Lucifer woke up to the sounds of loud wailing. That was how he'd woken up every day for almost a month now. Charlie seemed to enjoy crying. It was all he seemed to do on most days. Lucifer couldn't remember the last time he'd slept more than a couple of hours at once since he'd brought the child home.
Lucifer lifted up his head and looked at the clock by his bed, groaning when he saw the time. It was just after six in the morning, and he'd been up with Charlie less than two hours earlier, and again just a couple hours before that. That was how every night seemed to work, and days weren't that better. His days and nights seemed to revolve around an infant. How had his life turned out like this? Well, he supposed it happened with Linda's unfortunate passing and his brother's decision to become even worse of a father than they had.
Lucifer got up as Charlie continued to wail. He made into the nursery and went to the crib. "Yes, yes, I'm here," he said as he picked the crying baby up and started to rock him. He'd learned that certain movements seemed to calm the child at times. He'd also gotten somewhat better at figuring out what the baby wanted when he wailed, and when he couldn't figure it out, he would run down the list of possibilities until he got the right one. Of course, there were times when that didn't work. Sometimes he just couldn't figure out what was making Charlie cry. The detective told him that sometimes babies just cried for no logical reason. It had nearly driven Lucifer crazy when she told him that.
Charlie calmed a little when Lucifer rocked him, but he continued to fuss.
"Are you ever going to allow me a proper night's sleep, child?"
Charlie's only response was to continue to fuss.
"I suppose that's a no," Lucifer said before hearing the ding of the elevator. "Who the bloody hell would willingly be up at this time?"
Lucifer carried Charlie out to the living room just in time to see the detective enter. "Detective, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home asleep?"
"Actually, this is when I'd usually be getting up, but I have to be at the station early today, and I wanted to check on you guys before I went in," Chloe said before she approached him. She spent a lot of time with Lucifer and Charlie. For the first week, she was there whenever she wasn't working, helping Lucifer adjust to taking care of an infant. She was there a little less now, but she tried to go over at least twice a week to help out or bring him things. "Do you guys need anything. I can go to the store if you want when I get off if you need supplies."
"No. I've told you that you needn't keep doing that. I can hire someone to pick some things up when I need it. I do appreciate it though." Lucifer said.
"I don't mind, Lucifer. It's probably easier for me to do it than to send someone who might come back with the wrong things. Of course, you'll have to go eventually too, but I know how hard it is to lug a newborn around by yourself," Chloe said.
Charlie began to cry louder.
"I have to get him a bottle. Would you mind holding him for a few minutes, Detective? Or do you need to leave now?" Lucifer asked.
"No, I have a few minutes," Chloe said before holding her arms out for Charlie.
Lucifer immediately handed the baby over and headed for the kitchen.
"Hey, sweetheart," Chloe cooed to the baby as she followed Lucifer into the kitchen. "Where's Eve."
"I don't know. Probably asleep in Maze's old room," Lucifer said.
"You guys aren't sleeping in the same room?" Chloe asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"No. The baby monitor bothers her," Lucifer said as he gathered a bottle and some formula. Eve often complained about Charlie's crying, as it woke her up too. He suggested she sleep in the next room. She didn't seem happy with the idea, but she apparently liked it better than being woken up as much.
Chloe sighed. It seemed Eve had not warmed up to having Charlie around in the slightest. She knew Eve didn't like that Lucifer decided to take Charlie, but she hoped the woman would get over herself. Then again, this was the woman who had basically said her children were burdens to her.
Charlie started fussing more, apparently growing impatient for his bottle.
Chloe bounced Charlie and made gentle shushing sounds. "It's okay, Charlie. Daddy's working on it."
Lucifer dropped the baby bottle the second he heard what the detective said. "D…Daddy?"
"Oh, sorry. I figured that's what you'd want him to call you now that you're taking care of him. You want him to call you 'Uncle Lucifer' instead?" Chloe asked. There was nothing wrong with that, of course. She supposed she just assumed since Lucifer had taken legal custody that he'd want to be addressed at Charlie's father. That was what he is."
"He must," Lucifer before picking the bottle up off the ground and quickly cleaned it. "He can't call me 'Daddy'. I'm not his father. I won't lie to him."
"You wouldn't be lying. You are this child's father," Chloe said firmly.
"Detective, I believe you must be as sleep deprived as I am. Amenadiel is Charlie's father," Lucifer said as he prepared the bottle. He then began heating it up.
"No. He lost the right to call himself that. Amenadiel may have given Charlie life, but you are the one who cares for him. You are his father, just as any adoptive father is. Hell, you're as much this baby's father as I am Trixie's mother. DNA is not everything," Chloe said.
"But it's not a technical truth. If I say I'm his father, he'll think I mean with DNA. Not telling him differently is lying," Lucifer said. He couldn't lie. He didn't lie to anyone. He would not start with the child in his care.
"You can tell him the technical truth when he's old enough to hear it. A lot of kids are raised knowing they are adopted, but they still know their adoptive parents are their parents. Charlie can know that too. It's up to you though. This is your child. You decide how he's raised," Chloe said.
Once the bottle was done, and he checked the temperature, Lucifer walked over and took Charlie from the detective. He immediately began feeding him. "I'm not sure what to do."
"You'll figure it out. You have some time. He's still very young," Chloe said as she watched Lucifer feed Charlie. "Hey, have you seen Maze. I haven't spoken to her since the hospital right after Charlie was born."
Lucifer shook his head. "She probably threw herself into her bounty hunting. Linda was very important to Mazikeen. She is grieving in the only way she knows, by punishing those who deserve it."
"Yeah. I'm just worried about her. The last time I saw her, she was talking about going back to Hell," she said.
"If she asks, I will have to oblige her," Lucifer said. He wouldn't refuse again. If Maze was unhappy here, he would have to let her go, even though he didn't want to. Maze had lost a lot when Linda died. She deserved to find some happiness.
"I know, but I hope she doesn't. She still has friends here. Anyway, I have to go. Hey, how about I come by later and give you a break? You can get a few hours of sleep. I'll watch Charlie for you," Chloe said.
"I appreciate that, Detective, but you shouldn't have to keep doing this. Charlie is my responsibility," Lucifer asked. He wouldn't pawn the boy off on others, like his brother had.
"Lucifer, you have to accept help at some point. You won't be able to do it all by yourself. No one can. Every parent has to accept that at some point. I want to help, and you need it. I can see the circles under your eyes. You're doing great, but you need a break," she said.
Lucifer reluctantly nodded. He was too tired to argue, which meant he really did need to sleep for a few hours. "Very well, Detective. Thank you."
"Of course. I'll be by tonight. See you later, Charlie," Chloe said before heading out of the room.
