Heavenly Helpers – First Draft
" – I got markers, a pen, several loose sheets of paper –"
"Lucifer."
No response.
"And what about the psychology manual? Do I have that? Oh, here we go –"
"Lucifer."
Her tone finally got through to him, and he halted his rummaging in the brand-new Burberry bag. Clutching a bunch of pens in one hand and a calculator in the other, he turned to her.
"Yes, my love?"
But before Chloe had the time to answer one of the caps of the pen fell off and rolled under the passenger seat of the car.
Lucifer made to dive for it, but her hand shot out and rooted him in place.
"Hey, just hold up for a second. No, that's not important you have about a dozen other pens with you."
Lucifer opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it. He slumped back in the seat and dropped all in the materials in the expensive leather bag, something which would set him aside from all the other students from day one.
And the fact that he was the Devil himself and not human, but those are nuances.
Chloe undid her seat belt – they were parked anyway – and positioned herself so she was facing her partner. Which was easier said than done when you were thirty-four weeks pregnant.
"Lucifer, what's wrong? You've been on edge the entire morning."
A smile ghosted over his lips. "Can't I check my bag before class to see if I have everything with me?"
"Not if it's the twelfth time in less than ten minutes."
Chloe placed her hand on his knee, thumb rubbing comforting circles. "It's okay to be nervous, you know. Everyone is on their first day of college, even if they don't show it. "
"And not everyone is as well prepared as you," she added softly. "You went over this with Linda last time. And she has complete and utter faith in your abilities, remember? As do I."
A real smile spread over his face this time, and he covered her hand with his own. "Thank you. It's just – it's just that I've never done this before."
"Philosophy?"
"College. An official education. Schooling, proper schooling. Mum and Dad taught me things when I was young, and so did some of my brothers. But not like this."
Lucifer waved an agitated hand to indicate the sprawling grounds of the UCLA stretching out beyond the car window.
Students walked over the paths towards their next lecture, backpacks slung over one shoulder. Others lounged lazily on the patches of green, enjoying the first rays of the fickle March sun.
And a few had their noses buried deep in a textbook, no doubt doing some last-minute cramming before an important test.
Chloe found herself somewhat caught off guard by his intense reaction, then thought it actually made sense.
She'd half expected him to just saunter into the building, facing whatever he found there head-on and with no small amount of charm.
But that was how the world saw Lucifer.
Not her.
Even in his stressed and agitated state, he was trusting her enough in this moment to show his emotions. Answering her question almost immediately when she'd asked what was wrong only furthered her point.
And she knew him well enough to know what underlying problem was causing this.
Always the fear of not being good enough, she thought. Even after all this time, all this progress, it still haunts him.
"Lucifer, look at me."
With an aching slowness, he tore his gaze away from the students passing next to the car on the sidewalk. There was conflict in his dark eyes, and his breathing was shallow from all the nerves.
Chloe slid her hand from underneath his, then carefully plucked the bag from his lap and dropped it on the backseat.
It was surprisingly heavy, and she wondered for a moment how many pads of paper he'd brought with him. He never did anything half-assed, did he?
A glow of tenderness for her partner welled up in her, and she cupped his face with one hand.
"Lucifer, you are one of the smartest people I have ever met. No consultant in the history of our precinct has ever provided so much valuable information that led to cracking a case wide open."
"Not any of the partners have been successful as we have," she continued, a wave of nostalgia overtaking her. "We had the highest closing rate for years. Arrested the most amount of criminals that actually led to a sentence. And that was as much your input as it was mine."
Lucifer put his hand over hers, the same fond gaze in his eyes as memories overtook him. "We were quite the duo, weren't we?"
Chloe let out a hum of agreement. "We still are. And just because you weren't schooled in the way most of us are doesn't mean that you lack the necessary capacities. On the contrary, I'd say. You've learned the think in ways most people never have to."
"I believe that's a delicate way of putting it."
He was trying to lighten the mood with humor, but from the rasp in his voice she could tell her words had moved him.
"You're going to amaze all of them. I know it."
"Even you?"
Chloe leaned forward, bridging the several inches between. Her lips brushed his in a sweet kiss, trying to convey all the meaning she couldn't quite put into words.
Deepening the kiss, she could feel his breath hitch when she put a hand on his chest. Heart skipping a couple of beats, as if they hadn't kissed a thousand times by now.
As if her presence always left him a little starstruck, no matter how much time had passed between them already.
"I'm already in awe of you," she whispered against his mouth.
A radiant smile spread over his face, worthy of the Lightbringer. He pressed a lingering kiss against her brow before resting his forehead against hers.
"That is everything I could ever wish for," he murmured in return.
They remained like that for a little longer, both pointedly ignoring the stares they were getting from some of the students on the sidewalk who'd spotted them in the car.
So far for first impressions, but a small part of Chloe didn't mind that the other students now knew that Lucifer was already taken.
He'd rather die than be unfaithful to her, but that unfortunately did not stop others from trying.
A nasty sting shot through her abdomen, and she straightened so suddenly she almost gave her partner a headbutt.
Lucifer's easy demeanor quickly shifted to one of panic. "Are you alright? Oh, bloody Hell, did your water broke? Do we have to go to the hospital? I –"
"It's fine," she waved him off, pressing a hand to the side of her belly. "Rory probably just woke up and now she's kicking, that's all."
"Are you sure?" he asked slowly, not entirely convinced.
"Yeah, it's okay, she's just making a fuss. Here."
Chloe took his hand and guided it to her belly, placing on the sore spot. A few strong flutters in that area suggested she was still rolling around, doing her little karate kicks.
A few awed chuckles escaped him as he felt his daughter press back against his hand with whatever limb she was moving at the moment.
"Goodness, she's already so big. I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
When the movement stopped, Lucifer slowly removed his hand, letting it fall back next to his body.
"Strong-willed and feisty," Chloe said with a raised eyebrow. "In case you were doubting that she's yours."
"I think that describes you better than me, my dear."
"Uh-huh. In your dreams, maybe."
Lucifer let out a hearty laugh, then checked his phone for the time. His expression sobered. "I think I should go. Class is starting in ten minutes."
Chloe made to grab the bag of the backseat, but he stopped her.
"Wait. Are you sure everything is alright? Doctor Blake's office isn't that far from here, we could swing by."
"We'll be fine, honey. I can handle a couple of kicks. And if something is seriously wrong, I promise I will call you first and go to the emergency room. But that won't happen, okay?"
After a few seconds of hesitation, he accepted the bag she was holding out to him. "Fine. But if you don't feel good, yell at Amenadiel until he drags his feathery arse down here. Then he can help you until I get there."
Chloe shook her head, smiling at his protectiveness. "I promise I'll shout at God until he appears, okay? Now go. Or you'll be late."
Lucifer placed his hand on the door handle, then turned to her.
"I love you, Chloe."
Now it was her turn to smile.
"I love you, too. But you really have to go or you'll be late."
He stepped out of the car and flashed her a typical grin full of sauve charm. "Better late than never. I'll you tonight, my love."
She gave him last soulful look before he closed the door and sauntered off in the direction of block C, no trace left of his doubts.
The typical façade of the rich playboy had snapped into place, but underneath it all she could see the man she loved.
Brilliant. Caring. Incredible.
"Go show them what the Devil's worth," she murmured to herself.
The drive to the community center downtown took ages in the crawling morning traffic. It was almost noon by the time Chloe finally pulled up to the street.
After his study session with Linda, Lucifer had told her how they had ideas on how to improve Hell.
More pleasant environment, less emotional exhaustion and such.
And one of the things they'd come up with were shorter workdays and the occasional 'vacation' he could take with her and the girls in LA. To boost his mood and give him some well-earned off-time.
So, as her due date inched ever closer and so did her maternity leave, she started to wonder if Lucifer would be able to take some time off to spend with Rory once she was born.
Which meant that someone had to watch Hell.
And only angels were capable of that…
As she turned the ignition off, Chloe took a good look at the building that served as Amenadiel's center to integrate his siblings on Earth.
No one would expect the host of Heaven to hole up here, that's for sure.
The building was low and made of faded red bricks with splatters of graffiti. Bars covered each window to ward off potential burglars, the metal nicked and dented in some places. It was bordered by a barber shop that seemed to have gone out of business a while ago.
On the other side there was a basketball field surrounded by a rusty chain link fence. Weeds sprouted wildly through the cracks in the concrete, and crushed soda cans were littered about. A broken sink lay in the corner of the field.
Charming.
A whole other style than the grand marble churches of Rome, that was for sure.
With a grunt, Chloe opened the car door and got up, rubbing her sore back in the process. The fact that she'd had to set her seat back so far so her belly would fit in left her feeling self-aware.
A little longer and I'm going to be as huge as a whale.
It was dim inside the community center, a sharp contrast from the bright Californian sun outside. There were water stains on the ceiling tiles, and the flickering fluorescent tubes gave off a cold, white light.
A huge banner was strung from one end of the entry to the other. On it was written in huge, brightly-colored letters, 'Heaven is A Place On Earth!'.
The scent of stale coffee and cheap pastry permeated the place.
"Can I help you?"
Chloe was startled by the voice that come from behind a desk. She hadn't even noticed the petite elderly woman hunched over a stack of files when she'd walked in.
"Uh, yes, actually you can, ma'am. I'm looking for the leader of the, uh, integration project. Is he here today?"
Upon closer inspection, she noticed that what she'd first pegged as strange clothing was actually a nun's habit. The tag on her chest read 'Sister Elizabeth'.
Not entirely unexpected given the situation, but still. They weren't that many women of faith these days.
"I assume you're looking for mister Amenadiel? Then I fear you're out of luck, miss. He was here this morning to oversee the theoretical driving classes, but he left about an hour ago."
"Crap," Chloe breathed, then chided herself for swearing in front of a nun. But –
"Do you know what he is, sister? Amenadiel?"
A dreamy look overtook the woman's face at the mention of his name, not unlike the expression the nuns had worn when she and Amenadiel had solved the murder at the convent.
"Mister Amenadiel is a highly unlikely man, miss. What he does here for these outcasts is truly God's work. In fact, I've never felt closer to the Lord than since I've started working here."
Little do you know.
Chloe allowed herself a little chuckle at the irony of it all. "He certainly is. But if he isn't here today, would you mind telling me who's in charge for the classes at the moment?"
Sister Elizabeth slowly put on a pair of wire-rimmed glasses that made her eyes seem comically large. She licked the tip of a finger and started to page through one of the many document files.
The search for a name took the old woman so long that Chloe started to shift her weight from one foot to the other, hoping to relieve some of the ache in her back.
Just when she was about to sit down one of the faded blue couches did Sister Elizabeth flip the file shut with a triumphant thud.
"The person in charge for the basic economic classes is Zadkiel. He's teaching at the end of the hall, but his break should come up in about ten minutes or so, if you can spare some time."
Zadkiel
The moment the name rang through her, it was as if a tide wave of memories came rushing over her.
The bright morning sun casting the stadium in a golden glow. A host of armed angels awaiting them on the field, dozens upon dozens armored and armed with celestial weapons.
Remembered the cold dread that had slithered down her spine at seeing how outnumbered they were, and their measly attempt at singing 'Can't Touch This' to stall until Maze arrived with some reinforcements.
Michael's cruel smirk at seeing their limited numbers, but the grin was quickly wiped off his face when something unexpected happened.
Zadkiel – the Angel of Righteousness – had proclaimed in front of everyone that there was no better reason than love to become God. A number of Lucifer's siblings had decided to side with him, and what had seconds ago seemed like a suicide attempt had now become a reasonable shot at victory.
Even though she and Lucifer had still managed to narrowly escape death, without Zadkiel's help they wouldn't have won in the first place.
"Are you alright, miss? Is something wrong with your little one?"
Sister's Elizabeth's croaky voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, I'm alright, thank you. We've just met before, that's all."
The nun didn't seem entirely convinced, but decided to drop the matter for the time being. She extended a bony arm. "You'll find him down to hall, then to the left. There's a water cooler there as well, in case you are in need of some refreshments."
Her gaze dropped to her belly. "If anything is wrong with your child, just give a shout. I have some experience as a nurse, so I can help with emergencies."
Chloe gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, sister, but I'll be fine. Thank you for your help."
Feeling slightly awkward at her ignorance of the true place of the nun's job, Chloe started moving down one of the dimly-lit hallways.
Various voices floated from behind closed doors, explaining matters such as taxes and postal services. They'd seen the birth of this planet, yet didn't seem to know about the USPS.
It wasn't too long before she had located the economics classroom. Across the closed door, there was a giant poster against the wall that read in huge, blocked letters –
'THE CURRENCY IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE DOLLAR! NOT DENARIUS, NOT RENMIBI AND ESPECIALLY NOT DRACHMA. LOOKING AT YOU FOR THE LAST ONE, CHAMIEL'
Chloe couldn't suppress a chuckle as she read it. She wondered who Chamiel was and how the shopkeeper had reacted when he had tried to pay with ancient Greek coins instead of normal money.
For all his quirks and well-timed metaphors, Lucifer was definitely the most adapted one when it came to living on Earth. He could teach his siblings a lot about life as a mortal in Los Angeles.
But it would be a while before her partner would feel comfortable around them again, even after it had been revealed that the events leading up to his Fall had been orchestrated by Michael. It would take years to clear up everything that had happened.
If not centuries.
A sudden scraping of chairs against the tile floor shook her from her musings, and Chloe turned just in time to see the door opening.
A large group of angels in all possible sizes and colors streamed outside, some of them chatting with each other in a myriad of languages. Some tongues were lilting and elegant, while some sounded harsh and gravelly.
Others had a more dazed look about them, as if they had been forced to absorb more information in the past couple of hours than their supernatural minds could handle.
Looks like Lucifer isn't the only one getting an education today.
Chloe was waiting patiently for all the people to file past her so she could slip inside the room and find Zadkiel. With her hands folded on top of her belly, she allowed herself a little sigh as Rory ramped up her twisting and turning once more.
What had once been soft flutters inside of her were now sharp tugs and stumps, often against her ribs or bladder. The Antichrist was definitely living up to her name.
A tall, fair-skinned angel stopped dead in his tracks once he caught sight of her. He nudged his brother with an elbow without averting his eyes from her. A sly expression crossed over his features.
"Baraqiel, look, it's her. It's actually her."
The small, stocky one – Baraqiel – had a matching grin. The way he looked her up and down almost made her want to smack him. But at least she could control herself.
"So the rumors are true. Lucifer's tumbling with humans has finally caught up with him. He had it coming for a while. A fitting punishment, I suppose."
"Guess that's what happens if you keep your pets around for too long," the taller one snickered. "And of course he chose a blue-eyed blonde. How predictable."
Contempt was nothing new to her, but the way they spoke about Lucifer angered her more than the thinly-veiled insults directed at her.
Contrary to Lucifer's red hot rage when someone insulted her, all she felt was a cold, smoldering fury in her chest.
And she had learned how to hone it.
"The concept of loyalty seems strange to you," Chloe retorted, her voice lethally calm. "I think you have a lot to learn from your brother. Such as basic human decency. I've met five-year olds who have better manners than you two combined. Surely that shouldn't so difficult to grasp for such ancient beings as yourselves?"
Her clipped response took them by surprise. Clearly they hadn't expected her to react, and they weren't used to being talked back to by mortals.
"Bitch," Baraqiel spat. "I would be –"
A shout in a language she didn't know quieted both angels, and they seemed to shrink a few inches as Zadkiel walked out of the classroom. The tall one shuffled his feet nervously, eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route.
But it was too late for that.
Zadkiel started harshly reprimanding them in some celestial tongue, and the two angels kept their eyes on the ground as they nodded. Even though he didn't even raise his voice, Zadkiel seemed to have a natural air of authority.
Ideal if you had to keep your brothers in line while they went about insulting humans left and right.
Zadkiel went silent, and shared an expectant look with his two siblings. Shame colored their cheeks red as they turned towards her.
"We… apologize for what we said," Baraqiel said begrudgingly. "It wasn't proper, and especially unbefitting for an angel."
"Yes," the tall one added, though he couldn't completely keep the venom out his voice. "We apologize."
"Very well," Zadkiel said with crossed arms. " I never want to hear such speech again. That's fifty hours extra of community service, plus a thirty-page essay on why mortals deserve our respect. And not just because they're Father's creations."
The two seemed like they were about to protest for a second, then thought better of it.
"…Yes, brother," Baraqiel said. "We shall start tomorrow."
And with a last frigid stare at her, they left through the back exit of the building. The door slammed shut behind them, and silence fell in the hallway.
Angel of Righteousness indeed.
Zadkiel turned to her, offering an inclination of his head. "My apologies, Chloe Decker. Most of my siblings have spent so long holed up in Heaven it seems they have forgotten their manners."
Pleasant surprise crossed her features. "You remember my name."
"Of course," he replied, confused at why she thought he would have forgotten. "And not just because my brother claimed that you were the reason he wanted to take Father's place. You fought valiantly on the battlefield, even giving your life for our shared cause. For love."
Admiration flickered in his eyes. "It is something which I shall carry with me for many ages to come."
"You were the reason we won, Zadkiel. Without you, we would have been outnumbered from the start. You turned the odds in our favor. Gave us a chance at winning. That's something I won't forget anytime soon."
He let out a non-committal hum. "I was simply following my feeling. As rash as some of Lucifer's decisions might be, they always come from the heart."
"A quality which Michael lacked. Lucifer naming you as his reason only made that all the more clearer. And I'd rather have a feeling God than a cold, calculated one."
"Were you disappointed when Lucifer decided to not become God in the end?"
A hint of a smile ghosted over his usually stern face. "My brother's wish to ascend was based on the love he held for you, Chloe Decker. He wouldn't allow anything to keep him from your side, even death. Ruling Heaven – as I'd expected – was one of those things. I was not surprised when he chose you instead of the throne."
The fact that Lucifer's love for her was so obvious to anyone around them – even estranged siblings he hadn't seen in ages – sent an unexpected glow of warmth through her.
Lucifer had chosen her.
Waged a war for her.
Willingly sacrificed himself so she could live.
Because he loved her.
And I love him. Always.
She cast a look around her if there was anyone in earshot, but the hallway was deserted after the class had ended.
Still, she didn't want to have another unpleasant encounter like the one from several minutes ago. Just because she was used to the contempt didn't mean she'd actively seek it out.
On the contrary, actually.
"I – I came here today because I wanted to talk to you. To ask you something, actually. Is there a place where we can speak quietly?"
Zadkiel extended an arm towards the now-empty classroom. "Please, come in. My next lesson is fifteen minutes away, so we have plenty of time."
The room was larger than she'd expected. Against the front wall there was a chalk board scribbled full with the basics of the American economy, such as inflation and the tax system.
A large bookcase covered another wall, filled with books for Dummies and basic manuals on various subjects. The blinds were half-drawn against the bright afternoon sun.
There were benches like the ones she'd had in high school, including the doodles and stick figures inked into the wood.
Seems like even angels can't keep their concentration at all times.
Zadkiel leaned on the edge of his desk, completely at ease in his surroundings. Strange to see such an ancient creature in such a mundane setting.
But she lives together with the Devil so she's not one to talk.
He motioned for her to take a seat at one of the benches, then saw she couldn't fit with her round belly. He rolled the desk chair around so she could sit comfortably.
"Tell me, Chloe Decker, why did you seek me out today?"
"You can call me Chloe, that's fine."
She dropped her bag next to the chair and crossed her legs as much as her current state would allow it. "I came here to talk about Lucifer."
Zadkiel frowned, the tiniest crease appearing between his brows. "There are problems with Hell? Why was Amenadiel not informed of this?"
"No, no. Hell's fine, as good as can be," Chloe chuckled nervously.
But Zadkiel viewing her as Lucifer's rightful partner, even in matters regarding Hell, gave her a sense of pride.
Of belonging in the ranks of the celestials, even if she wasn't accepted by all.
"It's just that – if Lucifer were to leave for a while, other than spending his evenings in LA, would there be someone to watch over Hell?"
"Lucifer has officially claimed the responsibility for Hell. Why would he leave?"
For the first time in their conversation, her situation seemed to dawn upon the angel.
A sheepish expression spread over his face. The stoic mask he kept carefully in place fell apart. "I see. He wants to spend time with his child once it's born."
Chloe couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped her.
Somewhere she'd expected that she had to spell the entire situation out to him, but it seemed that he was cleverer than she'd given him credit for.
Perhaps those books for Dummies are good for something after all.
"Yes, exactly. Lucifer has done amazing things in Hell the past few months. Helped so many people, so many lost souls struggling with their guilt."
"But he wants to be with us, too. With his family. And being separated from us, especially when I'm still pregnant, weighs heavily on him. He worries, up till the point – until he cannot focus properly anymore."
"And I think if he can spend some more time with us – with Rory – that it would get better. That he could do his job without the constant anxiety."
She didn't want to reveal how Lucifer had literally worried himself sick. How the eventful past couple of years had asked their toll of him. Zadkiel seemed decent, but she didn't know him well enough to earn her full trust.
"Lucifer was always different," Zadkiel said, and it was more of an observation than an opinion. "He was quicker, smarter than most. Wittier than half of us combined."
He seemed to be lost in thought now, eyes glazing over with memories. "He reached higher. Burned brighter. Arrogant as can be, but he was right to be proud of his abilities. He silently inspired awe in all of us. The Lightbringer. The Morning Star."
With a shake of his head, Zadkiel dispelled his thoughts.
"But he felt more than us, too. Angels are born with a distance inside of them, a coolness that is there to shield us from overwhelming feelings. Without it, we cannot function properly. Or so we thought."
"Lucifer was drawn to humanity when we thought you were little more than ants to us. Firstly out of sheer curiosity that led him to the Garden. Then because he had no choice after he'd been cast out."
Finally, Zadkiel met her gaze.
"He never was a warrior. Not like Michael or Amenadiel were. Every one of us was taught how to fight, how to wield weapons. It is born into us, a part of the very core of our beings. But not inside of him."
"Lucifer liked art and singing and music. Music above everything else. Not warfare, not conflicts. Not the squabbles between our brothers and sisters who were vying for Father's attention. He loved life."
"He's a lover," Chloe said. "A partner. A father. Not a soldier."
Zadkiel hung his head ever so slightly, a dent in the rigid character of his persona. When he spoke it sounded more to himself than to her –
"I should have known he would never wage a war. That Michael had to be between this for some reason. I should have known."
"You should have."
Chloe was surprised by her own voice for a moment, hard and merciless as steel.
But they'd known their brother. Had known Lucifer didn't like to fight or reach for power. That he didn't want to be a part of the conflict, despite the grand airs he put on.
Yet they'd never given him the benefit of the doubt.
Not once.
She was torn between saying something to soften her harsh words, but was spared the decision.
"You're right," Zadkiel admitted after an awkward pause. "It was one of the biggest mistakes in my life. I gave up my title of Righteousness after I found out what had truly happened. What Michael had done. After he'd killed Remiel."
"You - you gave up being the angel of Righteousness?"
Zadkiel stood up with his hands clasped behind his back. "I tried to. Amenadiel would not let me. Instead, he offered me a job on Earth to steer our siblings in the proper direction. I could not have come up with a better penance myself, to be honest."
Chloe gestured to the classroom around her. "Why economics, of all things considered? Why not morals or something?"
The tiniest smile tugged at the corner of his head. "I teach philosophy, criminal law and ethics alongside this. But I've always had a penchant for human trade and currencies. I quite enjoy how the numbers work."
Then his expression sobered.
"I will honor your request, Chloe Decker. I will find someone to watch over Hell so my brother can enjoy some time with his child."
The stiffness of his manners was somewhat amusing, but it felt like a weight had fallen off her shoulders.
He'd said yes.
Lucifer was going to have paternity leave so he could be with them.
Like a family.
"Thank you, Zadkiel," Chloe said, a slight waver to her voice she covered quickly. "You have no idea how much this means to us. To Lucifer."
The angel inclined his head. "I am glad to be of service. Yet I have one more question before you take your leave."
"Sure. Anything."
"Why didn't Lucifer come to seek me out himself? I am pleased by your company, do not be mistaken. But I cannot help but wonder."
Chloe gave him a sheepish smile. "Lucifer doesn't know I'm here today."
A faint light twinkled in his eyes. "Ah. I see."
"I just didn't want to disappoint him in case it didn't work. So I said nothing. And this way it'll be an amazing surprise when I get to tell him tonight."
She was somewhat taken aback by her honesty with Zadkiel. Normally she'd be reluctant to share this much about her personal life – even if some things were already publicly known already.
But there was something about him that made her trust him.
Just like the nuns had immediately taken a liking to Amenadiel.
A cop and the angel of Righteousness. Maybe we aren't so different in the end.
"I am glad I could be of service to you. And to Lucifer."
She didn't imagine the lingering note of guilt in his words. How long would it be before he forgave himself for what had happened?
Faint chatter drew their attention to the doorway, and it seemed the next class was gathering outside of the classroom already. The group appeared smaller than the previous one.
Yet Chloe couldn't helped the nervous prickle at the back of her neck.
She could handle the Devil.
She'd yelled at God.
But a pack of unknown angels still made her uneasy, against all logic.
Zadkiel sensed her growing unease, glancing between her and his siblings outside.
"Would you like me to escort you back to your vehicle? It would be my pleasure to do so."
A kick from Rory pointed her attention to a sharp stab in her side. Someone had woken up and was making a fuss again.
If the Antichrist was already this feisty, what would she be like when she was older?
She was the Devil's offspring, no doubt about that. She and Trixie would get along great, if only because they had a shared knack for getting into trouble.
My two amazing girls.
One human, and one half-human. Yet one hundred percent her mother's daughters.
And they shouldn't be intimated by a bunch a feathered assholes.
"No," Chloe said with a smile and a hand on her belly. "I think I'll manage."
Lux was filled with stacks of carboard boxes.
They were near the bar, on the dancefloor or piled up neatly next to the staircase. Some had even been dropped in the sitting booths.
It was only a little after five, so it would be at least another seven hours until the club opened. But where was he going to put them, then?
The penthouse?
Chloe did her best to navigate the artificial maze, careful not to bump into anything. All the lights on the ceiling were turned on, so at least it wasn't as dim as it normally was in the evening.
Lucifer was lounging at the bar amid what appeared to be a pop-up store for t-shirts. They were spread out all over the counter and stools, giving the usually neat club a chaotic feeling.
He spotted her before she could speak up. He'd been scribbling on a board – making sure he'd done everything on his checklist.
There was a faint crease between his brows from concentrating, but his eyes lit up when he caught sight of her.
"Hello, honey. How was your afternoon?"
Chloe couldn't help but smile. She'd never get used to that word of endearment, or that he fact that he called her 'honey' with such ease that it felt like he'd been doing it for years instead of months.
"It was good," she replied, dropping her bag on the nearest opening on the floor that wasn't occupied by a box. "Finally managed to get some stuff done today."
She gave him a quick peck on his cheek, then decided he looked really good with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up. Rising up on her toes, she twined her arms around his neck to pull him down for a long, deep kiss.
How the Hell did he manage to always look like that?
It wasn't natural – but then, neither was he.
Lucifer let out a low groan of contentment, settling his hands on the small of her back. "Mmm, well, hello to you, too. Did you miss me?"
He spoke in a casual tone, but even after all this time there was still that lingering question. That tiny speck of dread that would always haunt him.
Did you think of me?
You didn't forget about me, right?
Was I on your mind?
They bumped noses, and Chloe opened her eyes to find a pair of dark ones watching her intently. A soft, curious gaze, filled with a steady love that wouldn't fade.
One that never failed to make her heart skip a beat.
One that he only reserved for her.
"Of course I missed you. You're my partner."
A million-watt smile spread over his features, and he dropped a swift kiss to her brow before pulling her into an embrace.
"I missed you, too. Especially during philosophy. My goodness, is it boring."
Chloe chuckled, untangling herself from him. She sat down on the nearest barstool. "What was it like? Your first ever college class? I hope it wasn't boring the entire time."
Lucifer took his place next to her, elegantly folding his legs at the ankle. He pulled on a cufflink. "It was more of an introduction, I assume? It only lasted two hours, but I didn't really pay attention the last half hour."
"Slacking off already?" she teased, quirking an eyebrow.
"In my defense, the other half of the class had left during the break." He took a sip of his scotch. "So I dare say I'd been a good student today."
The Devil in a philosophy class. If only the professor had been aware of the irony of it all.
"My college student. I'm so proud of you."
Lucifer smiled into his glass at her praise, taking it smoothly in stride. Then he focused his attention on the nearest box.
"The t-shirts have arrived, in case you were wondering what this is all about."
Chloe peered into the nearest package, but saw only a mass of folded black cloth. "I can see that. I thought they were supposed to arrive next week?"
"I paid the company extra. You know, as a little bit of motivation to up their speed."
In Lucifer's term, that could either mean a hundred or a thousand bucks. He didn't do things lightly.
"But," he continued, taking one out of the box and unfolding it, "they did turn out nicely."
The general design of the t-shirts were all the same. Black, unisex and with short sleeves. But there were different sorts of prints upon them.
The one Lucifer was holding said: WE ARE HAPPY TO HELL-P YOU
"Get it?" he said proudly, glancing between her and the text. "Because we're in Hell?"
Chloe snorted, shaking her head. Leave it up to Lucifer to make puns for every occasion.
"Yes, Lucifer. I get it. I'm sure the demons will appreciate it."
He held up a finger, laying the shirt down over the bar. "I have more. I couldn't just have one design for everyone, could I?"
Taking one out of another box, this one read: PURGATORY? MORE LIKE PURGA-THERAPY
"Really?" Chloe said, giving him an amused look. "Purga-therapy?"
Lucifer grinned. "Absolutely. I think it's brilliant. Dromos and the others will have a blast with this."
He made to dive into another box, but she put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Hey, I have something to tell you before we continue with this."
Lucifer stilled beneath her touch, a sliver of concern creeping up on him. "Is everything alright, Chloe?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's good news, trust me."
That seemed to reassure him, but the wariness remained. He turned his full attention to her, the shirts instantly forgotten. "What is it?"
She put hand on top his, giving it a little squeeze. "Well, remember when you were with Linda last time? And you came up with all these ideas how to make your job more pleasant for you?"
She gestured with a hand around her. "Including making fun t-shirts to make Hell a bit more lively?"
"Of course I do. I made the designs the next day."
"Yes," Chloe nodded. "But you also talked about taking weekends off. Maybe even have a vacation. Or some leave when Rory's born."
Lucifer's initial excitement dimmed. "You know I can't be away for too long. Even if I desperately want to."
"I know. And now I'm telling you I found a solution."
A blink of surprise. "You did?"
Now it was Chloe's turn to be excited.
She couldn't help the smile creeping over her face. This was actually happening.
"Today, after I'd dropped you off at the UCLA, I drove to the community center downtown. I'd expected to find Amenadiel there, but I'd just missed him."
"I can take you to the Doctor's of you like," Lucifer offered, still hanging on her every word. "He's probably there now to drop off Charlie."
Chloe shook her head. "It's fine, hear me out. Since Amenadiel wasn't there, I spoke with the closest angel in charge, which was Zadkiel."
"Zadkiel? What was he doing there?"
She ignored his question, unable to keep the surprise to herself any longer. "He agreed to watch Hell when you were gone."
It took a moment for her words to sink in. "He – he agreed? So he's going to rule Hell when I'm –'
"When Rory's here," Chloe added softly.
"You got me paternity leave," Lucifer breathed.
"I did. It's the least you deserve."
He sat back in his chair, dazed by the reality she'd revealed. "I'm going to be there," he murmured.
"I'm going to be there," he said more strongly, the thought taking root. "I'm going to be there for my daughter once she's born!"
Lucifer enveloped her in a hug all of a sudden, so strong it nearly knocked them both of their bar stool. She felt his damp cheek against hers as he held her closer.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you, Chloe."
They stayed there for a couple heartbeats longer, savoring the moment. When he pulled away, Lucifer was still smiling. "I can't believe this. I just can't."
"Don't thank me. Thank Zadkiel. He's the one who wants to do this."
"But why? I haven't heard a thing from him since the war. I didn't even know he was in LA anymore."
What is it with angels and seeking each other out that is so difficult?
"He feels like he owes you that. For not investigating further into the events that led up to your Fall. For doubting you, and for trusting Michael."
Lucifer huffed. "He deceived all of us, even Dad. There's no reason he should feel guilty about it. No one suspected a thing. He shouldn't take the blame."
Chloe gave his hand a squeeze. "I know. But maybe you should tell him that. Put his mind a bit at ease."
He passed his free hand over his face and sighed. "Maybe you're right. It's been almost a years since I last saw him. There are some things between us that should finally be put to rest."
Then his face brightened. "But that's not for now. Now is a time for making the final preparations."
Lucifer's gaze dropped to her belly. "And then it's time for you."
"For us," Chloe said. "Then it's time for us."