Apocalypse
"I think – I think my water just broke."
Panic clutched Lucifer's chest, and he swallowed down his rising terror.
"That's not possible. You're only thirty-six weeks pregnant. It's way too early."
Chloe held his gaze, the reality sinking into the her. Then she looked down at her pajama pants, were a damp stain was spreading down her thighs.
"I'm pretty sure it's happening now," she said calmly, sitting up in bed. Flipping the covers back, she revealed another damp spot on the sheets beneath her.
"Okay -okay. Uh, uh –"
Lucifer turned on the lamp on the bedside table, casting the bedroom in a soft light. He scrambled for his phone, almost dropping it on the floor.
A call. He needed to call.
"Do – do you feel anything yet? Pain? Discomfort? Nausea? Any contractions?"
Chloe shook her head, a hand on her belly. "No, but labor usually follows soon. It won't be long before the first cramps hit."
Too early. It's too early.
Lucifer suppressed another wave of nerves as he fumbled for Doctor Blake's number. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to have more time.
"I need to make a hospital bag," Chloe mumbled to herself, making to get up.
Pressing the ringing phone to his ear, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "No, don't get up. Sit down, love. I'll take care of it."
She gave up without a fight, easing down onto the bed again. Covering his hand with hers, he saw his own apprehension reflected in her blue eyes.
Chloe was afraid, too.
Lucifer opened his mouth to try and comfort her the best he could, but at that moment someone picked up the phone.
"This is Doctor Miranda Blake, how may I help you?"
"My partner's water just broke," he blurted out. "She needs help."
A confused pause. "Who am I speaking to?"
"Lucifer – Morningstar."
"Ah, Mr. Morningstar!" The noise in the background became more distant as she removed herself from the mass. "Your partner was Chloe Decker, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Chloe was watching him intently on the bed, hanging on his every word.
"But her water broke and she's only thirty six weeks," Lucifer added quickly, wanting to get advice as quickly as possible. "It's too early."
Blake was silent for a moment. "So she's PROM," she said more to herself than to him.
"Beg your pardon?"
"Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. The breaking of the amniotic sac before the end of term. Is she bleeding?"
Chloe dipped a hand beneath the waistband of her pants, then withdrew it. She shook her head.
"No blood," Lucifer said, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Good. That's good."
A door opened and closed, indicating Blake had entered her office to get Chloe's file. "You need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible. Every minute the risk of possible complications or infections increases."
Fuck. Fuck.
"If you get her here quickly," she continued, "we can start monitoring her before the heavy contractions start. I'll wait for you at the entrance of the ER at the clinic."
Lucifer swallowed. "Alright. We'll be there within the hour."
Pressing off the phone, he looked at his partner.
"I'll get your coat. We're flying."
"What?" Chloe said, exasperated. "Lucifer, I am not flying! I can go into labor any minute now."
"Exactly! And the sooner we get to the hospital, the better it is for both you and Rory."
She crossed her arms over her round belly. "It's not going to happen."
"Chloe, we need to go quickly –"
"I. Am. Not. Flying," she clipped in a tone that left no room for contradiction. When he opened his mouth to retort, she held up a hand and added, "Who's having this baby?"
"Uh – you are, my love."
"That's right. So I get to choose how we go, and I say we go by car." The Lieutenant stared him down, and he had no choice but to comply.
Lucifer's feet itched to get going, and he practically blasted out of the door with his phone in hand. Dialing the number, he dashed down the stairs and out the door of the apartment.
It rang once, twice. A third time.
"Come on," Lucifer grumbled. "Come on, Mazikeen. Pick up."
After the fourth ring, a familiar voice sounded down the line. "Yeah? What's up?"
"Chloe's water broke," he said, rounding the corner of the street and swinging the door of the Corvette open. He jammed the keys in the ignition and pushed on the gas pedal. "You need to come over and watch Trixie while we're away."
"What about your entire horsemen thing? Wasn't I supposed to be War and drive Decker to the hospital at all costs?"
"That was only the case if I were in Hell when she went into labor." Lucifer did a breakneck maneuver to get past a car, then parked double in front of Chloe's building, tires screeching due to the sudden stop. "Thank Amenadiel I'm still here."
"I'll thank him later," Maze replied. He could vaguely hear Eve say something in the background. "Is she – is Chloe going to be okay?"
Lucifer slammed the car door shut, sprinting back inside the apartment. "The baby's a month too early. I need to get her to ER as soon as possible. Then we'll see."
Maze was quiet on the other end of the line, something he wasn't used to from the demon. "I'll take care of Trix in the meantime. Eve and I will come to the apartment, stay the night and then come visit you once the Antichrist's here."
"Good," he said, running up a flight of stairs with two steps at the same time. "We're leaving for the hospital now, so come as quickly as possible. Trixie will no doubt be rattled by the situation."
"Sure." Maze paused again, as if doubting whether or not to say something. "And Lucifer?"
Lucifer paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Yes?"
"Take care of her."
He opened the door. "With everything in my might, Mazikeen. With everything in my might."
In those five minutes he'd been gone, the previously peaceful apartment had dissolved into downright chaos.
It was like a tornado had blown through the living room, with Chloe as the eye storm.
Clothes were littered all over the place, and a pair of yoga pants was hanging out of a half-opened sports bag that'd been propped up on an overflowing coffee table.
No doubt she'd done a last-minute attempt to pack some stuff before her condition had caught up with her.
But the Lieutenant wouldn't be the Lieutenant if she didn't at least try.
Trixie was sitting wide-eyed on the couch next to her mother, probably woken up when he'd banged the door shut to retrieve the car. Still in patterned pajamas and a braid, the child didn't know what to make of the situation.
I don't either, honestly, he thought.
Chloe had a protective arm curled around her daughter and was trying to comfort her the best she could. Unfortunately, that attempt was often interrupted by a low groan or grunt of pain.
Lucifer dashed to his partner's side. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." She nodded, though her face was tight. "It's just some cramps. No contractions yet."
From one of his pregnancy books, Lucifer knew that a woman's second child was always born quicker than the first one because of the body getting used to it. Or something.
And he was not taking any risks today.
"Will you be okay, mom?"
Chloe smiled despite her unease, stroking the girl's hair. "I'll be fine, monkey. I'm in good hands, remember?"
She cast a meaningful gaze at Lucifer, giving him an intimate smile before turning back to her daughter.
"I know." Trixie's gaze dropped to her mother's belly. "Is it going to hurt? A lot?"
"Yes," she replied after hesitating for a second. "But it's nothing I can't handle. I've done it before, and I'll do it again. Don't worry about me, alright?"
Trixie's throat bobbed, then the girl nodded. She gave her mother a tentative hug, as if she worried she was going to fall apart when touched wrongly.
Lucifer could easily imagine the girl's anxiety at the moment. It probably wasn't too different from his own, that jittering knot of nerves in his chest that wouldn't let him breathe properly.
"We need to go," he said, hating he had to play that role. But time wasn't on their side. "Trixie, Maze and Eve are on their way as we speak. They'll be here in less than ten minutes, alright?"
Trixie nodded, her features pale. She wouldn't be going to school tomorrow, that was for sure. "Just – just be careful, okay? I don't want anything to happen to you."
Lucifer's heart stuttered in his chest. Oh, Beatrice.
Chloe doubled over all of a sudden, clutching her middle as she let out a groan of pain. "We need to go," she gritted out.
Without hesitating, he helped her get up. Placing on hand on the small of her back and holding her by her upper arm with the other.
"The bag," she said as they passed the kitchen. "I need my bag with clothes."
"One of the horsemen will get it, don't worry. You only have to worry about one thing right now."
"One of the what? Never mind."
Lucifer opened the front door and carefully guided his partner outside. She was going slowly, carefully calculating each step so it would hurt less and be safe for the baby.
Looking back over his shoulder, he made eye contact with Trixie.
The girl was still sitting on the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest. In that instant, she seemed so young and frail that Lucifer had to fight the urge to go back and hold her.
But he couldn't.
Children weren't allowed during birth. And besides, what would she do at the hospital during the long hours that her mother was in labor?
That didn't make him feel any better, though. Lucifer just hoped that Trixie wouldn't feel as if they were abandoning her in favor of her newborn sister
But in that moment, Trixie straightened.
A resolve came over, and though she still appeared frightened and unsure, she looked more determined as well. Like she had faith in whatever was happening.
Like she had faith in him.
Faith that he would take care of her mom.
Faith that he would still love her - just as much as her sister.
"I love you," he mouthed to the girl, and heard her return the words. She waved a little hand at him, giving him a soft smile.
Beatrice's new resolve strengthened Lucifer as well, and he found himself returning her trusting expression. Rory might be about to be born, but he already had a daughter waiting for him.
With his heart at ease, Lucifer softly closed the door behind him.
The drive to the hospital was the longest of Lucifer's life.
Every time Chloe gasped or let out a small groan of pain he felt like his soul was leaving his body. He might have crossed the speed limit by a bit, and yes, he may have ignored a red light.
Only twice, though.
Thankfully, his cop partner was too occupied at the moment to scold him for it.
With screeching tires, he pulled up to the driveway of the ER at the UCLA clinic. Lucifer practically jumped out of the car, sprinting around the side to help Chloe get up.
"How are we on a scale from one to ten?" Lucifer asked, steadying her by her upper arm as she stepped on the curb.
"Three," Chloe said, gripping his bicep for balance. She looked over her shoulder at the Corvette. "Shouldn't you go and park the car?"
"Not a chance in Hell."
"Lucifer –"
"I'm not leaving your side, Chloe," he replied resolutely, a wave of relief washing over him when he spotted Doctor Blake approaching with a wheelchair. "I'm not. I'll toss someone the keys."
The gynecologist waved cheerfully at them despite the late hour. Her short blonde hair had a few cow licks in it, so she'd been catching whatever rest she could during a night shift.
"Have a seat, Miss Decker," she said, stopping the wheelchair in front of her. "Or should I say Mrs. Morningstar now?"
"Not yet," Chloe replied, plopping down with a groan. "We had to postpone."
"Lots to look forward too, then." Blake made to grab the chair, but Lucifer had already started pushing her towards the entrance of the ER.
No time to lose.
"Right," Blake said, momentarily thrown off track but recovering quickly. She quickened her pace to keep up with them. "What are you feeling? Any heavy contractions yet?"
Chloe shook her head, rubbing the side of her belly with one hand. "No, it's just like period cramps. But it feels like the pressure in my back's increasing."
The entry doors of the ER slid open. Lucifer blinked against the sudden onslaught of bright light, a sharp contrast with the dark driveway outside. They were extremely lucky their gynecologist was on shift tonight.
What would they have been if she'd been out of the country? Lucifer didn't want to think about it.
"Still in early labor, then," Blake concluded, dodging a nurse wheeling a cart of medical equipment. "How long did your labor last with your first child?"
"With Trixie? A little over twenty-four hours. The doctors didn't think I was going to make it through at one point."
Blake met Lucifer's eyes over the top of Chloe's head. "Well, that won't be the case this time. You are going to make it through, and your baby as well."
And then Lucifer realized that the small talk on the driveway hadn't been a mark of unprofessionalism. It had been a way of taking Chloe's mind off things.
A way of making her feel safe. And him as well.
"Take a left here," Blake instructed, and Lucifer wheeled Chloe around the corner. They stopped in front of the elevator, and then all went inside.
Emerging on the second floor, their gynecologist guided them to one of the more spacious rooms at the end of the corridor. Good. The more privacy they had, the better.
Who knew what might happen during the birth of the Antichrist.
"I set up the room best I could," Blake explained, turning on the light. "We are understaffed and it's a Sunday night, so I made do with what I found."
Lucifer carefully halted the wheelchair next to the bed, lending Chloe a hand so she could get up. He studied their room.
The bed was made, the fresh sheets still carrying the scent of laundry detergent. On top of the pillow lay a folded hospital gown. A pink birth ball stood in one corner, next to a rolled-up yoga mat.
There was a couch against the far wall with a pile of blankets and an extra pillow, presumably so he could get some rest as well during the entire process.
How naïve.
As if he were going to close an eye when his partner was in labor.
"Please put on the gown in the bathroom, Miss Decker. Then I can inspect you once you've changed clothes."
"Sure."
Once the bathroom door clicked shut behind her, Lucifer whirled on Doctor Blake.
"What did you mean by 'complications' when we spoke on the phone? Is she in danger? Is Rory in danger?"
Blake raised her hands in calming gesture. "When the water breaks early in the pregnancy, there is an increased risk of complications or infections during the birth."
Panic clutched his chest. "Like what? What can happen?"
"I will not run you through the worst-case scenarios, Mr. Morningstar," Blake replied sternly. "It won't do anyone any good. For you, your fiancée or your unborn child. She isn't bleeding, which is good. I will know more in a minute."
Lucifer opened his mouth to ask her more questions, but at that moment Chloe waddled outside.
Her presence had a soothing effect on him, and even though he couldn't control what was happening at the moment, at least he could be beside her.
At least he was here.
"I hate these things," Chloe muttered as she sat down on the side of the bed. She yanked at a sleeve. "They never fit properly."
Lucifer stepped up beside her, relieved that she hadn't lost her grumpiness. "Yet you look lovely."
"For now," she countered with a snort and lied down on her back. "In a couple of hours, I'll be all sweaty and screaming."
"Sweaty and screaming. Sounds like the title of one of Maze's cheap horror movies."
Chloe grimaced. "Don't remind me. I've had to suffer through too many of those."
As long as you're relaxed, my love. As long as you're relaxed.
"You didn't scare yourself into labor did you, Miss Decker?" Blake asked jokingly, standing on the other side of the bed. "Is Rory-Not-From-Gilmore-Girls coming into this world because of cheap plastic masks and fake blood?"
A faint blush colored Chloe's cheeks. "No, we, uh, were making out on the bed when I felt something and discovered my water had broken."
"Are you saying that the passion of our love is what got you into labor?" Lucifer teased.
"Don't give yourself too much credit," Chloe said, though he didn't miss the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Sexual activity can indeed prompt labor to start. Though usually it is a mix of circumstances, with stress being one of the most important factors. Can you lift your gown for me, please?"
Chloe did as told, hiking the garment up till just below her hips. He could tell she found it a little awkward to do so, but her nose scrunched up when another series of cramps overtook her.
Blake halted her inspecting. "How bad?"
"Period bad," she said, waving a hand. "I've had worse."
Lucifer didn't doubt she'd had worse menstruation pains, though he couldn't help but wonder how bad the pain was going to get exactly. He'd seen Chloe shot and beaten – he'd watched her die – but somehow it was difficult to imagine her reaction to heavy labor.
Only time would tell, he supposed.
Blake hummed in response, going back to inspecting her. "It seems like you've lost you mucus plug already. " She pulled out a pair of nitrile gloves and snapped them on. "I am now going to examine your cervix. This may be a bit uncomfortable."
"Okay," Chloe nodded, swallowing.
Noticing her unease, Lucifer took her right hand in his. She rolled her head to the side, giving him a grateful smile. She stiffened when the doctor began her exam, giving his hand a little squeeze.
With her super strength, Lucifer worried for a moment what effect Chloe was going to have on the surrounding furniture. Surely her strength would fade the longer she was in labor, right?
Right?
I'll write the hospital a check if I have to, he thought. Didn't think the codeword 'apocalypse' would be so fitting for the birth, though.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fished it out of his jacket with his free hand. "Maze and Eve have arrived at the apartment. They're staying for the night, and it looks like they've already settled down."
Lucifer showed her the picture adjoined to the message. It showed Trixie on the couch, huddled in a blanket while wearing her onesie. She was leaning against Maze, who had her arms wrapped protectively around the girl.
A bowl of fresh popcorn stood on the coffee table next to a juice box and a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. 'Encanto' was playing on the television in the background, because only Trixie could convince Maze to watch Disney movies.
The next picture was a selfie of Eve, who gave them a bright thumbs-up to indicate that everything was okay over there.
Chloe smiled fondly when she saw the photos. "Looks like Maze gave in, huh?"
"Of course she did. Her reputation is as much in tatters as mine. Seems like growing a soul isn't ideal for your imago as an uncaring badass who doesn't need anyone."
"Or getting shot in the leg," Chloe added.
"Or getting shot in the leg," Lucifer emphasized, patting her hand. "And now we're here."
From bullet to baby. The universe did work in strange ways.
Doctor Blake appeared concerned when she heard 'getting shot in the leg' but decided to refrain from making a comment. Tugging Chloe's gown back down, she straightened.
"You are definitely in labor, Miss Decker," Blake explained. "Early labor, but labor nonetheless. Since you're only thirty-six weeks pregnant, it is important for both you and the child that she comes out quickly. Your cervix is now roughly three centimeters dilated –"
"Heavy labor starts at six centimeters," Lucifer said out loud without noticing. When he noticed the doctor's stare he added, "I read that in a book."
"That is correct Mr. Morningstar, but not what I was about to say. Your partner called me a little after nine to say your water had broken."
Blake checked her watch. "Now it's somewhere around ten p.m. Which means that you can go into heavy labor within an hour, several hours or perhaps even after dawn. It's difficult to predict such things."
Hold on a second, after dawn? There was a chance she would only be halfway through the birth after dawn?
This wasn't like the movies at all, where someone's water broke and they were wheeled directly into the hospital, only to hold a pink-faced newborn a couple of hours later. Hollywood and its consistent lying.
Chloe, however, didn't seem fazed by that bit of information. Of course she wouldn't, after delivering Beatrice after twenty-four excruciating hours. He hoped it wouldn't be like that this time around.
A little help is always welcome, brother, he thought. Some divine intervention isn't unwelcome.
"So, I'd advise you to get comfortable," Blake said, sliding her hands in the pockets of her lab coat. "I have the night shift, meaning I'll be right down the hall in case you need me. If I'm not, then the nurses will page me right away. I will check up on you every hour or so. Try to get some rest in the meantime"
Blake cast a meaningful glance in Lucifer's direction. "Though I have no doubt you are in good hands."
"Doctor?"
She turned around. "Yes, Mr. Morningstar?"
"Do you happen, by any chance, to have an intern who's always wanted to park a classic car?"
Blake frowned. "I wouldn't know. I'd have to check. Why?"
Lucifer tossed her the keys of the Corvette, and she plucked them out of the air. "Today's their lucky day."
"I'll see what I can do," she said, studying the keys. "But don't get your hopes up."
Then the doctor left the room, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet of the nightly hospital.
And with that, the longest night of Lucifer's life began.
The first two hours were rather uneventful.
Doctor Blake came by twice, true to her word. The dilation seemed to be progression fairly slowly, since Chloe wasn't even at four centimeters yet.
His partner had tried to get some rest in the meantime. Lucifer had dimmed the lights in the room and offered up his pillow to Chloe, who now had two behind her head and two behind her back.
Well, as long as she was comfortable.
A knock had come at the door around eleven, and a nurse came in carrying a bag that had been delivered at the reception by a certain Ella Lopez.
The bag came along with a handwritten note, which was covered in hearts and emojis wishing Chloe the best of luck. The sack contained at least ten packs of trail mix, three cupcakes and an extra-large pack of Twinkies.
Needless to say, Miss Lopez too her role as Famine very seriously.
Lucifer had settled himself on the couch, keeping a close eye on Chloe while trying to get some rest himself. Pros of being at the hospital at night was that it was fairly quiet.
The downside was that there weren't as nearly many nurses or doctors as usual.
Tiptoeing on the verge of sleep, Lucifer's head shot up when he heard Chloe groan. He shot to his feet and dashed to the bed.
"What's wrong? Do I need to call the doctor?"
Chloe waved him off, rolling onto her side. "My back is killing me. It's like I'm being torn apart from the inside."
"Can you help me?" she asked, stuffing a pillow between her legs to relieve some of the pressure.
"With, uh, what exactly, my love?"
"If you could massage my lower back, I'm sure that would help a little."
"Of course," Lucifer replied, rounding the bed. Placing his hands on the small of her back, he started to rub small circles with his thumbs.
"Harder."
"Are you sure –"
"Harder," she snapped. "Use your knuckles instead."
Lucifer hesitated for a second, then obliged. Angling his wrists, he rolled his knuckles tentatively over her lower back. Then he did as she asked, applying increased pressure.
Chloe let out a satisfied groan. "Yes, that's good," she said, some of the tension leaving her body. "That's much better."
"I'm sorry I snapped," she said after a while, and though he couldn't see her face her tone was regretful. "I didn't mean to."
"It's alright, honey. You can shout at me as much as you like. You're the one giving birth here tonight, not me."
"That doesn't make it right. You've done nothing but being supportive and being helpful. You didn't deserve that, Lucifer. I'm sorry."
"Hey," Lucifer said softly, turning her onto her other side so she faced him. To his surprise, there were tears in her eyes. "It's okay, Chloe. It's okay."
"Yeah?" she sniffled.
"Of course." He sank down on the bed next to her, gently wiping her tears away. "We've had it a lot worse than snapping at each other. No need to be so upset, my love."
"I think – I think it's the hormones."
"Probably, yes."
Chloe looked down at herself, voice hoarse. "And I'm just so tired of being huge. I want her out so I can have my body back." She looked at him with red, puffy eyes. "Is that selfish of me?"
"No", Lucifer said, brushing back some wayward strands of hair. "It's perfectly normal. Rory has held you hostage for the past nine months. Now it's time for you again."
"Okay. Okay." She nodded, then wiped the last of her tears away with the back of her hand. "That wasn't very professional of me, was it?"
"Well, you aren't at work, so I'd say it doesn't count."
Turning her head, she eyed the pitcher on the table. "I'm going to get some water. See if walking around makes me feel a bit better."
"Alright. I'm right behind you."
The look in her eyes told him he was being overbearing, but a part of her enjoyed being fussed over, so she allowed it for the moment.
With a grunt coming from the depths of her bones, Chloe sat up and got to her feet. Lucifer gave her the space she needed to get up, but hovered by protectively.
Like a devilish guardian angel.
Lucifer used the opportunity to open a window, letting in the cool night air. They were on the second floor of the hospital, and had a nice view of the driveway and the surrounding grounds. A fountain burbled tranquilly somewhere in the distance.
It was a clear night, very little clouds obscuring the sky. Stars twinkled faintly in the distance, but were overshadowed by the blazing lights of the LA metropolis.
If his partner hadn't been in labor, he would have definitely taken her out for a flight.
A crash shook him from his musings, and he turned around to see Chloe bent over the side table.
Her grip was white-knuckled, and she'd knocked the glass over. She let out a low moan of pain, shrinking in on herself. Water dripped down the side of the table.
Lucifer was by her side in an instant. Not knowing what else to do, he tried rubbing his knuckles along her back, hoping that it would relieve some of her pain.
Chloe's breathing turned shallow as the wave of pain crested. Cracks were starting to appear in the wooden table, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Don't…stop," she managed to grit out in between pants.
"I won't," he said resolutely, Chloe being the focus of his universe. "I won't."
After what seemed like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a few seconds, Chloe's grip on the table lessened. Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a shuddering breath.
"That," she said, catching her breath, "is the difference between cramps and a contraction."
Lucifer flipped her loose hair over one shoulder so her neck was bare. "Do I have to ring for the anesthetist for an epidural?"
"No." She straightened slowly, as if worrying another blast of pain might hit her. "If I can manage without, I will. I want everything to be as clear as possible."
Then Chloe noticed the table hanging together by a thread. Her eyes widened in shock.
"I did that?" she asked, whirling towards him.
"Uh, yes?"
Chloe looked at the table again, going quiet. "I'm going to bring this whole hospital down by the time she's born."
"I'll write a check."
"It's not funny, Lucifer."
"Maybe a little." His grin disappeared when he noticed her stern stare. "It'll be fine, we'll work it out. You can squeeze me during the next contraction. I won't break that easily."
"You'll be sore, though."
Lucifer gave her a feline smirk. "You know I like it a little rough."
Chloe rolled her eyes, but couldn't quite hide the smile that was threatening to overtake her face. Someone was feeling a bit better, then.
"We should time the contractions, so we know when they're getting closer to each other. How late is it now?"
Lucifer checked his phone. "It is currently thirty-one minutes past midnight."
"It's still that early?" Chloe waddled back to the bed, sitting down on the side with an oomph. "Seems strange that we've only been here for a little more than two hours."
"Those two hours seemed pretty long to me."
His partner was doing all the hard work, when it felt like all he could do was fuss and encourage her in every way possible.
Chloe passed a hand over her face, wiping the sweat from her brow. "It's hard to keep track of time, especially when it starts to get really painful. Minutes can feel like hours, and hours can go by in the blink of an eye."
Lucifer darted into the small bathroom, grabbing a towel off the rack. He turned the tap on and held the towel under until it was wet. Then he wrung it out and returned to the bed.
"Here. Might help you cool down a little."
"Thanks," she said, accepting the damp cloth and pressing it to her forehead. "Ugh, that's a lot better.
Lucifer sat down next to her, absently rubbing her shoulder. "What do we do now?"
"Wait. Hope Rory comes out quickly. Maybe bribe Amenadiel a little."
He took out his phone. "I can call him –"
"No, honey," she snorted, stopping him by his arm. "It's okay. I know it might look ugly, but I've got this."
"I know." Lucifer sighed, then dropped a swift kiss to her temple. "I know. You can do anything you set your mind to. I just hate seeing you in pain."
"Well, it's for a good cause this time."
"That's true." He gently brushed his thumb over the rounding of her belly. But somehow that didn't ease all of his frustrations. He'd never been one for the sidelines.
Be gentle with your mother, princess, he thought. She's strong, but if you can spare her pain then please do so.
"Breathe, Chloe. Breathe. Just like we practiced in class, remember? Hee-hee, hoo."
She cried out in pain, sitting on the birth ball to try and ease some of the pressure in her spine and pelvis. Her breathing came in short, labored pants.
"I. Am. Trying!"
Lucifer had lost all feeling in his hand several minutes ago, but as long as the tips didn't start to turn black he'd be fine. Chloe definitely still had her enhanced strength, that was for sure.
A few more strangled groans escaped her before she managed to inhale deeper. Then the pain started to subside, and she slumped against Lucifer, who held her effortlessly.
"Seems like you're just as strong as a few hours ago," Lucifer replied as her grip lessened. If hands could speak, his would be cheering in joy right now. "Shouldn't that lessen the closer she is to being born?"
"Don't care."
Chloe's head lolled against his shoulder, and he held her in place on the ball from behind. He was sitting on his knees behind her, making sure she didn't topple off if the pain got too intense.
"Epidural? It's not too late, according to the nurses."
"No," she said, shaking her head resolutely. "As long as I can bear it, I will."
Lucifer didn't have the slightest idea why she kept insisting on making things so difficult for herself. But any attempts to change her mind had previously resulted in snaps, off-hand comments or threats including bodily harm.
Lesson learned. Do not mess with women in labor.
Handing her a glass of water, he pushed some sweat-slicked strands of hair out of her face. Even though she was in agony, she'd never seemed so vibrant to him.
So…alive.
Lucifer could sense she was starting to tire, though. The contractions had increased in strength and frequency over the last four hours, and the last time Blake had checked her she was at approximately eight centimeters.
They'd tried a variety of approaches to relieve her pain. From lying on her side to walking around to rocking back and forth on the birth ball.
The latter had been the most effective, and they'd been like that for a while now. Chloe on the ball, and Lucifer on his knees behind her so he could stabilize her.
It wasn't exactly comfortable, but he didn't have much choice.
Chloe gulped down the water, draining the dregs. She handed the empty glass back to him and he put it on the ground.
"How long was there between those?"
"Six minutes, give or take," Lucifer replied. He'd counted in his head, unwilling to move as much as an inch when she had a contraction.
"It's not going to take long anymore." Her eyelids fluttered shut as she enjoyed a moment of reprieve from the pain. "I can feel it."
"Do you need to push? Because I will scream for a nurse."
"No, not yet. I'm not there yet."
Lucifer adjusted his arms to accommodate her better, wrapping them around her middle and resting his hands below the significant swell of her belly.
A cool breeze filtered through the open window, carrying the scents and sounds of night on it. It had cooled down, but it was still unseasonably warm for the end of March – even in California.
They remained like that, basking together in the silence of the hospital. The only sound was the constant hum of the medical equipment, and the distant shuffling of tired interns down the hallway.
"Did you know I've been having weird dreams for like a month now?"
Lucifer perked up. "Oh? Do tell."
"Ever since we did the baby shower with my mom's family, I sometimes have nightmares that instead of giving birth to baby, I lay an egg."
"Ah – what?"
Chloe chuckled, sounding sleep-drunk. "Yeah, you heard me. I gave birth to an egg, and then we had to carry it around with us in an incubator. We took turns, even putting it on the nightstand when we went to bed."
"That…does seem inconvenient, yes."
"Can you imagine me at work, carrying my egg around like some mother hen? They'd probably think I'm crazy or something – even crazier than they think I am now."
"I don't think that's true," Lucifer said, gently rocking the ball back and forth. "Compared to me – compared to Maze – you seem like the most normal person to have ever existed on the face of the Earth. The precinct has developed a high standard for crazy over the past couple of years."
Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he added softly, "I'm so glad I met you. Even if the LAPD is worse for wear because of it."
"Mmm." Chloe absently patted the side of his head, hands clammy with sweat from the effort. "I wouldn't have had it any other way. Well, maybe without Delilah dying. But my bosses own me one, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," he replied, pressing a small kiss to her shoulder before straightening. "That and at least two-hundred crates of the finest scotch."
And he'd make those assholes such as Paolucci and all the others who mocked her during the Palmetto case pay for it. Time healed all wounds, but this was a grudge he would keep for a long time.
She huffed out a breath. "Two-hundred seems –"
Chloe broke off with an anguished cry, doubling over on the ball.
Behind her, Lucifer managed to catch her quickly enough to prevent her from falling on the ground. It had barely been two minutes, how was she having another contraction already?
Trembling over her entire frame, she gripped his forearms to try and steady herself. Her fingers dug into the fine material of the dress shirt, coming close to tearing the cloth altogether.
"I thought you weren't there yet." A spike of anxiety shot through his chest as she let out another wail of pain. Change of plans, it seemed.
Oh, dear. Oh, dear. The baby was coming. The baby was actually coming right now.
"Get…Blake," Chloe managed to grit out.
With her iron vice-grip on his arms, Lucifer wasn't going anywhere – contrary to the wishes of his partner. So, instead he went with –
"Nurse! I need a nurse! Someone get me Doctor Blake now!"
He continued bellowing at the top of his lungs for another ten seconds before a wide-eyed intern appeared in the doorway, clutching a notepad to his chest. "Uh…I, uh…"
"I need Miranda Blake this instant," he growled, allowing some of the redness to flash in his eyes.
The intern paled, legs buckling beneath him as he slumped against the door in terror. Lovely. Now the bloody chap wasn't even going to move.
A stern voice came from the hall, accompanied by the clicking of heels. "Move, Andersson. There's a patient in there who needs my help."
Blake didn't wait for the boy to move, instead brushing past him as if he were a piece of furniture. "If you cannot make yourself useful, then I suggest you get out of here."
Andersson didn't need to be told that a second time. With a last fearful look at Lucifer, the youth scrambled upright and dashed into the hallway. Definitely not doctor material.
If you couldn't handle hints of the supernatural, then how the Hell were you going to be a gynecologist?
Amateur.
"Miss Decker," Blake said, snapping on a pair of sterile gloves. Whatever she was about to say vanished the moment she saw Chloe's state. "Ah, I see. Seems like we've run out of time."
"You think?" Lucifer snapped.
"She's coming," Chloe breathed, teeth clenched from the exertion. "She's coming. I – I need to –"
Blake quickly moved to Chloe's side, batting Lucifer's arms away so she could inspect her. With practiced care, she starting poking and prodding the side of her belly, feeling and searching for something.
"Your baby's in position. From what I can tell, she's already descended sufficiently enough that an epidural isn't possible anymore."
"I didn't want one, anyway," Chloe groaned.
"Brave," Blake said, seemingly impressed. "I wouldn't do it myself. Now, let's get you on the bed, shall we?"
Lucifer moved to her side, hooking one hand under her arm and resting the other on her back. "On three, okay? One, two, three."
With a pained cry, Chloe attempted to rise on trembling legs from the birth ball. She managed to straighten halfway before threatening to slump down again.
Moving swiftly, Lucifer stepped closer, supporting her weight with his own. He pulled her closer, allowing her to lean on him.
"I got you. It's okay, I've got you."
Blake hovered behind them, standing close in case they needed any help. Despite her blunt honesty – a trait which Lucifer could appreciate – she really performed her tasks with the utmost care.
The distance from the ball to the bed couldn't have been further than ten feet at most. Yet it seemed like an eternity before Chloe finally let herself lay down on the sheets.
Blake come into action, hiking her gown above her hips and carefully spreading Chloe's legs one by one. "You're nearing full dilation. Right now, you're going to feel the urge to push, but you can only do that when I say so, alright? Otherwise we risk tearing."
An involuntary shudder ran down Lucifer's spine. Talk of torture methods. Pretty sure Maze would have a field trip with this.
But not when it comes to her friend, he thought immediately. Not when it comes to Chloe.
Chloe sought his hand, giving it a hard squeeze. "Lucifer?"
"Yes, my love?"
"You've got to promise me one thing."
"And that is?"
"Do not look between my thighs until she's out completely," Chloe pleaded. "Please, just don't."
Lucifer frowned. "It's childbirth – one of the most natural things on Earth. Why would I be disgusted by that?"
"Because otherwise you'll never want to have sex with me again."
"That is ridiculous –"
Chloe squeezed his hand in another crushing vice-grip as a contraction swept through her. Jaw clenched from the effort, she shouted, "Promise me!"
"I promise," Lucifer wheezed as a bolt of pain shot up his arm. Christ, her grip was strong. "I promise."
She slumped back down, satisfied with his response. But it was barely a second before she cried out in pain again.
"Now!" Blake said from the end of the bed. "Push! You can push!"
Chloe groaned as entire body tensed with the effort, muscles straining. Sweat beaded on her forehead, plastering her hair to her temples.
With his free hand, Lucifer reached for the damp cloth hanging from one of the bed railings. He dabbed her brow and neck, hoping to brow some temporary relief.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Blake commanded. "Hold!"
"I'm not some goddamn horse," Chloe bit in a lucid moment. "You think I can control this somehow?"
Blake ignored the comment, probably used to getting yelled at by women in labor. A downside that came with the trade. But at least she wasn't snapping at him.
"Now!"
Chloe cried out, squeezing his hand with all her might. Her skin was flushed from the strain, her breathing coming in uneven pants as she struggled to apply any of the techniques they'd learned.
"Pant-pant-breathe, Miss Decker. Nice and easy now. And…hold."
With an exhausted sigh, Chloe's head fell back against the pillow he'd propped up behind her. She swallowed thickly, deep fatigue starting to creep up on her.
Lucifer felt a spike of anxiety. How much longer was this going to last? More importantly, how much longer was she going to last?
"Come on, Detective," Lucifer said, leaning in closer towards the bed. "You're doing good. You're doing so great, my love. Just a little more."
A grunt of acknowledgement was all he got, but she gained a little vitality upon hearing his words. Then another wave hit. Chloe let out an agonized cry.
"Oh! I think I see a head! Keep going!"
Anxiety melted into ecstatic excitement. He almost shot to his feet to stand next to Doctor Blake, then remembered his promise to Chloe.
"You can do it, Chloe! We're almost there. She's almost there!"
Blake cupped her hands between his partner's thighs. "One last push! I promise, one last push and she's out."
Chloe's chest was heaving, a sheen of sweat on her skin. Her eyes were screwed shut from the pain, fingers digging so hard into the bed side that the mattress tore in some places.
Time slowed down, and Lucifer's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Distantly, he heard Blake giving encouragements to his partner, trying to coax her last energy out of her.
Chloe let out an ear-splitting wail.
Then came a cry.
A nurse handed Blake some equipment and a towel, and the doctor cut the umbilical cord. A smile spread over the doctor's face as she bundled their daughter up.
"Here she is," Blake said, handing the tiny bundle to Chloe. "Here's your baby." Then she stood up and walked outside along with the nurse, giving them some privacy.
Chloe cradled her like she was the most precious thing in the world. All signs of her earlier pain had evaporated, making room for clear awareness.
"Hi, baby," she said softly, choking up. "Oh my god, hi. We've missed you. We've missed you so, so much."
Chloe leaned forward to press whisper-soft kisses to her forehead and on the top of her head, covered in a shock of black hair. Rory squirmed in her arms at the onslaught of affection, letting out a little cry.
A tidal wave of emotions crashed through Lucifer, and at the same time he felt a peace unlike any he'd ever known.
She was here. Rory was back. She was finally back.
And he was still here as well.
Chloe gently stroked a finger over a rosy cheek, Rory cooing in response. She'd stopped crying, instead looking at her mother with interest.
Lucifer shifted closer to them on the bed, carefully wrapping an arm around Chloe to avoid hurting her. "I'm so, so proud of you." He pressed a kiss against Chloe's temple before resting his cheek against her head. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she replied softly. Then Chloe angled her head to meet his gaze. "Do you want to hold her?"
The question caught him off-guard. "I – yes, yes, of course."
The Antichrist let out a cry of alarm as she was lifted up. She shook her arms, hands balled into tiny fists as Chloe passed her on to Lucifer.
Fighter's spirit, that one.
Holding his breath, Lucifer accepted her, cradling the tiny bundle in his arms against his chest. Goodness, she was small. She was so, so small – being born early didn't help that fact.
"It's okay," Lucifer said, gently rocking her from side to side as she started to fuss. "It's okay. Daddy's here." His voice cracked, all the pent-up emotion bleeding into his tone. "Daddy's here. And I'm not going anywhere. I'm here."
Rory stilled in his arms upon hearing his voice, nestling closer instead. Huge dark eyes – his eyes – gazed up at him. A flicker of recognition went to her, so quick he could have imagined it.
Dawn was breaking outside, the first rays of sun spilling in through the half-closed blinds. It cast the room on a golden glow.
Tears slid down his cheeks as Lucifer leaned took his daughter's smile, barely into this world yet already such a source of happiness.
All the joy and love inside of him threatened to spill out, his chest aglow with a myriad of emotions. All the longing that had finally been answered.
The one that had been lost finally in his arms again. Lucifer smiled, holding her tiny hand that she'd reached out to him.
"Hello, Rory."
