Linda enjoyed the music and she enjoyed watching her friends on the dance floor. They'd asked her to join them, but she didn't feel like getting all sweaty at the moment. It had been too long since she'd put herself together and gone out; she was just going to savor her moment of looking really good.

She glanced at Amenadiel, sitting next to her and also watching the dancers. They had been a couple, once. A couple long enough to have a baby together. But what were they now? Friends? Friends who no longer had sex? Is there even a word for that?

He caught her looking at him and smiled back at her. He was going to start a new career soon, as a police officer. She thought it very likely that the LAPD had never had an angel as a police officer before. Amenadiel's career was going to be … interesting … for sure. She hoped he could adjust.

Her companion's smile faded a bit. "We've got to tell my brother about our visitor earlier tonight. And what she told us about Michael, and Chloe, as well. He needs to know."

Linda nodded. "Yes, he does. But I'll let you handle it, if you will, Amenadiel. I'm just not up for an impromptu therapy session at the moment."

"Very well," he said. He got up and said something to his brother, then they both ambled over to a vacant table and sat down. Linda was not looking forward to seeing Lucifer's reaction to Rae-Rae's gossip. While they were talking, she walked back to the bar and got a refill. She had a feeling she was going to need more alcohol, very soon.

She went back to her table and was joined by Ella. They talked about Ella's dinner date with Jerry. Things seemed to be moving quickly for them! Linda found she was rooting for the couple.

Lucifer came over to check on them, and Ella excused herself to get a drink. Lucifer didn't waste any time. "I heard you had a visitor tonight," he said.

Linda nodded. "Your sister, Azrael, came by. I assume Amenadiel told you about her message."

"Yes, he did. And I must say, I don't think much of Rae-Rae's plan. Somehow, Chloe and I getting married—a human ceremony—is going to keep her safe from my siblings?" He scoffed. "I don't think so."

Amenadiel came over to join them. The three of them huddled together while everybody else was dancing. Linda was confident nobody could overhear them.

"Lucy, that's what she said," Amenadiel told his brother. "Now, we don't know if her plan will work, but we also don't know what Michael told the others, either. I think we have to trust her, brother."

"But her plan makes no sense, bro," Lucifer replied. "It's not that I don't want to get married—it's just that I don't want to be pushed into it by Michael." He had a thought. "How do we know that this isn't all a part of his plan? He knows that I would be afraid for Chloe's safety. So perhaps he started a rumor designed to play into that fear. That would be just like him, wouldn't it?"

Linda thought about it. To know Michael was to dislike him. She tried to separate her feelings from the situation and look at everything as objectively as possible. She had to admit, Lucifer was making some good points.

Amenadiel wasn't buying Lucifer's arguments, though. "You're saying that Michael manipulated Rae-Rae into pushing you to get married. But that makes as little sense as anything, Lucy! Why would Michael want you two married? What would he gain? No, the way I see it is that it's much more reasonable to think that you getting married thwarts Michael's plan—somehow. Though I confess I cannot see how."

"Exactly. None of this makes sense." Lucifer stood up from his seat. "I decline to pursue either path tonight." He looked at his brother and said distinctly, "I will not be manipulated anymore! Are we clear about that, bro?"

Linda tried to help out. "Lucifer, it's not Amenadiel who may be trying to manipulate you. If you think about it—"

"Not tonight, Doctor. Please." Lucifer looked over at his fiancée, dancing to Madonna and striking poses with the others. "This is her night. This is our night. Can't we just enjoy one night—together—without celestial drama?"

Linda sighed. "Of course we can, Lucifer. You both deserve tonight." She tried to smile. "And we are so proud of you! Think how far you've come—how far both of you have come—in just a few short years!"

Lucifer nodded. "Indeed. And I believe you played a role in that evolution. I don't know if I will ever be able to thank you sufficiently for that." He looked at Amenadiel. "You too, bro. I don't want to argue with you any more tonight. Not tonight. Instead, I'd rather thank you for having my back for these past few years."

Amenadiel sighed. "Very well, brother. We'll table this discussion—for now. I don't want to argue any more, either." He paused. "And you've had my back, as well." He stuck out his hand. "Brothers forever, huh?"

Lucifer grabbed Amenadiel's hand and used it as a lever to pull him out of his chair, then hugged him. "Brothers forever, brother."

Linda felt herself starting to tear up. She felt wonderful to see the two brothers acknowledging their bond with each other. There was so much love in the room tonight …

At that moment the DJ put on "Crash Into Me" and Lucifer pulled away from his brother to yell, "What are you doing? No Dave Mathews Band!" Then he bolted to the stage and abruptly turned off the music. The DJ tried to apologize, but Lucifer just held up his hand. He said something to the DJ and grabbed the microphone.

"Everybody sit down," he said. "I have something to say."

The dancers slowly left the dance floor and went back to their tables. Chloe sat with her mother and daughter, breathing heavily from her exertions. She wiped her face with a napkin. Linda reckoned that Chloe's makeup was far beyond any repair attempts by this point.

The DJ started a new song. It was "Iris," by The Goo Goo Dolls. Linda remembered that the song had been written for that movie with Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage, the one where Cage played an angel who fell in love with a human. How appropriate!

Lucifer walked over to Chloe and began to sing to her. The lyrics, already poignant if you knew the story of what happened to the couple, became even more so when Linda realized that Lucifer was a real angel and he was singing to the human he'd fallen in love with.

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

Linda started to tear up again, just a little bit, thinking about how Lucifer had been banished from Heaven, until he'd risked everything to rescue Chloe. Chloe had said that Lucifer died, but that somehow "he'd gotten better." And Chloe had died, too! But here they both were, both alive and deeply in love, and declaring tonight their intentions to take care of each other for the rest of their lives.

The song obviously affected Chloe, as well. She started to cry and kept crying for the entire song. After it was over, she wiped the tears away with a napkin and smiled at Lucifer. She got up. Linda thought she was going to hug Lucifer, and he seemed to think so as well—but she took the mic from his hand and walked past him to the DJ. She whispered something to him. He nodded and set up another song. Linda wondered what it was going to be.

Linda didn't really know the song that Chloe chose to sing, but the lyrics seem to be just as appropriate as the ones Lucifer had sung to Chloe.

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less

Linda watched Lucifer as Chloe sang to him. Clearly, the words touched him deeply. He struggled to keep the tears inside. When the song was over, he came up to the stage and hugged her.

Lucifer took the mic from Chloe and began to speak. Linda felt as if he were speaking directly to her and Amenadiel.

"… some people feel as if that public commitment is … insufficient. They want more. Some people want us to set a wedding date tonight." Linda watched as Lucifer spoke to Chloe, and heard them both agree that tonight was too soon to set a firm date for the wedding. So that is going to be that, Linda thought.

Linda didn't know whether a public engagement was going to be sufficient for Rae-Rae's purposes, but she certainly hoped so. Linda watched the newly engaged couple walk over to Penelope and Trixie, and exchange some words.

It looked as if Penelope and Trixie were going to call it a night. But Trixie looked to be in some trouble—was she drunk? Linda could hardly believe it. All she'd seen was Trixie take a few sips from a partially filled champagne flute. Those few sips shouldn't have been enough to get anybody intoxicated, even a 13-year-old who wasn't used to alcohol.

Chloe and Lucifer were exchanging some words about Trixie's condition. Linda couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could well imagine that Chloe wasn't happy at the moment. She watched Lucifer's face carefully, to see whether he'd accept the criticism or get defensive. She was happy to see that he looked thoughtful, and then nodded, accepting responsibility for whatever had happened to Trixie. How he had grown in the past few years!

Linda watched as he took something small from his pocket and held it briefly against Trixie's check. There was a flash of light, and then Trixie stood up straight, perfectly sober.

Amenadiel leaned over and whispered into her ear. "He used one of his feathers, Linda. He used the divine to heal her." He paused. "A couple of years ago, that would have offended me greatly. Using the divine to cure intoxication? I would have been angered as such a trivial use of his healing gift. But now? Now I see he did it out of concern, out of love. He healed Trixie so that Chloe wouldn't be worried anymore." Amenadiel nodded. "He loves them both so much!"

Penelope and Trixie came over to say goodnight. Everybody hugged everybody else. Amenadiel gave Trixie a peck on the forehead. "Welcome to the family, little one," he said. She gave him a big smile in return.

After they'd left, Linda looked around. Maze and Eve were at one table, drinking and flirting with each other. She and Amenadiel were at another table. Chloe and Lucifer were dancing with each other to "A Kiss from a Rose." Their eyes were closed and they were swaying slowly.

And there was Ella, standing by herself, looking at Chloe and Lucifer with a strange expression on her face, one that Linda couldn't easily decode.

Linda waved at Ella. "Come over here, Ella. Come sit with us."

Ella hesitated, then she got another drink from the bartender. She came over with her drink and sat down. Ella took a deep breath and then a healthy gulp. She was nervous about something!

"What's bothering you, Ella?" Linda asked. "Did Lucifer say something to upset you?"

Ella said, "No. Not really." She paused. "It's just that, you know, I was kinda hoping they'd set a date tonight."

Amenadiel and Linda looked at each other. They knew what was behind Ella's angst, but she didn't know that they knew. Linda didn't know what to say or even how much to say to Ella. Linda wondered what Chloe had told Ella at Lux the other night—and remembered that she'd slept through whatever conversation they may have had. She vowed to get Chloe to brief her, as soon as possible.

Linda looked around again. Maze, Eve, Amenadiel, Chloe, Lucifer, and her. Everybody in on the knowledge of the celestials, except for one young lady who was probably better positioned than any of them—because of her faith—to accept the knowledge. How ironic was that?

Maze and Eve wandered over and sat down. Now there were five at the table, four insiders and one outsider. Linda sent thoughts to Chloe: come over here and tell me what I can say! Tell me how much Ella knows! But Chloe appeared oblivious to her silent plea, swaying gently in Lucifer's arms, eyes closed.

Linda decided it was up to her. She was going to have to take a stand, right or wrong. She felt it was too unfair to Ella to keep her in the dark, the sole innocent in a group of people who knew the truth.

She started gently. "Ella, we know about Rae-Rae."

Ella's mouth dropped open in shock. "Did … did Chloe tell you? Because I thought that was a private conversation. I mean … I know you're a therapist and all. Believe me—I've seen a lot of therapists about Rae-Rae! But I'm okay with it now, honestly…"

Linda said, "No, Chloe didn't tell us."

"Then how-?"

Linda looked at the other three. She said, "Maze, you first. Tell Ella how you know Rae-Rae."

"Sure. I mean, I don't call her 'Rae-Rae.' I'm not family. But I've known her for a very, very long time. Eons."

Ella just shook her head. She didn't have any words right now.

Linda said, "Now you, Eve."

Eve said, "I've known her for a very long time as well. Not my entire life, but most of it. I'd see her from time to time when she was bringing—" Linda shook her head. Too much information. Eve continued, "Anyway, I've seen her off and on for a really long time. She's so interesting, you know!"

Ella looked at Eve. She needed to test, to see confirmation, before she accepted that Rae-Rae was real to others. "Can you describe her?"

"Sure! Petite, dark-haired, dark-skinned but not black like Amenadiel here. Quiet, calm, introverted. Not what you'd expect for ... somebody in her position." Ella nodded. That was close enough.

Linda said, "I first met Rae-Rae tonight, when she came to visit Amenadiel and me." Linda nodded toward Chloe and Lucifer, who were still dancing. "She wanted us to push them to set a wedding date."

Maze jumped in. "Oh, interesting! Did she say why?"

"Later, Maze. Let's hold off on the why for a while, okay?" Maze nodded.

Amenadiel said, "I've known Rae-Rae for my entire life." He paused and looked at Linda, who nodded. "In fact, she's my younger sister. She's Lucifer's and my younger sister."

Ella's mouth opened again, but no words came out. Linda handed her a drink, which she emptied without looking at the contents.

Finally, Ella whispered, "But she doesn't have any feathers."

Amenadiel nodded. "You don't think she has wings because she never showed them to you."

"She … has wings? Wings with feathers?"

"Yes. As I do. As Lucifer does."

"Dang! I knew it!"

It was everybody else's turn to be surprised. Ella had known about celestials? How?

At this point the song ended. Lucifer and Chloe pulled up chairs and the others made room for them at the table.

Linda said to the newcomers, "Ella was just about to tell us how she figured out that Rae-Rae, you, and Amenadiel all have wings with feathers."

Chloe's eyebrows shot to the top of her head, and Lucifer's eyes widened. He looked at Chloe and she shook her head. She hadn't said anything. He looked at the others, who also shook their heads. If Ella had learned about celestials, she hadn't learned about it hadn't been from any of them.

Finally, Lucifer said, "Oh really? Do tell, Ms. Lopez. I'm quite sure this story will be fascinating."

"Well, it started with The Feather. I know I told you I wouldn't analyze it, but I couldn't help myself!"

Lucifer sighed.

Amenadiel looked at Lucifer and asked, "Feather?"

"Remiel's feather, bro. We asked Ms. Lopez to look at the dust on the feather. She agreed to limit her examination to that dust." He sighed again. "Apparently that agreement was … voided … after we left the Department."

"Remiel?" Ella asked.

"Another of our siblings," Amenadiel replied. "Unfortunately deceased."

"Ahh, siblings. Brothers, sisters. I get it. That's what you call yourselves."

Lucifer said, "We call ourselves that because that's exactly what we—" Linda saw Chloe put her hand on his arm to stop him. He looked at her and she shook her head. Let her tell her story, she mouthed. He nodded. "As you were saying?"

Ella continued. "So I analyzed The Feather and, of course, I knew it couldn't have come from any bird here on Earth."

Linda prompted her. "So you concluded that—"

"Aliens, folks! Extraterrestrials! I mean, I know I'm a Trekker, but I never expected to encounter actual aliens living on Earth!" She punched Lucifer in the arm. "You're an alien, man! So tell me what planet you're from and how you got here."

Maze burst out laughing. She couldn't help herself. Maze laughed so hard she actually fell out of her chair. Eve tried to keep a straight face, but she quickly failed and joined Maze; she put her head back and laughed loudly. At least she didn't fall out of her chair, Linda thought.

The other four succeeded better than Maze and Eve did, to greater or lesser extents. Lucifer and Amenadiel hid their reactions by taking deep gulps from their drinks. Linda and Chloe used their professional training to mask their reactions. They held on—but barely.

Ella looked around. She seemed shocked at the reactions.

Linda looked at Chloe. "So when I fell asleep the other night at Lux, this was what you talked about?"

Chloe shook her head. "No. I explained to Ella that I could answer most of her questions, but doing so might end up harming her faith. I asked her to think about whether she wanted to take the risk. And that's where we left it." She paused and struggled to keep a straight face. "There was no talk about space aliens that I recall."

Ella continued to look confused.

Lucifer looked over at the DJ and the bartender. If they were going to discuss "family matters," then the fewer strangers, the better. He called out, "I think we're done with the music tonight. You can add a 20 percent gratuity to the bill. It would have been 25 percent, but I deducted five percent for the Dave Mathews Band debacle. Next time, may I suggest use of better judgment in song selection."

Then he looked over at the bartender, "You are excused as well. Leave the alcohol, though. We'll serve ourselves for the rest of the night. Tell Auguste I said to add a 25 percent gratuity to the bar bill for you. Is that acceptable?"

The bartender said, "Sir, thank you very much. But I'm not allowed to leave the alcohol here unattended. I have to account for it."

Lucifer just waved his hand. "Assume we drank it all. Put the entire contents on my bill and add 25 percent for yourself." He looked at the bartender. "Unless you wish to continue arguing?"

The bartender shook his head. "No sir. Thank you, sir." And he took off. The DJ wasn't far behind him, carrying his equipment out in heavy suitcases.

He turned back to Ella. "Now, Ms. Lopez. About your theory—"

Chloe stopped Lucifer once again. She said, "Ella, this is the decision point. This is where you choose to eat the apple or to live in The Garden, happily but in ignorance."

Ella frowned. "But I was so sure I had it figured out!"

Linda said, "You're a smart woman, Ella. You put the pieces together and solved the puzzle. The only problem was, you solved the wrong puzzle because you didn't really understand the pieces."

Ella looked at her. "You know the truth?"

Linda nodded. "For a couple of years now. It freaked me out at first, I have to admit. But I've come to accept it."

Ella looked at Chloe. "How long have you known?"

Chloe answered. "I think that, somehow, I've always known. But I had … evidence … thrust in my face about two years ago. Just after Marcus … was killed. I've known with certainty since then."

"And you never said anything to me…"

"It wasn't my secret to share, Ella. And as we discussed at Lux, I'm not sure you're going to like knowing the truth." She paused. "Remember when I took off for Europe with Trixie? That was me trying to process the truth."

Eve spoke suddenly. "The man you called Marcus Pierce wasn't a good man. I feel bad about that. I should have raised him better than I did."

Ella looked at her. "Pierce was your … what? Son?"

Eve nodded. "I wasn't a good mother, I know that now. In fairness, they didn't really have any books to help raise children back then. No Dr. Spock. No 'What to Expect When You're Expecting.' We didn't have any idea how to raise children and, unfortunately, he didn't turn out as well as we would have liked."

Ella was puzzled again. "You… you. You are … Pierce's mother? But you don't look old enough to be his sister, let alone his mother. I don't understand."

Eve just looked back at Ella and said, "Listen to Chloe, Ella. Make a decision. Make it now."

Linda felt that maybe they were pushing Ella too hard. She said, "Ella, think about what you've already learned tonight. You've learned that Rae-Rae is real, and that she's not some imaginary figure or a ghost. You're not crazy! That's quite a lot for one night. You don't really need to go any further—at least not tonight."

Lucifer frowned. "But we still don't know the why. We don't know why Rae-Rae thinks that this is the best way to stop … him."

Linda continued to look at Ella, waiting for a decision. Ella still looked confused. Linda sighed slightly. In therapy, this was typically the point at which a patient tried to avoid an epiphany, either by deflecting or going into denial. Ella didn't seem to be reaching for either of those distractions, but neither did she indicate that she wanted to move forward.

Ella needed more time.

Linda spoke to the others. "Friends and family, we need to give Ella time and space to process this, to make her decision. Pressuring her to make a decision tonight isn't going to help anybody. May I suggest we talk about other things until Ella is ready to engage?"

They all nodded. Ella breathed a sigh of relief.

Linda looked at Chloe. "I know tonight has been a special night for you, but I wanted to discuss a more mundane topic, if you have time."

"Sure. What is it?" Chloe replied.

"I had a visit today from an LAPD Homicide Detective—Dutton. It was about the murder of a young woman. Turns out one of my ex-patients is the prime suspect."

Chloe's eyes widened. She looked over at Ella, who was looking around her, more than a little dazed and trying to drink out of an empty glass. "You okay, Ella?" she asked gently.

"Okay? No. I mean, hell no—I'm not okay. My head is spinning and I don't think it's the alcohol I've been drinking tonight."

Linda said to Ella, "Take your time. Take all the time you need. In fact, maybe it's best if you go home and rest right now."

Linda saw Ella look at her phone. It was 11:30. She recalled that Ella has said she had an after-party date. Linda wondered if she was still up to a date, after the shocks of tonight.

Ella said to them both, "I can leave now and be at Lux in 45 minutes. I kinda promised Jerry I'd stop by tonight." She paused. "Or I can be at home in 30 minutes, and lay in my bed trying to make sense of tonight. I'll probably lie awake all night, because tonight has been 100 percent loco." Then she looked at each of them in turn. "Or I can sit here some more, and have another drink—which I think I really need—and we can discuss the Jacobsen case. I can discuss an active investigation with two people who I shouldn't be discussing it with. And I can forget about people with wings and feathers, and big ol' mysteries that might challenge my faith."

Linda asked, "So which is it?"

Ella smiled at them. "I'm surprised you have to ask." She raised her voice, "What does a forensic scientist have to do to get a drink around here, anyway?"