away. "I love you. Both of you."

Just when the door opens quietly, Lucifer vanishes from the room before being seen by Penelope Decker. Like he never had been there at all.

Lucifer discreetly watches from the window of the balcony, as Chloe's mother and Trixie make their way inside the room with a smile on their faces.

Lucifer's heart sinks at the feeling of not being able to be in his family's life like he had hoped for. But the inevitable comprehension that this is all for his Rory, his daughter who made him promise, would soon dismiss the heartbreak they all feel.

Because one day, Lucifer hoped, they would all reunite even if it meant it would take—for what if felt like forever. Even if it meant he would have to watch over them from a far while healing Hell's lost souls.

Waiting in the shadows for the seemingly endless decades to come...