Sorry, it took me so long to upload this. I had to watch 5A first! Those scenes!? That cliffhanger!? Ugh, I'm still reeling from it!

Chapter 4

But ain't nobody love you like I do

"Lucifer?" Chloe echoed on the phone. His mouth was suddenly extremely dry. As he opened his mouth to reply, he could only say, "I... .umm" Slowly, he lowered the phone away from his ear and sighed. He did think she would actually answer the phone, he only wanted to hear her voice and possibly leave a very regretful voicemail.

At this moment, he was torn. One side of him, one very drunk side, was telling him to confess how much he cared for her. However, the other side was telling him to try and say this was just a mistake and to hang up. If he was honest with himself, he knew which side he should listen to. Lucifer's heart was too heavy, too full of regret to think clearly.

Slowly, he placed the phone next to his ear and spoke, "Hello." It was nearing one a.m. and Chloe was shocked she was even asleep right now. She should be up working on her case but her mind was so drained. Her 'date' with Pierce went fine. They went to the restaurant, had a few drinks, and then he took her home. It was all very vanilla, with absolutely no spice. When they arrived at her home, Pierce made a suggestive statement about coming inside to help her go over something regarding their new case. Chloe was able to make up some excuse sighting Trixie having a school event in the morning.

She should feel something with Pierce, but she doesn't. Well, to be exact, she doesn't feel it. Chloe has feelings for Pierce, she cares about him. How deep those feelings are thought is the determining question. Pierce is her superior in the department, and she respects him and his work ethic. They have a fun time enough time together outside of work. He makes her laugh which is a bonus. But Chloe knew why she chose him; why she continued to chose him instead of going after what she really wanted, who she really wanted. He was safe. Pierce wouldn't hurt her. Sure, they had argued before, even almost called the relationship off, but he didn't toy with her emotions. He didn't make her heartache. She felt as if she could trust him. With him, things were easy and simple. She didn't have to worry about him cheating on her, betraying her trust, or running off to Vegas and coming back married to an exotic dancer. Pierce wasn't going to hurt her and right now, that was all Chloe needed.

She took a long pause and sighed into the phone. "Lucifer, why are you calling?" It was a rhetorical question. Chloe knew exactly why he was calling her. He was drunk and it was very evident in his tone. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear what he had to say but she entertained this phone call for a moment longer.

"Well Detective," he gave out a breathy chuckle and continued, "I was calling to tell you how genuinely sorry I am for my actions." Well, that isn't how he thought this conversation was going to begin. "I fucked up Detective. I made a huge mistake and I –" She cut him off, "Lucifer stop."

It was now his turn to have déjà vu. He could sense the exact same anger she displayed that night. "No, Detective I need to say this. You were right, I can't have it both ways. So I'm making a choice." It was the scotch speaking now, or at least that is what he would blame it on. Honestly, Lucifer knew he needed to say this. He needed to stop being afraid and go after who he wanted. "Chloe, I choose you. I choose us." There was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone. He had to listen closely to make sure she was still there. Lucifer even brought the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen to make sure it was still an active call. She hadn't hung up the phone, she was just silent.

Lucifer attempted to fill the silence, but it was Chloe who beat him to it. "Why now? After all this time Lucifer, why didn't you just tell me then?" He could hear the shakiness in her voice. She sounded uncertain and anxious. Lucifer was still seated on the balcony floor, the second bottle in his hand. He looked up to the sky as if to ask for guidance, but he knew there would be no answer.

He whispered, almost like a plea, "Detective. Please." She knew he was drunk, too drunk to understand what he was saying. Chloe tried not to overthink his words, but she had waited too long to hear them. She had waited years for him to wake up and realize that she was right in front of him. Once more, Lucifer whispered, "Chloe."

Chloe sat up on her bed, the phone still pressed to her ear. She could hear the familiar sound of him taking drinking. It was obvious that he wasn't drinking water. She knew she shouldn't care about how much he was drinking but he was Lucifer after all. If someone wasn't looking after him, he could spiral, and lately, all he had was Maze. 'Well, we all know how healthy that relationship is' Chloe thought. Her mind did pose a great question though, where was Maze? As upset as she was that he was telling her this over the phone, she was more concerned about his well-being. "Lucifer, is Maze there?"

Releasing the bottle from his lips for the second time in a matter of minutes he answered, "Ah, well Mazikeen is somewhere around here I suppose. Probably found a cute bartender or go-go dancer, or both and is off having her own version of fun." He sighed again but then his face went into a smile. He thought about how he should be out having fun but here he sat professing his love to the Detective over the phone. Why was he even doing this? What would declaring his love for her do now, what would it accomplish?

It was her turn to sigh now, her head fell into her hands and the phone dropped on her soft gray comforter. Somehow her mind was filled with these racing what-ifs and a need to make sure that Lucifer was okay. She knew it wasn't her business anymore to be checking on him but damn, she still cared about the man. Tomorrow morning was going to be full of regret but at this moment she couldn't bring herself to care about what tomorrow Chloe had to say. "Lucifer. I – I'm on my way." She hung up the phone quickly to avoid Lucifer's protest on her statement.

She placed her phone on the nightstand. As she gently pulled back the soft gray comforter Chloe thought about what she was doing. Was the possible hurt she was about to endure worth it? Surely, Maze would finish her activities and he wouldn't be alone in the big penthouse. But this was Lucifer and she was Chloe; they were partners above all else. There was this need in her to make sure that no matter where their relationship stood, he was okay.

Silently, she went to her closet and picked a simplistic outfit. She couldn't show up to his house in her pajamas, no matter how much he probably wanted her to. Chloe would never hear the end of it from him. He would constantly be razing her about how she basically showed up in her 'knickers'. She shook her head silently. Her face grew into a sly smile as she thought about how much of a simpler time that would be.

She changed quickly into her blue jeans and a plain red sweater. After placing the sweater on she took the time to run her fingers over the soft fabric. The cotton felt welcoming and inviting, it felt like armor. Silly to think of clothes as armor, she knew but she couldn't help it. Red was the color of love and passion. After what Lucifer said on the phone that was all she could think about, his love. Did he love her? Is that why she was going to him? To hear his declaration. No, she looked down at the floor, she was going to his place to check on him, to make sure he didn't drink himself into a hole.

Chloe tried to reassure herself of her reason for checking on him, as she walked down the stairs. Thankfully, Trixie wasn't home tonight, or else she probably wouldn't be going. Yes, she lied and told Pierce that she had a school event with Trixie in the morning. She only lied because it was too early in their relationship for her to be thinking about that moment with him. To be honest, she wanted to but something, or rather someone was holding her back. Pierce was attractive and Chloe was attracted to him, but there was something missing. She couldn't take that next step with him. So, she didn't feel the least bit sorry or awkward about not inviting him in. Plus, he didn't act too strange by the denial, so Chloe thought little to nothing of it.

She locked the house and walked to her vehicle. Once she got inside, she sighed and let the car fill with silence. If she was having cold feet about her actions, she didn't show it because she started her car and began to back out. Chloe was never one to rush to see a guy but tonight she was. Concerned for his safety and health, she was being less cautious than normal. She was still a cop, after all, she wasn't going to deliberately break any traffic laws but if she forgot to pay attention and went a little over the speed limit, oh well. She let her thoughts run freely for the rest of her drive. She thought about how much their relationship had changed over the past couple of years. They went from just being a detective and consultant to friends, then finally full-on partners. She could count on him, or so she thought.

Dwelling back on their last conversation, she could hear his voice echoing in her ear when she asked him who deserved her. "Someone, someone better." How cliché of an answer. She scoffed at her reflection in the mirror. The audacity of Lucifer to say something like that, as if Chloe thought he didn't deserve her. It was clear though, through his tone, he didn't believe that he was someone she deserved. Chloe was coming over to change his mind, right, or rather to confirm his suspicions?

She didn't have time to ponder that last question because her car came to a stop right outside of LUX. It was a Friday night and just nearing around two a.m. so there was still a decent line outside. The valet from earlier recognized Chloe and offered to park her car in the underground parking garage. She obliged and handed him the keys. She walked past the line of party-goers waiting to get inside LUX and fill their darkest desires. Once she reached the door, the bouncer just simply gave her a nod and let her in. Chloe used to come to LUX almost every day to either pick up Lucifer or just to fix him or Maze. She hadn't been here in so long she was shocked the bouncer let her in without any fight.

The place was booming as usual. Loud bass-filled her ears and dancing girls was all she could see. Man, this place really was all about desire, Lucifer's specialty. Chloe's eyes scanned the bar area and she didn't see Maze behind it. She began to get worried for Lucifer even more because he really didn't have anyone with him. Maze's whereabouts were the least of Chloe's concerns. Sure it was a little odd, but certainly not out of the ordinary. Plus, more than anyone Maze could take care of herself.

Chloe gathered herself and walked up the stairs to the elevator. She stepped through the doors and pressed the button for the penthouse. It was only a matter of seconds until she reached the top floor. The elevator doors slowly opened. Carefully, she walked past the doors and into the seemingly empty penthouse. She thought about calling out for him, but her eyes saw the open balcony door and she knew instantly where he was. Her heart carried her body to him.

Lucifer was in the same position as before. His body leaned against the glass balcony, head slumped into his chest, right hand clutched around the bottle, and his left hand still had the phone in it. She felt responsible for how he looked. Lucifer's face showed defeat and hopelessness. She walked a little closer towards him and he raised his head. Their eyes met for a moment and she could see the formation of tears.

He cleared his throat, "Detective, what are you doing here?"