Linda entered Lux through the front door, and carefully walked down the steps onto the main floor. Designed to remind people of descending to Hell, she thought. She wondered if Lucifer had made that design choice intentionally. Knowing how he felt about his time in Hell, she doubted that was the case. Still, he'd designed Lux in his early days, before he'd started to change.

Before he started to care.

The bartender on duty was polishing glasses and prepping for the night's party. Every night was a party at Lux, but right now the nightclub was dead. Just the bartender and Linda. He nodded at her.

"Hello," she said. "I'm Doctor Martin."

He was more than a little cute, and she noticed his eyes widen a bit when she said her name. He'd obviously been told about her, by somebody. "Yes, ma'am," he said. Then he reached under the bar and picked up a phone—a landline, of all things—and dialed a number. "She's here, ma'am. … Yes, petite blonde with glasses. … Yes, right away, boss."

He put the phone away and said, "Ms. Decker said she'll be down in just a few minutes. I'm supposed to get your drink order and let you know that there's a table in the corner—over there—that's been reserved for you."

"I see. Thank you. And your name is-?"

"Jerry. Just Jerry, ma'am."

Linda smiled at him. He was cute! "Okay, 'Just Jerry," I think I'll start with a Tequila Smash, if you don't mind. With a glass of water on the side, please." He smiled back at her and got busy mixing her drink. "Oh, and please don't go overboard on the tequila. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."

He nodded at that, but didn't say anything more. Soon she had her drinks and she wandered over to the table. She sat there, sipped her Smash, and waited for Chloe to arrive. The wait was almost exactly as long as Chloe had predicted; within five minutes the elevator doors to the penthouse opened and Chloe walked down the stairs.

She was wearing a beautiful, and obviously expensive, outfit. Nothing like she had worn when she'd been a detective. Her hair was down and it had been professionally styled. Linda looked down at Chloe's feet. Yes, those were Manolos.

The greeted each other with a hug. It had been so long!

"You look … amazing, Chloe," Linda said. And she did! It wasn't just the outfit. Her eyes were sparkling and she had a smile on her face. She looked ten years younger than she had when Linda had last seen her.

"Thanks," came the reply. "You, too."

Linda couldn't let that pass unchallenged. If they were going to be honest with each other then it needed to start now. "Oh, really? C'mon, Chloe. I know how I look right now. I look like a frazzled mother of an infant boy, a mom who's not getting enough sleep while trying to juggle work and motherhood."

Chloe nodded. "Okay. Well, yes. You do look tired. And I know that look, from seeing it in the mirror. I went through that phase myself with Trixie. Having an infant is so hard! But trust me, Linda, things do get better." She put her hand on Linda's hand, offering reassurance.

Linda smiled back. "That's better. We're friends, Chloe. So we can be honest with each other."

Chloe nodded and signaled for Jerry to come over. He apparently knew what she wanted, because he brought her a drink without taking an order. She took the drink and said, "Thanks, Jerry."

"No problem, boss."

Linda didn't know whether to be surprised or amused at that. "Boss?" she said. "Isn't Lucifer the boss around here?"

Chloe laughed. It was great to hear her laugh, because she almost never did. "Another of the many changes in my life! With Maze gone and Lucifer distracted by … everything … and me not having a job, I started to help out around here a bit. It turns out there's a lot to running a nightclub, from logistics and personnel issues, to making sure the doorman knows who to let in immediately and who to make wait in the line."

"But … 'boss'?"

"Lucifer made it official a couple of weeks ago. Meet Chloe Decker, former LAPD Homicide Detective and now co-owner of Lux."

"Wow! I did not see that coming."

"To be honest, neither did I. I'm not sure what I thought was going to happen after … everything, but I didn't think I'd wind up running Lux."

"Well, here's to you, Chloe!" Linda saluted her with a deep sip of her drink. Linda noticed that Chloe only took a small sip from hers.

"What's the matter, Chloe? The drink not what you wanted?"

"No, it's not that," Chloe said. "It's just that … well, tonight is going to be a tough one. And I want to have a clear head when Ella starts asking me questions about my future, about our future—Lucifer and me."

Linda nodded and pushed her drink away. "Yes, you mentioned Ella in your voice mail. What are your concerns?"

Chloe sighed. "Where to start?" Her smile was gone and Linda thought she looked a bit haunted by her concerns—which might be better termed anxieties. "How about where are we going to live after Lucifer ascends or whatever he's going to do? Do I get a palace in the Silver City, or do I get a condo in Malibu? Do I ascend with him, or do I stay here and take care of Lux, while I clean the house and make dinner and look after Trixie, all while waiting for him to decide to make an appearance?"

"Ahh," Linda replied. "I hear you on that. I have some of the same issues right now—though certainly not on your scale, I admit. All I seem to do is take care of Charlie, and that life—homemaker to a party of one—seems a bit dreary right now."

"Yeah." Chloe closed her eyes. "And Lucifer won't discuss it. You know how he is!" She did her Lucifer imitation. "Don't worry about it, m'dear. Everything's sorted. Now let's have sex."

Linda laughed. She certainly knew that Lucifer could be … persistent … when it came to sex. "Are you saying that your sex life is one of your concerns?"

Chloe smiled. Linda knew that smile very well, as she'd had the same one when she was having sex with Lucifer. But that was, what? Four years ago? It seemed like forever. Not that she'd ever forget. She was taking those memories to her grave.

"No, that's not an issue," Chloe said. "Our sex life is just fine. Amazing, actually. But you know how he is: always deflecting the hard conversations."

"I most certainly do."

"So that leaves me hanging. I try to have faith in him, and us. I really do! But it's getting harder and harder. We've been stuck in this same place for months, and I don't know what to think."

Linda saw an opening. "Well, let's start at the beginning. Lucifer and Michael. Competing to see who would replace God. Tell me about that."

Chloe tilted her head to the side, puzzled. "Didn't Amenadiel tell you?"

Linda rolled her eyes. "Amenadiel, tell me? Right." She paused for a second. "You know, when he went off that day, to wherever he went, I didn't know if he'd be coming back. Ever. I didn't know if Charlie was going to grow up without a dad."

"That must have been … hard for you."

"Oh, it was. And in the back of my mind, I was thinking that the whole human race was at stake in the conflict. I thought it was 50/50 that Michael wins and waves his hand, or whatever, and we all just … disappear."

Chloe tried to smile. "I think 50/50 was a bit optimistic, myself. Me? I thought we were all going to die."

"But you didn't! You won."

Chloe took another sip from her drink. "Actually, I did die," she said, like it was no big deal.

"What?"

Chloe nodded. "Yep. Michael killed me. But—as Lucifer would say—I got better."

Linda was having trouble processing what she was hearing. "You … died?"

"Yes, I did."

"And … And then what happened?"

"I went to Heaven. Lucifer's sister, Azrael, the Angel of Death, came for me and took me to the Silver City."

Linda was awestruck. "So you've seen it? You've seen Heaven?"

Chloe nodded. "I had a picnic lunch there with my father. Sitting on the grassy shore of a beautiful lake." She had a wistful smile now, thinking about a precious experience that was now just a memory.

"Wow!"

"And then Lucifer … he came for me. Somehow." Chloe looked at Linda. "You know how he was banished from Heaven?" Linda nodded. "Well, he came for me anyway. I still don't know how he did it. And then he gave me this ring, told me he loved me and then he … he died."

"Uhh … Lucifer died? I don't understand."

Chloe shrugged. "Nobody does. I came back from Heaven, right back into my body. Which was entirely healed. Lucifer died because he broke God's banishment and then he … come back too. Both of us, dead and then back again." She paused. "And nobody—nobody—understands how those two miracles happened."

Linda emptied her drink in one gulp, and then caught Jerry's eye. He nodded and began to make the next one. "Well, I'm beginning to see why Amenadiel didn't know how to discuss this with me. So many questions!"

Chloe nodded. "Exactly! So many questions, not enough answers. And Linda … it's driving me a little bit nuts." She paused. "All these open questions. Just when I thought we'd won and everything was settled, it turns out nothing was. I'm stuck in limbo waiting for something to happen. And it's killing me a little." She dropped her eyes, embarrassed at her confession.

Linda smiled at her friend and patted her arm. "Well, nuts I know how to deal with." She reached for her Smash, but the glass was empty. She remembered she had a water as well. She'd better drink the water or she would be smashed before Ella even arrived.

Chloe tried to smile back. "Good to hear. But it's not me we have to worry about tonight. It's Ella. What in the name of all that's holy are we going to tell her?"

"Oh, 'the name of all that's holy.' That's funny, coming from you."

Chloe shook her head. "Linda, I'm serious. I don't want to lie to Ella, but I don't think she can handle the truth. What do I do?"

The conversation paused as Jerry dropped off Linda's second Tequila Smash and took away the empty glass. "More water?" he asked.

"Yes, please, Jerry." He smiled and went back to the bar.

Chloe looked at Linda, who was looking at Jerry's backside as he returned to the bar. "Nice, huh?"

Linda nodded and sighed. "Yes. But too young for me, I'm afraid. I don't want to be a cradle robber."

Chloe laughed at that. "What does that make Lucifer, then? He's older than us all!"

Linda laughed as well. It was good to have a friend to hang out with, even if her friend was sleeping with The Devil … or was he God now?

"Okay," Linda said. "Let's talk about what to tell Ella."

As if they had been waiting for their cues, Maze and Eve sat down at the table.

"Hey there!" Maze said. "Long time no see!"

Linda smiled at her friend. Sure the timing sucked, but it always felt good to see Maze—especially when she was in an good place. When Maze was not in a good place … well, Maze wasn't known for having a long fuse. People usually got hurt when Maze was not in a good place.

Linda looked a bit closer and noticed some cuts on Maze's face. She looked over, and saw that Eve had a black eye. She was about to comment on their appearance when Chloe spoke.

"Maze … and Eve! What brings you both to Lux?"

Maze raised Eve's hand in a victory gesture and smiled proudly. "Bounties, bitches! Three bounties this week! Me and my partner, we're here for a little celebrating!"

"If that's okay with you, Chloe," Eve said. "We don't want to … interrupt anything."

Chloe shook her head. "No, it's fine. You're both always welcome at Lux. Especially after … what we did together."

Eve smiled. Maze whooped. "Victory was ours! We kicked some angel ass that day!" Maze was so loud that Jerry looked up from his chores behind the bar.

Chloe smiled and nodded. "We sure did. All of us, together. As a team."

Linda wasn't following. She looked at Chloe and said, "Maze was there? And Eve?"

Chloe, Maze, and Eve all nodded. Maze said, "You know it! Hashtag Team Lucifer! Kicking ass and taking names!" She pointed at Chloe. "This one took out two angels, all by herself. And she would have killed Michael, too, if Lucifer hadn't stopped her."

"Wow," Linda said. "I had no idea."

"You mean Amenadiel didn't tell you?"

"No, Maze. Amenadiel has been remarkably uncommunicative about the events of that day." Linda looked at Chloe. "And I understand those events were quite remarkable."

Maze and Eve nodded together. Eve said, "You have no idea. I mean, I was in Heaven for 10,000 years, and I never saw, or even heard of, anything like that. It was amazing!"

Maze said, "Well, screw memories. Right now, we have some bounties to celebrate!" She called over to Jerry. "Hey buddy, how about some shots over here?"

Jerry looked at Chloe, who nodded. "Drinks on the house, Jerry," she said. "Maze and Eve here, they drink for free. Tonight and always."

Maze didn't miss the exchange. "So Decker … what's the deal with you now?"

Chloe shrugged. "Well, you know. Lucifer is kind of a big picture guy. Not really into the details … so, he kind of delegated it to me."

"Delegated what?"

"Lux. I kind of … run it now. For him."

"Wow! I never knew you had it in you." Maze thought for a second. "I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. Of course you had it in you … after you had him in you!" She punched Chloe in the shoulder, the one where she'd been shot years ago. It hurt. "Am I right or am I right?"

"Uh, yeah. So … I kind of run the place now."

"Cool! Tell me, though, what about the supply chain? How you managing that?"

"The supply chain? Well, the alcohol distributor—"

"No. Not that supply chain. The supply chain for the illegal drugs. You know, molly, coke, that kind of stuff. Not to mention pot and hash. How you doing with that side of the biz?"

Chloe cleared her throat. Truthfully, it had taken a little while for her to get used to Lux's laissez faire attitude toward what the nightclub's patrons put into their bodies. "Well, it's not my favorite part of the job, but it is a part of the job. So I got over my … hang-ups. We have some strict rules, of course. No roofies, for one."

Maze nodded at that. "Smart. Don't want the place getting the wrong kind of rep. But tell me, does Lucifer still do all the quality control testing himself?"

Chloe laughed. "Of course he does. As if he'd ever give that perk up …"

Maze laughed, too. "Right. Not him."

Linda and Eve smiled as well, but they weren't really part of the conversation. Maze and Chloe shared a lot of the same experiences now: Running Lux and dealing with Lucifer. And speaking of Lucifer …

Eve put her hand on Chloe's arm. "Tell me. Are you two still … together?" Linda noticed that Maze's eyes narrowed at that question. Obviously, Eve's feelings for Lucifer were a sore point for her.

They were a bit of a sore point for Chloe, as well. She reminded herself how much she liked Eve, and how Eve had sheltered Trixie when gunmen had invaded Lucifer's penthouse. Those thoughts helped. "Yes. We're still together. Eve, we love each other very much. I know how much—"

Eve held up her hand to interrupt Chloe. "I'm happy for you both. I really am, you know. Me and Luce? It was never going to work out, no matter how much I tried. The devil I loved was the one he was a thousand years ago … before he met you. That wasn't him anymore. The man … devil … angel … he is now isn't the man I loved. I won't pretend I don't have feelings for him, because I do. But those feelings are … in the past, you might say."

She paused and looked at Maze. "Besides, I have somebody new in my life, and I have feelings for her. We are a team, both at work and … after hours."

Maze, who had been frowning throughout Eve's conversation with Chloe, suddenly smiled. "Damn straight. We're a team, a kick-ass bounty hunting team! And when we're not bounty-hunting, I'm showing her parts of the human nervous system that Lucifer doesn't even know exist."

Eve smiled at that. Linda noticed it was the same smile that Chloe had, when she'd mentioned her sex life with Lucifer. Everybody was getting laid, it seemed, except for her. Time to bring the conversation back to what was important.

"Chloe, we were just talking about Ella. Maybe Eve and Maze have some ideas."

"Ideas about what?" Maze and Eve said together.

Chloe sighed. "She's on her way over. With a bunch of questions about Lucifer and me and our plans for the future. And she has no clue about anything celestial. Nothing. What in the world can I tell her?"

The four of them sat silently, contemplating their drinks and what they might tell Ella.

Then Ella arrived.