"Make yourself at home, I'll be just a second," he said walking out of the room.

"Should we trust him?" Tom asked staring at me with his big green eyes. He was searching for reassurance. I wished I could give it to him.

"I really don't know." I said honestly. "Let's just see what happens."

Lucifer walked back into the room with two ancient but well preserved looking china cups. He handed me one and the other to Tom. "It's hot chocolate. It will warm you up," he said as he noticed me and Tom peering into the cups uncertainly. I took a quick sip to be polite.

It was delicious. I tilted the cup higher and gulped it all in one go completely forgetting my manners. I noticed Lucifer was watching me and I blushed. Tom drank his in a perfect mimic of me but he was quite a bit younger than I am. He had an excuse.

"Are you hungry?" Lucifer asked in a fatherly way. Tom nodded vigorously. I nudged him embarrassed. Lucifer smiled patronisingly.

"Tom!" I hissed. Lucifer punched him playfully, "What would you like to eat?"

Tom crossed his arms over his face defensively, "A-Anything, sir," he stuttered. "Hey, I'm sorry. Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you. And call me Lucifer."

Tom looked surprised, "Sorry, yes, sir- Uhmm I mean - Lucifer," Tom replied. I couldn't help but laugh a bit. He blushed embarrassed as I ruffled his hair playfully.

"Who are they?" a spiteful voice asked in an unwelcoming get-out-of-here-you-don't-belong-here manner. I didn't look in the person's direction as he walked into the room but I tilted my head so I could see him without it being obvious.

He had the exact same, dead straight hair as Lucifer only it was jet black- a startling contrast to his unnaturally pale skin.

"Natsume, this is Thomas and..." Lucifer looked at me apologetically.

"Tom." I corrected, "and I'm Mikan."

"Tom and Mikan," he repeated, "I'd like you to make them feel welcome."

Natsume looked me and Tom up and down. Tom smiled at him friendlily. Natsume gave the two of us a nasty look and left the room.

Tom's smile vanished. Lucifer gave us an apologetic look. "Don't worry about Natsume, he'll warm up to you eventually, he's not very good with strangers." though I could sense the doubt in his voice. That boy has a serious attitude problem...

"Father?" a sweet, angelic voice called. I heard a fast yet gentle patter of footsteps descending down a set of stairs. An angelic looking girl fluttered into the room.

She was wearing a beautiful thin strapped, v-necked nightie which rested at her knees. Her appearance was jaw dropping. She looked to be about my age and her face was the definition of perfection. Amazing clear skin, eyebrows perfectly shaped and soft pale lips.

Her hair -unlike the other two in the family- was long and wavy. It was an amazing shiny chocolate brown colour. Her eyes glinted and twinkled in incredible ways in the light.

Her gaze met mine and she smiled warmly. "Natsume was right!" She squealed, her voice full of genuine enthusiasm. She gave me a deathly bear hug and then the same to Tom.

Is it just me or did Tom blush? I shrugged it off, hoping it was just my imagination. I didn't even know for sure if I'd be staying here. I didn't want him to get too attached.

"What are you doing awake at this hour, Lauren?" Lucifer's voice asked. He didn't sound a bit annoyed or angry.

"Natsume told me there were people down stairs and my curiosity was just too great to hold up until morning. I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind." Her voice was full of respect and admiration. I could see she really loved her father. It was sickeningly heart warming.

Lucifer nodded at her. She pulled up a chair and sat beside him.

"So what were you doing on the streets?" Lucifer asked, his voice caring, his eyes almost begging trust me, I can help you. I felt so pitiful and pathetic. "Take your time," he said his tone sounding patient.

Tom and I exchanged a glance. No way could I tell him this stranger whole truth. Tom shook his head ever so slightly. It was barely perceptible. I nodded at him and squeezed his hand comfortingly.

"We had to leave home. We didn't know how or who to ask for help so we didn't." I said eventually.

"How long have you been on the streets?" He asked his voice full of sheer curiously.

"I'm sorry, it's hard to keep track of time when you're out on the streets," the words sounded unintentionally harsh. Lucifer's expression was indifferent and-luckily- he didn't seem to be offended by my rudeness.

"Just think back, when was the last time you remember being with your parents?" His voice sounded friendly. I could see he didn't intend to upset me. He just wanted to help.

However, the intentions of his words didn't matter. It didn't stop my eyes stinging over the memory of my parents. It didn't stop that rising lump in my throat. It didn't stop the agonising, painful feelings and memories that I'd kept composed for so long all coming out in the form of tears and loud sobs.

"We don't have to talk about it right now, if you don't want to," Lucifer said gently stroking my hair out of my face. Lauren gave me a big suffocating hug and wiped my tears away.

"It'll be alright, you can stay with us! We'll take care of you."

She pulled Tom in with one arm and we group hugged while I sorted out my thoughts. Pull yourself together, for Tom's sake!

"Okay, I think we should call it a night," Lucifer instructed. We all untangled ourselves from the awkward positions the group hug had put us in. "Would you like separate rooms?" he asked.

Just how big is this house?

"No thank you, I think it'd be a better idea if we share," I replied not wanting split from Tom yet.

"Very well. Lauren show them to the spare room next to yours. I'll bring some things up for them."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.

"Of course. Consider this home."