"No deal," Beatrice said in her most serious voice. She was standing in front of her father in the living room.
"What? But it's a wonderful deal," Lucifer protested. This was outrageous. No one had ever turned down one of his deals before. Surely his nearly eight-year-old daughter was not going to be the first.
"I want the party more. Plus, I know you already bought me the bike. Maze told me," Beatrice said with a triumphant smile on his face.
"Bloody hell, Mazikeen," Lucifer cursed under his breath. "Well, there must be something else you want, right? Tell me what it is you'd like."
"I want my party with my friends," Beatrice said firmly. Every year for her birthday, her father would bribe her with something so that she would settle for a party with just him and Maze, but she wasn't going to let him this year. She wanted a real party.
"There has to be something else."
Beatrice shook her head.
"You're being completely unreasonable, Urchin," Lucifer said. He had to think of something she'd want. He would not survive an afternoon with a bunch of pint-sized demons running around his home. Unfortunately, he also knew if he couldn't bribe Beatrice, he would end up giving in.
Just then, they heard the ding of the elevator. Chloe stepped through a moment later.
"Chloe!" Beatrice exclaimed as she ran to the woman.
Chloe bent down and hugged the little girl. "Hi, sweetheart."
Beatrice pulled away after a minute. "I'm glad you're here. My birthday party is gonna be the weekend after next. Will you come?"
"Of course I will," Chloe said.
"Yay! I'm gonna have a party with my friends," Beatrice said. She knew her father would agree. He never said no when she really wanted something. He would try to bribe her if he didn't want to do it, but she knew if she didn't give in, she'd get what she wanted.
"Hey, I didn't agree to that. We're still negotiating," Lucifer said as he stood up. "Go get your bag. We have to get you to school."
Beatrice nodded and ran to her bedroom.
"Why didn't you tell me her birthday was coming up. I would've had more time to find a gift," Chloe said. Granted, two weeks wasn't that short notice, but she worked a lot, and it was going to be hard to find a gift for a little girl with a father who would naturally get her everything she wanted. Beatrice was very spoiled, though not in the way most rich kids were, thankfully. Lucifer might give her nearly everything she wanted, but he also instilled values in her. Beatrice didn't look down on anyone else because her father had money. She was very kind to nearly everyone. She was not entitled.
"You don't need to get her a gift, Detective," Lucifer said.
"Of course I do. I'm not showing up to your child's party without a gift. Although, I would get her a gift whether I was invited or not. You'll have to tell me what she wants and what you've already gotten her," Chloe said.
"The answer will be the same to both those things. I got her everything she wanted," Lucifer said.
Chloe groaned. That was exactly what she was afraid of. She'd have to think of something on her own. "So, I hear your trying to avoid a traditional birthday party?"
Lucifer scowled. "The child is being unreasonable. Every year, I manage to get her off the idea of having other children over, but promising her something big in exchange for a small party with Maze and I, but now the child won't be bought."
Chloe laughed. "Did you think you'd be able to bribe here forever."
"Yes! It worked just fine for the last three years," Lucifer grumbled. "Little monsters running around my property, touching things."
Chloe laughed as she heard him shudder. "I'm never going to get your dead with kids. You have a kid."
"And as I told you, Detective, my child is different. Most children are awful. They remind me of demons, only you can't reign them him. I don't need dozens of them roaming around my home," Lucifer said.
"Well, I admit that this probably isn't the best setting for a child's birthday party. You could rent a place that does birthday parties. No, actually, I have a better idea. My mom has a big house and yard. She's rarely in town, and I know she won't mind us using it for an afternoon," Chloe said. She'd offer her own place, but she lived in a one bedroom apartment. It wouldn't work for a birthday party."
That did sound somewhat better to Lucifer. At least he wouldn't have a bunch of mini demons possibly destroying his property. "I suppose I'd still have to be there."
Chloe rolled her eyes and smacked him on the arm playfully. "Yes, you'd still have to be at your daughter's birthday party, and you know you wouldn't have it any other way."
"Perhaps," Lucifer conceded. "Well, thank you, Detective, and if you're sure, I will gladly accept your offer."
"Great. We can talk plans later," she said.
Lucifer turned towards his daughter's bedroom. "Beatrice, let's go! You need to get to School, and the detective and I need to get to work!"
"Yeah, another day of staring at Malcolm and trying not to strangle him," Chloe said. Ever since she and Lucifer had put together the possibility that Malcolm may have been involved in Trixie's disappearance, Chloe couldn't stand looking at him. Not that she had particularly liked looking at him prior to that.
"Well, at least we have an active case to keep you busy," Lucifer said. That was why the detective was picking him up that day. They were going straight to interview a possible witness. They'd decided that it just made more sense to ride together than to wait for Lucifer to show up at the precinct. "We will find the truth about Malcolm Graham's role in your daughter's kidnapping, Detective. He will be punished for it."
"If he even did it," Chloe said. She had to keep reminding herself that they had no evidence that pointed to Malcolm's involvement, other than his presence at her home that day and a slightly suspicious timeline.
Just then, Beatrice came back out ready to go. "Sorry, Daddy. I couldn't find my math workbook."
"Did you find it?" Chloe asked.
"Uh huh. I'm ready," she said.
"Excellent. Let's go," Lucifer said before leading his daughter to the elevator.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Beatrice was at recess talking with two of her friends. She was telling them about the birthday party she was going to have. Her father finally agreed that she could have her party when he and Chloe were taking her to school, not that she ever doubted he'd give in, but she was really excited about it.
Suddenly, Beatrice looked up and saw a man across the playground. He looked old and had dark skin. She immediately smiled as she recognized him. "I'll be right back."
After leaving her friends, Beatrice ran to the man. "Grandpa!"
"Hello, my dear," the man said as bent down and picked her up.
Beatrice hugged her grandfather tightly before pulling out of his arms a little. "I missed you. How come you're at my school though? You usually come at night."
"I know, but I decided not to interrupt your sleep. I know you have a birthday coming up and I wanted to make sure I saw you," God said before setting her down on the ground.
Beatrice grinned. "I get to have a party with my friends this year!"
"That's wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful time," God said.
Beatrice glanced around at the playground. She was worried the teacher would see her with her grandpa. Grownups didn't like it when kids talked to people they didn't recognize. That's why they taught them not to talk to strangers. Her grandpa wasn't a stranger to Beatrice, but he was to the other grownups.
"Don't worry, child. They won't pay either of us any mind while I'm here. Now, I wanted to bring you a gift, but I don't want you hiding anything else from your father, so you'll have to wait a little while for it," God told her.
"Does that mean that you and Daddy are gonna make up?" Beatrice asked hopefully. That would be really great. She didn't like having to hide her grandpa's visits from her daddy, but she knew her daddy would be really mad if she told him.
"I hope so, and I've told you that you do not have to hide my visits from your father," God said, reading the child's mind a bit.
"I know, but he'd be mad," she said.
"At me, not you," God assured her.
"Daddy doesn't think you like him," Beatrice said.
"He's wrong. I hope to be able to tell him that soon, but he's not quite ready yet," God said. His son was not prepared to hear from him yet. Even if he told him that he loved him, Samael would not believe him. It would only make him more angry. They were getting closer to the point where they could meet again and clear the air, but it just wasn't time yet. "I hear you and your daddy have a new friend now."
Beatrice perked right up. "Chloe! Daddy works with her. I like her a lot! Daddy does to. He likes her the way boys and girls sometimes like each other. I think Chloe likes him like that too. I hope so. If she does, maybe she can be my mommy one day."
God chuckled a bit. "Well, I can tell you that Chloe will always be a part of your life, and that she will always love you."
"Yay!"
"Beatrice, I want you to know that no matter how complicated adult things may get, your father and Chloe both love you very much. It may not seem so at times, but everything will work out," God promised.
"Okay," Beatrice said with a little bit of confusion in her voice. She didn't know what her grandpa meant by that, but he sometimes said things she didn't understand. A lot of adults did.
"Alright, I have to go now. I think it's almost time for you to go back to class," God said.
"You'll come back soon, right?" Beatrice asked.
"As soon as I can," he told her.
Beatrice hugged him. "Bye, Grandpa."
"Goodbye, child," he said as he hugged her back and then watched her run back to her friends. Yes, things would be trying for his son and grandchild once the truth was revealed, but he had no doubt that it would work out for them.
