Chapter Two

"Darling, where is Daniel?"

Chloe breathed through a painful contraction then laid her head back against the pillow. "He's with Jessica. Apparently, both our girls decided they were going to be born on the same day."

Penelope wiped Chloe's sweat covered brow and shook her head. "I don't know why you took him back, Chloe."

"For better or worse, I still love him, Mom."

"Honey, how can you ever trust Daniel again?"

"I don't know, but I'll find a way."

"Okay, Pumpkin," Penelope said, squeezing Chloe's hand as another contraction hit.

There was a knock on the door before her doctor entered the room with several nurses in tow. "All right, let's bring this baby girl into the world shall we."

~~~~~~~~

God, everything hurts. Why did everything hurt? Oh yeah, that's right. She was just in a car accident. Chloe glanced over at her best friend. She was covered in blood. Chloe closed her eyes and sat back in her seat. What happened? Where were they coming from? Think Chloe. The police are going to need clear details.

Okay, they were heading home from a weekend trip to San Francisco. It was a celebration of graduating high school. Erica had been her best friend since her mom got cast in the same movie as her own mom. She couldn't remember which movie, but that wasn't important. What was important was that they were in trouble and needed help. She needed to assess the situation then call for help.

Why had they crashed? It was because of a deer. A deer had jumped into the road and Erica had swerved to miss hitting it. She hit the guard rail, but instead of it keeping the car on the road they plowed right through it. They got tossed around like rag dolls but remained in their seats because of their seat belts. The last thing she remembered before being knocked unconscious was the car slamming into a tree which stopped their descent toward the edge of the cliff face and also kept them from falling into the ocean below.

She wiped her head and her fingers came away red. That would explain why her head felt like it was about to explode. Chloe shifted in her seat then bit back a scream of agony. Her legs were pinned under the crushed dashboard.

"Yeah, now would be a good time for a little bit of help," she said, looking up at the ceiling of the car. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind, Chloe felt a gust of wind blow her tangled hair into her face.

"Dearie me, this car is a mess. Don't worry Urchin, I'll have you out of there in a moment."

Chloe glanced over her shoulder spotting the flash of his white wings and his suit. "No, I'm fine. Check on Erica first."

"You most certainly are not fine, Urchin. This car is on the edge of a cliff. Had you not crashed into this tree, I'm afraid you'd both be dead."

"Are you sure Erica's dead? Please make sure," Chloe begged.

"Urchin, I'm sorry, but your friend is gone. Her soul is no longer in her body. My guess is she's in the Silver City right now. I would have known if she'd entered my domain before I heard your call for help."

"Your domain…you mean Hell?"

"Yes, of course I mean Hell. I'm the Devil, remember."

Chloe turned her head hearing him come to her side of the car. "But you're also an angel. You're my guardian angel."

"I haven't been an angel since my fall from the Silver City. No, I'm your guardian Devil, Urchin. Now, close your eyes. I don't want any bits of broken metal getting into those blue eyes of yours."

Chloe did as she was told and closed her eyes. She jumped hearing the door beside her get ripped off of its hinges. The cool night air brushed against her skin sending shivers down her spine. She couldn't hold in her scream moments later when the crushed dashboard was ripped away from her legs. Chloe took several deep breaths as she fought to stay conscious. She never saw her guardian Devil ten years ago, and she was determined she'd see him this time.

"I have you, Urchin. You're safe now."

The seat belt holding her in place fell away from her broken body. A pair of strong arms lifted her from the car. Her eyes snapped open hearing the tree holding the car in place crack from the weight being exerted on it. She opened her mouth in warning only to find they were no longer on the cliff face. She watched the car descend a short distance before it careened over the cliff. Chloe took small comfort in knowing Erica felt no more pain.

"I will relieve you of your burden, Lucifer. It's time for you to return to Hell."

Chloe frowned looking up from the sinking car to the second angel floating beside them. "Where did you come from? I didn't see you when you arrived."

"I came to answer your call for help," the second angel said, looking at her.

"You arrived a tad too late, Brother. If she'd been waiting for you to arrive, Azrael would be taking her soul to the Silver City right now."

Chole glanced up at her guardian Devil and frowned. With the brightness of the moon and the fact they were floating in the sky, she should be able to see what he and the second angel looked like. So, why were they both still covered in shadows? "Why can't I see either of you?"

"You have a concussion, Urchin," her guardian Devil said, then lifted his gaze toward his brother.

"I arrived when I was meant to arrive, Lucifer. You know how Father is with his Mysterious Ways. Hand her over to me and return to Hell."

"Oh, not this again," Chloe grumboled. "I told you when I was eight I wanted him to take me home. You wouldn't let him. I'm eighteen, and I want my guardian Devil to take me home. Actually, I think I need a hospital first," she said, laying her head against the Devil's chest.

"And as I told you before, I can't let you go with him. You will understand one day. I promise."

~~~~~~~~

"Here she is Chloe," the doctor said, laying her baby girl on her chest. "Would you look at that head full of dark brown hair."

"Just like her father," Chloe said, lowering her gown just enough to give the newborn skin to skin contact.

"Who isn't here," Penelope grumbled under her breath.

Chloe glared over at her mother giving her the famous Decker frown. Her mom wasn't wrong, but she assumed Dan was Aurora or Rory's father. No, Dan wasn't her father, but he would be her daddy. She dropped her gaze and planted a soft kiss on her daughter's head. She sent a silent prayer to her guardian Devil thanking him for all the times he'd saved her life. He was the reason she was holding this small bundle of joy securely against her chest.

"All right, let's get this little girl cleaned and settled before we get her back to you," the doctor said, gently lifting up the baby and wrapping her in a clean blanket.

"Okay," Chloe said, watching her doctor and nurses leave the room with Rory. She glanced at her purse hearing her phone ring. That's odd. She could've sworn she turned the device off. "Mom, could you hand me my phone please."

"Chloe, you just gave birth. You need to be resting."

"Mom, it could be Dan."

"All right," Penelope said, pulling the ringing phone from Chloe's purse.

Chloe looked at the caller ID before she answered the call. "Hey, Dan, how's Jessica doing?"

"I don't know. They just rushed her out of the room. All I heard was something about an emergency C-Section. How are you doing?"

"Dan, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope everything is okay with them both. I'm fine. The baby's with the doctor and nurses. Are you in the OR waiting room?"

"Yeah, I'm just three floors below you. I'm so scared, Chloe."

"I know you are, Dan. But you just have to have faith that everything is going to work out."

"I thought you didn't believe in all that Bible stuff."

"I don't persay, but I do know it's all real."

"What do you mean? How can you not believe the Bible, but know it's all real?"

"I just do. If I tried to explain it, you'd think I was crazy," Chloe said. She bit her lip hearing the code blue through her phone speaker.

"Chloe, I got to go," Dan said, ending the call.

"Honey, is everything all right?"

Chloe looked up at her mom's concerned face and slowly shook her head. "No, Mom, I don't think it is. Something's wrong with Jessica and the baby."

"Oh, dear Lord," Penelope said, lifting her hand to her mouth.

Chloe laid her head back against the bed and shut her eyes. Guardian Devil, you've watched over me over the years. Now, it's Jessica and her baby's turn. Please don't allow Azrael to take them away. Chloe lifted her head hearing her phone ring again. Please let it be good news.

"Dan, how are they?"

"The baby is fine…but Jess…Chloe, Jess didn't make it."

"Dan, I'm so sorry. Does she have any family?"

"No, her parents died when she was really young, and her grandparents who raised her passed away a year ago. God, what am I going to do, Chlo? Jess's life insurance is going to Trixie, but that'll only last a short amount of time. Jess and I made an agreement. I was only going to pay a small amount of child support for Trixie. Jess was fine with it since she made more than both of us combined, and we had our own little mouth to feed. But now…"

"Dan, take a breath. We're going to be fine. We'll take the life insurance money and place it in a trust for Trixie. I have some money left over from my short acting career. It's not much, but we'll make it work. It just means I'll need to cut back on work until the girls are old enough to be put into daycare."

"No, this is too much. I can't do this."

"What are you talking about, Dan?"

"This Chloe, I can't do this. I'm not cut out to be a single father."

"Dan, you aren't a single father."

"I will be once you leave me. It's what everyone's saying at the station. They're saying you're a fool for staying with me."

"Let them talk, Dan. Did you hurt me…yes. Was I royally pissed off…yes. Did I want to divorce you that very second…yes. But as crazy as it sounds, I stayed because I still love you, Dan. It still upsets me that you sought comfort in the arms of another woman instead of just talking to me. We had other options we could have tried."

"I know, and you're right. I guess I'm just an insecure coward like Malcolm and Paolucci accuse me to be. And I'm so sorry that I hurt you. And I won't blame you if you hate me forever."

"Dan, hate is a very strong word. I get it. You're in shock right now. I'm here for you, okay. You'll feel better once you hold Trixie in your arms." Chloe glanced up hearing a knock then a nurse walked in carrying a screaming newborn that wasn't Rory.

"No, I won't, Chloe. I'm sorry."

"What…Dan…" Chloe pulled the now silent phone away from her ear. What the hell just happened? She glanced up at the nurse who was rocking the screaming baby wrapped in a pink blanket. "What's going on? That's not my baby."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Decker, but according to what Mr. Espinoza just told this little one's doctor she is." The nurse sighed and quickly handed the inconsolable little girl to Chloe. She then turned on her heels and walked out of the room.

"What…okay, it's okay, Trixie." Chloe quickly unwrapped the tiny girl and laid her against her chest. The second she was skin to skin with Chloe she stopped crying. Chloe rubbed small circles on her back and kissed the top of her head. "What just happened, Mom?"

"I think that no good Ex husband of yours just abandoned his daughter."

"What am I going to do, Mom? Even if I eventually become a detective, my salary alone won't be enough to support two children. We'll have to sell the house to pay off the mortgage because I can't afford the payments."

"Sell that God awful house and move into the beach house. It's completely paid off so no rent, and with the alimony and child support you'll be fine."

"Dan won't have to pay child support, Mom. I'm not Trixie's biological mother, and he's not Rory's biological father."

Penelope's mouth dropped open, but she quickly shut it and shook her head. "But he is Trixie's biological father that he's dumping on you. He helped create her, so he's obligated to support her whether you're her biological mother or not."

"The court may not agree with you, Mom."

"We'll see," Penelope said, stepping up to the bed and rubbing her shoulder.

Four days later, Chloe, Trixie, and Rory were discharged from the hospital. Even though Rory was a natural delivery, Chloe asked to stay while Trixie remained under observation. It was time well spent learning how to breastfeed both girls at the same time. It also gave her mom plenty of time to get a divorce attorney for her. She still couldn't believe her marriage was ending so soon, but her mom was right. She couldn't stay married to Dan after the way he abandoned Trixie.

With the help of a moving company, Chloe was soon moved out of her house and into the beach house. She set up the girls nursery, and her mom took time out of her busy schedule to help her with the girls. When her mom was forced to go back to work she researched and hired the best nanny in LA to continue to help her. By the time her twelve weeks of maternity leave were up, Chloe was thrilled to see both girls smiling up at her. She hated leaving them with their nanny all day, but in the long run it would save her money as her mom still paid Mrs. Bergstrom's babysitting bill.

"I feel so bad leaving you all day with the girls, Mrs. Bergstrom."

Mrs. Bergstrom laughed and shook her head. "Don't fret about me being alone with these two angels. We've got a good schedule going now. I don't anticipate any issues. You go to work, and I'll see you when you get home," Mrs. Bergstrom said, practically pushing Chloe out the door.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight then," Chloe said, walking over to her cruiser then she climbed inside.

She arrived at the station thirty minutes later. Parking her car in her designated spot, Chloe sighed spying Dan's car parked as well. She hadn't seen or heard from him since that fateful morning he abandoned Trixie. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves then climbed out of the car. She glanced around as she entered the bullpen, but she relaxed when no one took notice of her presence.

"Hey, Decker, welcome back. You look great, girl."

"Thanks, Malcolm. It's good to be back," Chloe said, forcing a smile.

Malcolm returned the smile then leaned forward slightly. "I heard you're dumping the deadbeat over there, and you're raising his kid. You've got some heart of gold there."

"None of this is Trixie's fault, Malcolm."

"Oh, I know," Malcolm said, nodding his head. "You should see the fox Dan's been seeing on the side. She's hot." Malcolm's smile grew as Dan stepped up beside them.

"You're only saying that because she won't date you." Dan laughed as he clapped his hands on Malcolm's shoulders. "Hey, Chloe, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing good, Dan. So, you're already dating someone after only three months?"

"Come on Chloe, we're getting a divorce. I'm also not contesting it, and I'm giving you full custody of Trixie and Rory."

"I know we are Dan, but the court won't even rule on it until six months after the filing. You're already dating a woman while not…" Chloe closed her eyes and sighed. "Come with me, Daniel. We aren't having this conversation here," Chloe growled, grabbing Dan's arm and pulling him toward an interrogation room.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Chloe?! All you had to do was ask, and I would have gladly followed you," Dan shouted once the interrogation room door shut behind them.

"I could ask you the same question, Daniel! Get that fucking smug grin off of your face! This isn't a booty call! As if I'd ever let you touch me again after what you've just pulled!" Chloe ran a shaking hand over her face and shook her head. "And since when have you and Malcolm been buddy buddies?"

"We've always been friends, Chloe! You know that!"

"No, you haven't, Daniel! So, who's this fox Malcolm was talking about?"

"Don't worry about it, Chloe. It no longer concerns you," Dan spat, venom dripping from each word.

"Oh, but it does concern me, Daniel! Do you even think about Trixie? The little girl you abandoned on the very day she was born! It's been three months and you haven't paid a single dime to support her, but yet you have money to blow on this new fox of yours!"

Dan's face turned fifty different shades of red as he shoved his hand into his pocket. Yanking it back out, he threw a single dime onto the table. "There's your fucking dime of child support, Chloe! Now get off my damn back! My name isn't on either of those girl's birth certificates, so I don't owe you shit!"

"It wasn't for lack of trying, Daniel! You refused to sign the damn document!"

"Thus making her… no, correction, them not my problem!"

"Not your problem…" Chloe clenched her hands into tight fists trying to contain her rage. "You know I will not lie to Trixie when she's older and asks me why she has no dad on her birth certificate! It's going to break her heart when she finds out you abandoned her!"

Dan pointed at the dime and leaned forward slightly. "There's your money, Chloe. Like I said, the rest isn't my problem."

Chloe saw red and before she could think to stop herself, she slapped him hard across the face. "You're a bastard, Daniel Espinoza!"

Dan leaned back rubbing his cheek. "You know I could arrest you for assault now, Chloe. How would that look on your perfect record?"

"I'm not afraid of you, Daniel," Chloe hissed, watching Dan laugh at her as he walked out of the interrogation room. She fell into one of the chairs sitting under the table and dropped her face into her hands. How in the world had she ever fallen in love with that prick?