The following day — a day off from work — left Chloe to rattle around in her apartment on her own. She caught up — actually caught up on laundry and dishes, did another round of groceries and somehow got to late afternoon. She was considering getting out the cleaning supplies when her doorbell rang.

It was Linda, looking a little nervous and fiddling with a bottle of wine. "Hey, Chloe." She cleared her throat and stood up a little straighter. "I heard about what happened. And that Lucifer still isn't back. I figured you could use some moral support." She held up the bottle. "Or at least a drink with friends."

Chloe tried to smile. "Thank you, Linda, but…."

But she hadn't told anything to anyone. Constantine had promised not to blab. And he'd had no cause to go back to Linda — he hadn't known she was anything but a therapist. So… Chloe switched tack mid-sentence. "Who told you?"

"Ah." Linda took deep breath. "That would be why I used 'friends' in the plural." She took a step back and extended her free hand to someone Chloe couldn't see through the door. "I think we could all use a friend right now." As she spoke, Linda turned her head, including both Chloe and the unseen stranger.

Who wasn't so much of a stranger. Linda beckoned another time, and Maze stepped into view. She regarded Chloe evenly. "I still don't do apologies, Decker. But Linda is right. We both need all the friends we can get."

Maze. Her former roommate. Who had been close to Lucifer since… forever. And who Lucifer had called with an offer to take her back to Hell. Well, it explained where Linda heard the story from, all right.

Maze, who was the demon she had always called herself. The demon Lucifer had always claimed she was. Violent, sex-obsessed, and more than a little volatile. Witness the situation that had led to her walking out on their joint lease.

But also a loyal friend, when she felt herself supported. Chloe had had plenty of proof of that, too.

"You don't owe me anything, Maze. Least of all an apology." Chloe opened the door to let the two of them in. She put a hand on Maze's arm when she was on the doorstep. "You do owe Trixie one, though." When Maze nodded hesitantly, Chloe stepped aside. "Thank you, both, for coming."

"How are you holding up?" Linda asked when all three of them were provisioned with a glass of wine and seated. Chloe had taken her favorite spot on the sofa. Linda had taken the other end. Maze lounged in one of the nearby chairs.

"I'm fine, really," Chloe started, but Linda held up a hand.

"As a friend, I'd like to remind you of what you said to me three days ago." She leaned forward so she could take Chloe's hand. "It's OK to be upset sometimes." Linda smiled and looked over to Maze. "I had my proper breakdown together with a friend." She turned back to Chloe, putting on her "therapist" face for a second. "You're not at work anymore, and your friends are here. Now it's your turn to stop being professional."

Linda withdrew her hand. She still sat straight upright on the sofa, feet neatly planted on the floor and her hands in her lap. She might be here as a friend, but the therapist habits were clearly deeply ingrained.

Chloe let herself observe that, and then tried to follow Linda's advice. She had to stop thinking as a police officer, stop analyzing the world for cause and effect. Instead, she needed to have that breakdown and just … feel. But nothing was coming. She let out a sigh. "There's… still so much to process." She sank against the sofa's backrest, resting her neck on the soft cushions. "I can't find a place where I can even start putting it together."

"Heaven and Hell, angels and—" Chloe paused to wave her hand at Maze. "—demons. And whatever was going on with Marcus and Lucifer that I still don't entirely understand. What's it all about?" She swung her arms in a circle to indicate the universe in general.

Maze leaned forward. "You," she said simply. She mimicked Chloe's gesture. "The rest doesn't matter." She shrugged. "Look out for number one."

Linda smiled proudly at Maze. "What I think Maze might be trying to say," she continued. "Is that it doesn't have to be about anything but where you fit into all of this."

"But I'm not alone here," Chloe said. "Even if nothing else—" And there was such a lot of else. "—I've got Trixie to think about."

"Sure," Linda agreed. "But apart from your daughter — most of it is out of your control. So, how do you make that fit into your life? It's not about how your life fits into all of that." She pushed her glasses higher up her nose. "It's quite an important distinction."

Linda turned her head to Maze again. "To me, it was important to realize that, demon, angel, goddess — they are all people. I don't have to treat them any differently than I would treat other people." She took a deep breath. "Uh… unless I want to. Because I want to treat them like … more than that." There was a slight hesitation before Linda spoke her final words, and she glanced over to Maze again. Maze returned Linda's look this time. Linda smiled at Maze and then turned back to Chloe. "In the end, the question is: 'What do…."

Linda didn't get to finish her question. As she spoke, light flared outside. It was bright enough to saturate the entire room. But it wasn't the cold blue light of a lightning flash — instead it was warm, as if the sun had come through the clouds. But that wouldn't have happened from an east-facing window, and not at this time of day.

The flash also didn't last long. Almost before Chloe had time to realize all of that, it was gone again. She jumped to her feet and went to the door. Something was happening outside. Maybe she could still see what had happened.

Lucifer was what had happened. He was crouching on the path to her apartment, as if he'd gone down to cushion his landing. Chloe got to the door just in time to see his wings — still shining even if the glare had faded — disappear behind his back.

Lucifer pushed himself up slowly at first. Then he raised his head and saw her, and he was on his feet before Chloe could blink again. Two long strides and he was right in front of her, looking down at her, eyes wide as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

His hand came up. He reached out until he touched Chloe's cheek so, so softly. She barely felt it. But then he wrapped his arms around her, catching her in a hug that crushed Chloe to Lucifer's chest. He took a deep breath. "You're OK."

"Of course I'm fine, Lucifer," Chloe managed to get out. She pushed a little against his chest, where he'd trapped her arms. It was like pushing a wall. "But I can't move."

"Oh." Lucifer let her go and took a step back. His left hand slid along her right arm as he backed away, and once he reached her hand, kept hold of it. As if he wasn't ready to let her go again. But he didn't say anything else.

He was still wearing the clothes he'd left in. But they looked like they'd been through…. She stifled a laugh. Yes. That was exactly what they'd been through. The suit vest was threadbare and missing its buttons. The shirt had fared better, in that most of the buttons were still there. But it was wrinkled and stained with who-knew-what.

The silence was stretching. Someone should say something. "Welcome back," Chloe managed. She tugged with her right hand. "Come on in."

Lucifer followed her inside. As soon as he came through the door, Linda was on her feet. "Lucifer!" she called out and started moving toward the two of them.

But before she could reach Lucifer, Lucifer had spotted Maze. He steered Chloe aside and put himself between her and Maze. He didn't say anything, but his posture changed. Now his shoulders no longer hung wearily. Instead he made himself look even taller than he already was, ready to throw a punch — or catch one.

Linda stopped halfway to Lucifer and looked from one to the other, confused.

Maze remained seated. She kept her eyes on Lucifer and her hands on the arms of the chair. "I'm here as a friend, Lucifer."

Lucifer kept up the protective stance for a few more heartbeats, but then he relaxed — marginally. "Sorry, Maze. It's been a while." He made his way over to the couch. He picked up one of the glasses of wine and threw it back before sinking into the couch. "I'm not as immune to Hell as I used to be."

Chloe seated herself next to Lucifer and took his hand again. Now she could feel that it was shaking. Maybe he was finally allowing himself to relax a little. "Lucifer, what happened? Where have you been?"

Lucifer had turned his head as soon as she had started to speak. He frowned at her. "Hell." He tilted his head to the side a little. "I believe this was clear from our last conversation?"

Chloe tried to laugh, at least a little. "Yeah, that was clear." She put a hand on his vest and, when Lucifer didn't make a move to stop her, tugged on it to straighten it a little. "But you also said you'd be done in no time. It's been three days. What happened?"

Lucifer looked at her, eyes wide. He didn't speak for several seconds. "Three days?" His eyelids drooped. He let out a breath. "It's been a bit longer than that for me." The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. He was trying to smile. "I had a few things to do."

"How long?" was the immediate question, but Chloe didn't dare ask it. Instead, she went for reassurance. "But it's over now, right?"

Silence. Then, Lucifer looked away. He cleared his throat. A deep breath. Lucifer's eyes went over the other wine glasses on the coffee table, but he didn't move to take one of them. His head dropped. Chloe saw his Adam's apple move as he swallowed.

Only then, finally, did Lucifer start talking again. Chloe had to strain to hear what he said even though she was sitting next to him. "It's not over." His hand moved across his knee, toward hers. Chloe extended her hand and Lucifer took it, entwining their fingers. He took another deep breath. "I'm not done." He still wasn't looking up, but his voice was at least a little stronger.

He made a few more abortive attempts to start another sentence. Chloe wanted to interrupt, but she was afraid she might never get Lucifer to talk like this again. When she glanced over to Linda, she could see the therapist likewise biting her lip to keep silent. Maze was leaning forward, waiting for the next thing to be said.

Finally, Lucifer nodded to himself. "From the beginning, then." He turned to Chloe and squeezed her hand. "I found the demons responsible." He shook his head. "There wasn't just one. They were working together." His eyes widened, conveying the surprise that had engendered.

"I had expected a more powerful demon, one of those near the top of the hierarchy, to be playing games. "Not these—" His other hand came up in a dismissive gesture. "—small fry." Lucifer huffed. Then he sat back a little, frowning. "But they were strong enough, working together. They managed to trap me in a cell a few times."

He fell silent again. His eyes shifted to her, like he was drinking in the sight of her. What had happened there?

Lucifer sighed before he continued. "Demons don't work together like that, not without someone in charge. I dealt with the small fry easily enough when I got out of their trap — but I needed to find the ringleader or this could all happen again."

"Who were they?" Maze asked. "The small fry, I mean."

Lucifer frowned at her. "Some of your very distant cousins. They were young, as demons go."

Maze snorted. "And stupid, if they tried going up against you." She sat back and raised an eyebrow. "Even on your own."

"And bored, as it turns out." Lucifer ignored Maze's jibe. "They were being completely overlooked by the higher echelons. There were no ringleaders. They were just making trouble amongst themselves." His lips pulled down in distaste. "Because almost everyone with any kind of power to speak of was trying to get onto the throne. No time for anything else. Least of all keeping their subordinates busy."

He sat up straighter. "By the time I found this out, most of the lesser demons were assuming I'd come back permanently." His shoulders twitched upward in a little shrug. "It was one way to restore order. Such as it is."

"I thought you didn't want that," Chloe heard herself saying. He didn't, did he? He had been about as clear as Lucifer ever got, those three days ago that seemed like an eternity. He'd left Hell because he'd wanted out. So why let himself get drawn back in?

Lucifer gave a slow nod. "I thought… if I kept order long enough, I might be able to change some things. Things I didn't think I could change before." He turned to Chloe, and there was an upturn to his lips. "All those souls, rushing toward oblivion. They were so happy to get it." He played a little with her fingers. "I found more, who had lost any spark they might once have had. They thanked me as they went, too. After being tortured for so long, I guess oblivion must have felt like a relief."

His eyes went distant. "But there were also plenty who still had hope. Who might still get out. And I still couldn't destroy them." Another sigh. "That's where it gets complicated."

Linda, still listening with rapt attention, made a small sound in her throat, then clamped a hand over her mouth. Chloe decided to cover for her interruption. "Only there?" The story had been plenty complicated before. Lucifer's remark was almost a little funny – if the whole story didn't have the feel of a tragedy around it.

Lucifer looked at her from the corner of his eyes. He must have caught the slight hint of amusement. His chest shook once with a silent, huffed laugh, and he squeezed her hand again. "More complicated then, Detective."

He sat back. "When Amenadiel… faltered, my Father sent two of my siblings to take charge of Hell. They announced, unilaterally, that there would be no more torture. All the occupants would have to start bettering themselves."

"But that's good!" No more torture sounded good to Chloe. She got the impression Lucifer had been heading in that direction himself. If someone else had already had the same idea and was putting it into place then that meant Lucifer wouldn't have to do it. But Linda was frowning and shaking her head. "Right?"

Lucifer's shook his head. "All of Hell rose against them, demons and human souls alike." He snapped his fingers. "My siblings were deposed in an instant. That's what caused the vacuum at the top. The assembled hordes of Hell only had one goal in common." He sank further into the cushions. "People preferred the torture over forced self-improvement."

"That makes sense." Linda apparently couldn't contain herself any longer. "You can't impose a change like that. Your patient has to want it for themselves." She sat up. "And you, of all people, should know that even then, it's not so easy."

"Yes, Doctor, I am well aware." Lucifer sat up straight. "Now, if not before. I have to take a more indirect approach." He leaned forward. "But subtlety takes time. And I'd promised the Detective I'd come back." Now he turned to Chloe. "Here I am." He smiled — or tried to — and put his other hand over hers. "But I can't stay."

"Why do this?" It was the one question that remained in Chloe's mind. Lucifer would be committing himself to exactly the kind of life he'd claimed he wanted to escape. Against his stated wish that he wanted to stay with her.

And very much against what she wanted, damn it.

Lucifer looked away. "Because if I let those people torture themselves — if I let that continue while I know they have a way out — then I would be the monster you refuse to see." He let go of her hand. "That is unacceptable."

Linda had retreated into the depths of the comfortable chair. She was once again keeping silent, but Chloe could feel Linda's eyes on her, waiting for her response. Maze, of course, looked on with apparent disinterest. But she wasn't saying anything, either.

What had Linda been saying, just before Lucifer dropped in? You couldn't control everything. Only how you responded to it. This was Lucifer controlling his response — a response to his own past mistakes. She couldn't blame him for that. But she didn't have to like it, either.

Lucifer moved, putting distance between them on the couch. "I'm sorry, Detective. This is not what I envisioned when I left the hangar." He started to get up. "If you wish for me to leave now, I will."

Chloe extended her hand. "No, Lucifer." Him leaving was the last thing she wanted. That was kind of the point. "You don't have to leave right now, do you?" If he had to leave, then the next question became one of time. How long did they have, and how could they make the most of it?

Lucifer shook his head. "I put someone in charge when I came back. She'll keep the demons busy. I can stay for a time. If you want me to." Then he held up a hand. "But I can't stay indefinitely. She'll take power for herself, and I'll be back where I started."

"Who?" That was Maze. She sounded suspicious. "There's nobody that trustworthy down there."

Lucifer was visibly regaining his confidence. No hesitant words now. "There's one I trust to keep her word — for a price. And it's a price I'm willing to pay."

Maze knew who he was talking about. "No. No way. I'm still not coming with you." She got out of her chair and into Lucifer's face, despite the height difference. "I refuse to pay that price."

Lucifer looked at her as if he didn't comprehend her. But he did know what Maze was talking about, from his response. "I wouldn't do that, Maze." He smiled at her. "But yes, your dear mother is the one I left in charge."

"Dear mother" was said in about the same tone Lucifer usually reserved for his "Father." Not so dear, then. That was borne out by Maze's expression of disgust when Lucifer referenced her. "She cast me out," Maze said. "She doesn't get to have me back."

"Nor will she, Maze." Lucifer held up his hands to placate the demon. "But I trapped one of your cousins on Earth last year. Lilith wants her back." He tilted his head. "And after a year as a human in a maximum-security prison, she might be more amenable to this arrangement."

He turned back to Chloe with another deep breath. "So that's as long as I can stay. Until I can get Tyrazameen out of prison. If you want me to." He held out a hand. "What do you say, Detective?"

Linda had approached Maze and engaged her in a whispered conversation. Neither of them were paying much attention to Chloe or Lucifer. This was up to her.

She took Lucifer's hand. "I say we make the most of it."

Intermezzo

It takes me a few weeks to pick up the phone. When I do, the conversation – almost goes well. I arrange to meet my mother for coffee. That looks like progress, to me.

But when we meet, face-to-face, she comments on my clothes – it's not like I can afford much - and everything devolves into an argument about my job and my lifestyle from there. Once again. It hurts to leave. But it would have hurt more to stay.

Instead, I focus on the new job. As a temp, I get all the hellishly shit tasks. I spend at least three weeks mainly fetching coffees and copying papers. It's still better than Walmart.

Eventually, I manage to apply to an internal vacancy for a permanent job. It's still hard work, long hours and I can't afford more than a crappy apartment halfway across LA where the elevator breaks every other week, but it's stable. And getting better.

Two years after the last meeting with my mother, I pick up the phone again. The number is still there. I tried deleting it – it came back.

Someone picks up. "Mom? It's me." All I get is silence.

"I want to get along, Mom. But I won't let you dictate my life. So let's do this: we meet, we have a coffee, and we don't talk about my job, my clothes or my apartment. And then we'll take it from there. Can we do that?"

Another few beats of nothing. Then: "I'll try, dear."