After finishing his latest bottle of beer, Julian sat still and tried to get his bearings. Then he stood up quite suddenly, his head spinning from all that he had drunk. He didn't feel well, and part of him knew that the best thing to do would be to go to bed until he felt better, but he knew his grandmother had to be coming soon. Not that she didn't know he drank, but still…she'd never seen it this bad, and he didn't want it to start now.

He leaned down to pick up the bottles, scattered around the porch, his eyes catching a pair of leather platform sandals and a flower skirt. He slowly stood up, and his gaze met the eyes of Eleanor Mikealson!

"Eleanor!" He breathed as he froze.

"Hi…hello, Julian!" She gave him a small smile and rubbed her hands together.

"Why…why are you here? I don't understand…" Julian trailed off, dragging his fingers through his dark, curly hair. "Why have you come to see me?"

She reached out and put a hand on his arm, her eyes roaming over the many empty bottles on the porch. "I see I've been interrupting a party for one," she remarked, and bit her lip.

"Why does it matter to you?" Julian spat. "It's not your concern." He raised his chin and narrowed his eyes at her. "Now, what is it that you want, Mrs. Mikaelson? I'm not in the best mood, so you better make it quick!" Then he secretly enjoyed himself as he saw her go pale.

Damn that Klaus Mikaelson! He thought to himself. What right did he have to interfere in his personal life? Granted he knew that he'd asked for it from the hybrid, but that didn't mean it was necessary to call Eleanor to rush over here and take care of him like he was some fragile, crying baby that needed to be minded, especially since she'd thrown him out of her life like trash! It was humiliating to be made to feel like he needed her because he couldn't run his own life!

"I…I wanted…I wanted to…" she tried to explain, but she was so upset she couldn't get much more out as her lip trembled and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Regardless of whatever lie you're going to tell me, I don't want or need you, so just go away and leave me alone!" He kept his eyes on the bottles as he picked them up off the porch.

"You…you really shouldn't drink that much," Ellie told Julian, doing her best to help him pick up the bottles. Since their presence was her fault, it was the least she could do.

He snorted. "Oh, that's priceless," he told her. "Look who cares now? And so quick to point out just how vulnerable I am as a human. Have you…have you found some vampire frat boy who can drink an entire case of beer and think nothing of it?" He chuckled.

"Well, I have no idea why you would think being able to drink a lot would be something I would find attractive," Ellie said. "Cause I don't. Look, I know you're mad at me for what I did, but…" she trailed off, trying to think of what to say next that would help her case.

"Oh, I'm not mad, Mrs. Mikaelson," Julian spat, shaking his head. "I am pissed as hell that the woman I cared for, and who I thought cared for me, could treat me like you did. The woman you are now…I don't care for her at all!"

"And I never thought that the man I believed loved me could be so cruel!" Ellie spat, biting her lip hard so she would think about the pain and not how much she wanted to cry. "Do you think this is easy? Do you think I'm not suffering?" She put a hand on her heart. "Because I am. How I'm feeling now, I've never felt worse in my life." She stomped her foot. "That's why I'm here to see you."

"Oh, I thought was because our neighbor and your distant relative. Klaus Mikaelson, called you to tattle about how I was…was…Oh, I don't even want to guess what he said to you made me sound so pathetic that you felt you had to run over here and coddle me!" He spat angrily.

"That's true, he did admit that you were in bad shape," Ellie agreed. "And to tell me that you deserve more. And I agree with him."

"You do?" Julian asked, keeping his eyes on hers to see if she was pulling his leg.

"Yes," Ellie nodded, smiling shyly and rubbing her hands again. It was a habit of hers. "I don't know what else to say besides the fact that I am so sorry. Believe me, Julian! Believe me that if I could be with you, I would. You've made me happier than anyone has in my whole life!"

"Then why won't you let me help you with whatever is wrong?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Because there's nothing you can really do to help!" Ellie explained. "If you could help me, truly help me, I wouldn't hesitate to let you, but it's no use!" She looked at him sadly, then reached out to take his hand.

Julian took a deep breath and shut his eyes. "I hate to say this, but…I would battle demons or anything else causing trouble for you, Eleanor!"a

She smiled as a few more tears ran down her cheeks and she wiped them away. "You're a sweet man," she said. "But I can't allow that to happen. Not to someone like you. You don't know what you're asking for!"

"Someone like me?" Julian repeated. "A weak, vulnerable human like me? Is that what you mean? Well, it's not your decision to make about what I do or don't do, woman!" He narrowed his eyes at her.

"No," she shut her eyes. "It's not, is it? And that's…that's why I'm so scared!"

"You don't have to be scared," he assured her, sounding braver than he felt. "Whomever or whatever is threatening you, we can face it together." He pulled her to himself and held her tight. "Come on. You know you like what we have as much as I do. Don't let it disappear like it never happened!"

She sobbed and then slowly reached up to stroke his bearded cheek. "Oh, Julian! I won't forget what we had. I'll carry you with me always and I'll never forget you!"

And she wasn't lying, she thought to herself, resisting the urge to touch her belly so he wouldn't ask questions or figure out his child was in there. Having his child around would keep him with her for eternity!


Klaus approached the front windows of the hacienda and pulled the curtains open so he could gaze into his neighbor's driveway, only to see Eleanor and Julian talking on the front porch. He smiled slyly, proud that he was able to give the human man some closure, and possibly a little bit of relief. The separation would be hard for both him and Eleanor, but it was a necessary evil so they could both move on with their lives.

Or maybe…a miracle would happen, and Eleanor would come to her senses before kicking Lucifer to the curb so she could have a life of her own. It was weird that she was insisting on staying with Lucifer, but Klaus bet all his money that the devil had blackmailed Eleanor in some way. There couldn't be any other explanation!

"What are you doing?" Klaus started as he heard Angelica's loud voice, then quickly took a breath and closed the curtains before turning to face her, his hands buried in the front pockets of his jeans.

"Nothing," he said evasively. "Did you enjoy your bath, pumpkin?"

She didn't look like someone who was enjoying anything. Standing straight with both hands in fists at her sides, with a flowing white blouse and jean shorts with flip flops. "My bath was fine," she snapped. "And don't call me 'pumpkin' in that tone!" She got closer to him. "Why did you close the curtains so fast when you heard my voice? What are you hiding?"

He cleared his throat. "Nothing. I was just hiding, um…my shameful job of lawn mowing! Plus, the sun. It feels nicer in here when the curtains are pulled."

Angelica wasn't fooled, crossing her arms in front of her chest, her chin raised as she glared at him. "You told me before that the windows are tinted so that the sun couldn't get in!"

"I told you that?" Klaus put his hand to his chest in mock surprise. "I don't remember that." He squeezed her cheek, and she nearly bit his hand. "You know," he drawled, "you really are the sweetest thing! Calling them the windows of our home! I'm so pleased to know that you remember that!"

Angelica then pulled the curtains open, placing both of her palms on the glass as she peered out, eyes quickly widening at the sight of her mother and Julian Johnson making fools of themselves out in the open. "What…what's my mother doing on M-m-Mrs. Johnson's porch?" She got out at last.

He knew she was nervous. "Angie, love, I know you're worried, but please, just let them be. They aren't doing anything scandalous. Just talking."

She pulled herself away from the windows at last and bit her nails, pacing back and forth in front of the windows. "What is she doing here? Do you think…he threw her out like he did me?"

"Oh, please," Klaus chuckled a little. "I doubt it. He's very dependent on both of you. He needs you with him in order to feel like a person. He'll figure it out in time when it comes to you, I have no doubt…as for your mother…after what your grandfather promised, I doubt your father would just let her go, no matter how mad he is. But why do you care, Angel? Why are you punishing yourself like this?" He shook his head, dumbfounded.

"Cause all this is hard for me," Angelica told him with a sob. "I just wanted to spread my wings a little, but then it's like gravity took over, and instead of flying, now all I have to look forward to is going splat on the pavement!"

Klaus took her in his arms and kissed her hair. "I know it's hard, but your mother has been awfully good to us, wouldn't you say? Giving us the support and space that your father wouldn't? Let her have what romance and love she can. Let her deal with things her own way."

"I…I know that's the right thing to do," Angelica nodded. "But I'm so…its pure torture! All I want is for this bullshit with Julian and my father to end so…so I can have some peace."

"I know," Klaus agreed, still holding her and stroking her hair before he took her face in his hands. She looked utterly tormented and it broke his heart. "I…I don't want there to be any secrets between us, love," he told her. "So, you have to know…I was the one who called your mother and told her to come and see Julian.

"Why did you do that?" She asked, sniffling.

"Because I felt bad for them. For her, for Julian…I mean the poor man was drinking his sadness away. The deck looked like the aftermath of some wild party. It was truly shocking, even for me! I'm not suggesting they get together, but don't you think the least they deserve is to know the truth and have a proper goodbye?"

She gave an adorable pout and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Look, it's my adorable pouty little girl!" Klaus teased with a wink. "I know you're not a fan of the guy but come on. Eleanor didn't judge us. Don't you think we should give her the same kindness and compassion with Julian?"

Angelica shrugged and managed a smile for him, "I suppose you're right. She deserves to be alone with him for a time."

"What? What did you say?" Klaus asked, putting a hand to his ear. "I'm not sure I heard you."

"Oh, you heard me fine," Angie scoffed. "She can have her time with him. I don't care anymore!"

"No, I meant the part about me being right," Klaus clarified. "Repeat it several times a day, please. In bed when you're naked would be preferable." He gave her a wicked grin.

She gave him a push, but it hardly moved him at all. "You're an ass, Klaus Mikaelson! You know that?" She pounded on his chest. "Making that deal to be in your bed was a huge mistake, did you know that?"

"Uh-huh," Klaus smirked and touched her belly. "Says the woman carrying my child."

She tried to kick him, light at her eyes and a grin on her face. But he grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms behind her back, bringing her in contact with his chest. "Yes, my little fury," he murmured. "I like you too." He grabbed her chin and kissed her soundly on the lips.

She moaned his name, closing her eyes tight before he released her, and her arms went up around his neck to return the kiss. Then everything shattered as the sound of a loud sports car broke the silence.

They looked at each other wide-eyed, and then ran to the bay windows, Klaus growling in frustration at the cause of the disruption. "What the fuck is your father doing here?" He asked Angelica as Lucifer got out of his car and shut the door behind him.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be anything good," Angelica replied with a shake of her head as her jaw dropped. "I think he's looking to start trouble and oh, my grandpa, this time I might not be able to sweet talk him enough to stop him!"


"Eleanor!"

The sharp voice was like the crack of a whip over Ellie and Julian's heads. They turned just in time to see Lucifer shut the door to his car and make rapid strides toward them.

"Who the hell are you, man?" Julian demanded rashly, before pausing as memory dawned. "Wait, I saw you at the dance contest! what are you doing here?" He gave Ellie a look. "Do you know this guy, Eleanor?"

Ellie bit her bottom lip, lowered her head shamefully, and said nothing.

"Come now, Eleanor, don't you think your friend deserves to know who I am?" Lucifer asked. "Do you want to tell him or should I?" He raised his chin, eyes shining with confidence.

"No, please don't say a thing, and don't ask me too, either!" Ellie begged as tears filled her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. "Don't say a word and I'll leave with you quietly, all right?"

"What…what's happening?" Julian cried as he looked back and forth between the pair. "Is this the psycho who's threatening your life, Eleanor? If so, tell me now and I swear I'll do a number on his pretty boy face!" He held his fists up and Lucifer burst out laughing.

"How cute," he purred. "I'd love to see you try to do anything to me!"

"I…I appreciate the sentiment, Julian," Ellie assured the human man. "But I think it would be best if I left now. I think you'd regret it if you did something irrational like trying to fight him. But I'm touched, though." But her words had no effect and she had to put a hand on his arm to stop his momentum.

"It's very touching that this human is ready to die for you," Lucifer remarked in a detached voice as he studied Julian with his arms crossed. "Wouldn't you say, dear wife?" He paused, a grin curving his lips. "Something delightfully old-fashioned about it."

Julian went pale. "What…what did he just call you?" he asked Ellie, his unwavering gaze holding her hostage.

"What?" Lucifer put his hand to his chest in a scandalized way. "You never told your lover about me?" Then he brought his hand down and smirked, clicking his tongue. "You never mentioned that you and I have been married for years now and we have quite the brood of children running around the city." He chuckled. "Including Angelica, who just happens to be right next door!"

"Tell me he's lying!" Julian begged through clenched teeth. "Tell me the things this despicable man is saying aren't true! He just wants to cause trouble!"

She shook her head too afraid and ashamed to speak as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Lucifer!" Klaus had had enough and was now marching across his yard to reach the devil, Angelica close on his heels.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded. "You don't belong here! Go back to your own house! Don't think you can cause trouble here!"

"Well, look, it's my daughter the traitor and my future son-in-law the beast!" Lucifer exclaimed with a grimace "Go ahead and ask him, human! Ask him if your lover, Eleanor, is my wife, and Angelica, his girlfriend, is our daughter. He'll have no choice but to tell you the truth, confirming once and for all that the woman you've been sleeping with is nothing but a lying whore!"

"I'm going to kill you!" Julian cried. He knew it was a terrible idea, but he was beyond all caring. He'd been lied to by the woman he loved. Death was looking appealing right now, as was revenge. He began a sprint toward the devil, either wanting to beat him to death or strangle him. He wasn't sure which. But Klaus held him back, so he didn't get to do either.

"Don't!" Klaus hissed in Julian's ear. "Don't give him the satisfaction. You know you wouldn't win this. You'll just get yourself killed!"

"Don't care!" Julian shocked. "Let me go!" Klaus did and the human man pushed him away. "You knew all about this, didn't you? Yet you looked me right in the eyes and lied to me!"

"I'm sorry!" Klaus apologized. "I was just trying to spare you the ugly truth. You seemed so happy that I couldn't destroy it by letting you know what a nightmare you were getting yourself into!"

"Julian, I'm sorry," Ellie told him desperately. "Let me explain. Can we just go somewhere and talk?"

"I have nothing to say to you!" He spat. "Go back to your husband! I won't be your plaything anymore, Eleanor Morningstar!"

A shocked Elie gasped and put her hand in front of her mouth to stop herself from sobbing where Lucifer would witness it.

Angelica set her hands on either side of her waist. "Leave Mother alone and go back home!" she demanded of the devil. "You've had your fun. If you want to bitch to anyone about how wronged you supposedly are, heap it all on me! I was the one who started all this and decided to sneak around instead of being honest about Klaus from the start. If not, get out of my sight. I'm done with you!"

"It's very generous of you to admit that you've become a shameless liar, and that it was wrong of you to abandon your father for some bastard hybrid! But what makes you think that's enough to make me want to listen to you? I'm tired of listening to you! I'm tired of living my life according to the whims of a child!"

"Well, look at that!" Angelica shouted back, oddly proud. "Looks like you've had a breakthrough! I regret nothing that I've done, if I think I could have handled it better. You don't have to listen to me. Do whatever you want! It'll be better for us if neither listen to the other ever again!"

"So, I don't have to leave your mother alone?" Lucifer asked slyly.

"You do!" Angelica nodded. "And I'll make you if you don't!"

"I'd love to see you try!" Lucifer spat. "If you can't mind your own business, then just shut the fuck up, Angelica!" He then gave her a push in an attempt to keep her at a distance, but it was more forceful than she'd anticipated, falling to the ground and just barely escaping what could have been serious injury. She looked up at her father in shock, her lip beginning to tremble against her will as Klaus scooped her up and hid her face from Lucifer's sight until he was sure she was calm. Then he growled at her father.

"Don't you ever lay a hand on her again!" He spat and readied to attack, but Julian stopped him this time.

"Now its my turn to tell you that it's not worth it," he said.

Klaus nodded and just kept a tight hold on Angelica, who was now looking at her father with tears in her eyes.

"I'll leave with you and come back to the mansion," Ellie told her husband in name only. Angelica is right. You've done enough. This ends now."

Grinning, Lucifer stepped back gracefully and waited.

"What?" Ellie asked. "Are we going, or not?"

"Well, don't be rude, Eleanor," he told her. "No farewell kiss for your lover?"

"Everybody leaves right now!" Julian shouted. "I've had enough!"

Just then, at the worst possible moment, a taxi pulled up at the end of the driveway, and Mrs. Johnson got out, bags in hand, looking around in bewilderment. "What are all these people doing here?" She asked Julian. It didn't feel like a welcome home party.

"Grandmother!" Julian exclaimed, wide-eyed. "You…you're back! Don't worry about any of this. It's nothing. You must be tired after your trip. Just go inside and relax, okay?"

"But why? What's the rush?" Mrs. Johnson wanted to know as Ellie caught her eye. "Eleanor is here. And Klaus and Angelica too. So nice to see you both!"

"Hello, Mrs. Johnson," Klaus returned politely before trading a worried look with Angelica. Nothing good would come of this!"

Ellie managed to wipe her tears away, unable to answer the sweet human woman with anything more than a smile before Angelica came to put an arm around her shoulders.

"Well, this is interesting." Lucifer remarked with a grin. "A strange woman is asking how my wife is doing. What business is it of yours?" He asked Mrs. Johnson. "She shouldn't even be talking to the likes of you!"

"Who is this man?" Mrs. Johnson asked Julian after kissing his cheek. Then she looked at Ellie. "This can't be your husband, can it? Because it would break my grandson's heart if it was. Crush it into a million little pieces.

"It doesn't matter," Julian told her, although it did matter very much. "Go inside the house, Grandma." He kissed her forehead. "I'll take care of your suitcase."

"Let me reassure you that I am her husband," Lucifer yelled at Mrs. Johnson. "Tell the nice lady I'm your husband, Eleanor."

"Get away from my grandmother's house!" Julian hissed. "Or I swear I'll make you myself!" He gently nudged his grandmother behind him to protect her, then, perhaps unwisely, put a hand on Lucifer's chest and attempted to make him go away with a good, hard push.

"Don't think you can push me around, human boy!" Lucifer raged as he hardly moved at all. Then he gave Julian a good push back.

"Lucifer, leave him alone!" Ellie shouted. She was starting to feel frightened, despite how ridiculous the fight looked, with grown men pushing each other.

"How dare you lay a hand on my grandson!" Mrs. Johnson cried, even though Julian was unharmed. She then raised a fist and punched the devil on one arm, then the other. And Lucifer was so stunned by her boldness that he didn't immediately fight back. But then he got his wits about him and struck again.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, leave me alone, you old hag!" he cried savagely, grabbing her upper arm in a tight grip and flinging her sideways. Struggling to keep her balance, she stumbled toward the edge of the porch and fell hard, her head hitting a decorative rock among her flowers.

"Grandmother!" Julian cried out in shock as her body went still. He rushed toward her and tried to ignore the blood pooling under her head.

"I swear, Lucifer, if she's dead, I'll have your head on a stick!" He then joined Julian to have a look at the wound.

Angie and Ellie looked on in speechless shock before Angie found the strength to say a few words to her father. "You've truly become a monster. She never did anything to you! Who would hurt a harmless old lady like that?"

"I…I didn't mean to!" Lucifer cried. He was looking ill and scared now as he ran a hand through his dark hair. As mad as he was, he hadn't meant to kill anyone. "It was an accident, I promise you!"

"Grandma?" Julian whispered as he cradled her head. "Please come back to me! Please!"

Klaus finally took stock of the blood all over the rock and checked the old lady's pulse, putting some fingers on her neck vein.

"Angelica," Ellie whispered, pointing at a bright light that formed into Azrael and began to walk toward Mrs. Johnson.

"I'm sorry," Azrael apologized to her niece and tried to continue on her way.

"No!" Angelica cried, even though she knew her aunt was just doing what needed to be done and had no malice toward Mrs. Johnson whatsoever. "You can't take her! It's not her time! It's not fair! You have to fix it!"

"You know I can't," Azrael told her. "Not even for you. You're not the first person to say these things to me, and you won't be the last. Now please, stand aside and let me do my job."

It was polite but the shortness (and seeming coldness) of the reply shocked Angie again and she stepped away, allowing her aunt to continue on and do the inevitable.

Azrael reached the body, holding out her hand to the old lady so her soul could leave her body and go on to better things. "Here," she said. "Let me help you. It's always a shock when it happens like this."

"But what did happen to me?" The old woman asked the angel. "I…I don't remember."

"Of course not," Azrael shook her head. "Because it's not important. What's important is that there are better things ahead for you." She turned toward a light. "You see that? I want you to walk into it with me. You're going home. Or to a better place. Or however you want to think of it."

"But I can't!" Mrs. Johnson protested. "What about my grandson? He's still a boy, and his parents…his father…is so far away!"

"He's going to be fine," Azrael assured her, trying not to sound irritated because this was genuine worry on the old woman's part and not a ploy to avoid the inevitable. She gave her a soft smile.

"Mark my words," Mrs. Johnson continued as her memory began to come back a little. "I'll avenge myself and my grandson one day. Even if I have to do it as a ghost!"

"I don't doubt that for a second," Azrael said and gave her a wink. "Now come with me and I'll show you where you'll be staying after all your avenging."

"Is it nice?" Mrs. Johnson asked as they disappeared into the light. "Can I have a garden there?"

"Oh, yes," Azrael responded. "You can have whatever you want."

"You! I'm gonna kill you!" Julian cried, pushing Klaus aside to go punch Lucifer hard in the face.

"Angelica, go inside with your mother. I'll take care of this!" Klaus ordered.

"What? No!" Angelica shook her head. "We're not gonna run and hide like cowards!"

They then got to witness Julian and Lucifer duking it out, rolling around on the driveway and in the grass, punching, hitting, biting, kicking, doing anything they could to hurt each other. Then, at last, Lucifer pulled a dagger from inside his blazer, a loud cry escaping his lips before plunging the dagger into Julian's abdomen.

"Nooooo!" Ellie cried out in horror, meaning to go and vent her rage and pain on her husband. But Angelica stopped her.

As Lucifer got to his feet, the look of shock he'd worn after killing Mrs. Johnson was gone. He was grinning and chuckling as he watched Julian bleed. "What do you have to say now, human boy?" He asked smugly.

He lost his smile as soon as Klaus' punch hit him hard in the face. He then stumbled and fell onto his back. "The only reason I'm not going to kill you right now is because you're Angelica's father, but given how you've treated her, she might not mind so much now."

Ellie freed herself from Angelica's grip and ran to Julian's side, kneeling beside his wounded body. "Julian, darling, tell me what you want me to do," she sobbed loudly. "I can save you. I can give you my blood. I know I owe you that much if you want it."

"No, don't," Julian shook his head and then spat blood. "I don't…I don't want…it's my time."

"No, no! No, it's not!" Ellie protested, leaning over him.

"I was happy with you, Eleanor," he whispered.

"Don't leave me, please," she clutched his hand tight.

"Please don't change me," he told her. "I want to stay human. Respect that."

Although it was hard, she nodded.

"This is an absolute nightmare!" Angie sobbed to Klaus, who was holding her and kissing her hair, hoping it would give her strength as her father struggled to get up.

"We'll get through this," he reminded her. "We're strong!"

"Well, this was fun!" Lucifer announced at last. "Rid myself of an annoying human lover and an even more annoying old bat! Quite an accomplishment, wouldn't you say, my dear Eleanor?"

Ellie stabbed a finger in his direction. "I'm not your dear anything. You're dead to me!"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm sure," Lucifer rolled his eyes. "For now, I suppose. But once you get over the shock, you'll be back in my bed in no time, since your lover is taking his last breaths."

Klaus turned on his heel to face Lucifer, a grin on his lips. "I don't think so!"

"Klaus?" Angie asked, grabbing his arm. "What are you doing?"

He sped over to Julian's body, sinking his fangs into his own wrist before putting the blood in Julian's mouth as Angelica, Lucifer, and Ellie all watched in shock.


Avery got out of her car and walked up the driveway of her parents' home to join her father, who was sitting on a porch bench and drinking from a bottle of wine in his hands.

"Hi, Daddy," she greeted him with a shy smile before sitting by his side and watching him gulp down more from the bottle.

"You know what's happening with Lucifer now, don't you?" She asked.

"My dear daughter, I wouldn't be me if I didn't," he replied. "But how do you know?"

"Azrael told me," Avery said. "Warned me that Angelica might ask me to use my powers to save the old lady. Given what happened, I don't blame her for wanting to ask, but I think…I think I'll take a break with the dead…at least for now. Can I have some of your wine, please?"

"Oh, please do," Steve nodded. "I don't know if it will help, but…" he trailed off as she grabbed the bottle and took a big swig, wincing at the taste, and giving the bottle back.

"He killed an innocent, harmless old lady, Avery! And if not for Klaus, he would have killed her grandson too! Julian is a good man! I failed my own son as a father, and I failed him as God too!"

"No, don't say that!" Avery shook his head and grabbed her father's hand in hers. Lucifer is unpredictable, Dad. A loose cannon. He's a little boy who's messed up. It's not your fault!" She tried to comfort him, although she wasn't sure how true her words were. "He's like this because Eleanor found happiness he couldn't. It has nothing to do with you."

"I beg to differ, my sweet girl," Steve told his daughter, ready to admit it at last. "I created this whole mess all by myself. I was the one who led your brother to become who he is now. Angelica said as much before, but I didn't want to believe it myself until now." He paused and cleared his throat. "Did Mrs. Johnson reach Heaven?"

"Yes," Avery nodded. "Azrael accompanied her to the gate but told me she wasn't sure how long the old woman would stay. It seems she has some things she needs to set right before she fully embraces the afterlife."

Steve nodded. "Sometimes, they do." He then stared ahead for a little bit before taking another swig of beer.

"Not to possibly make you more upset, but…where's Mom?" Avery asked. Then she grabbed him. "Did you guys have a fight? Is she gone too?"

"Oh, no!" Steve was quick to reassure the woman who was probably the only ally he had left now. "She just said something about going to get her nails done. Don't worry!"

Avery cleared her throat. "Yeah, you're right. Nothing to worry about."

"Understand this," he continued. You can't continue on this path, Avery. Of doing what I did, thinking I could create the perfect soulmate for everyone on Earth. It doesn't work, it's messy, and…I mean, look at your brother. He's a monster now."

"I think we shouldn't give up on him," Avery remarked resolutely. "I truly believe he's redeemable. He just has some lessons to learn first. Some edges to be smoothed out."

"Even so, promise me that you're done with matchmaking," Steve locked eyes with his daughter. "All the couples have been formed now? No more?"

Avery coughed, uncomfortable. Now was not the time to tell him about Selina and Elijah's daughter and John. Or Mackenzie and Dorian. There was no point in kicking her father when he was down. And he definitely wouldn't want to hear her plans for Lucifer's future. The woman who would finally get through to him was not someone her father would approve of. "Of course, I'm done," she lied through her teeth. "I mean, I've had my fun. This was quite a story for me, but next it'll be time for Lucifer to sort himself out." She put her arms around him, smiling as she rested her head on his shoulder.

The End

Next up: Speak Of The Devil: Lucifer's descent into darkness starts affecting everyone in the supernatural world, to the point where even the Council is trying to figure out what to do about it, until help arrives at last in a form that's both new and familiar….