The morning light pressed gently against Chloe's closed eyelids. She felt warm and safe. She opened her eyes slowly, but immediately shut them tight as she became aware that Lucifer was holding her. She was stretched out on top of him with her back against the couch cushions and one of Lucifer's arms. Her chest was pressed against his, while her waist was secured by the weight of his other arm. His breathing was deep and steady, indicating he was still asleep. She wondered if she could carefully get out of his hold and roll off the couch without waking him. She couldn't believe she had lost control and cried all over him. She shifted slightly to see if he would release her. Instead, his arms tightened slightly for a moment, lightly caressing her back, before he dropped them away from her and tipped his face down, "Good morning," he said carefully.

Chloe sat up, maneuvering herself off his body as they both shifted to sit next to each other. She gave him an embarrassed frown, "Hi. Look, I'm sorry for all the tears."

He gave her a look of complete confusion, "I'm sorry for causing all the tears, Detective."

"It wasn't your fault. And if it makes you feel any better, you are the only person I would bawl all over. I trust you." She wrung her hand together, "Can I ask you a question?"

Lucifer took a few seconds to process her words, "You can ask me anything. I won't lie to you."

"Then why me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are immortal and part of a reality I couldn't believe existed. Why do you care about me?"

Lucifer took a deep breath, "I'm not sure I know. When I first met you, the fact that my powers didn't work on you vexed me considerably. You were a puzzle. Then as I spent more time with you, I began to feel things. Emotions. I'm attracted to you, and not just physically." He looked away from her, getting ready for the rejection he believed he deserved.

"Lucifer, I told you that nothing could change how I feel about you. When I said that, it was in the context of the world I knew. The reality I believed existed."

Lucifer dropped his head, dreading her next words. He decided to make things easier. He started to talk, trying to take the burden from her, "Chloe, I understand there is no place in your life for me. I am a dangerous monster and a magnet for evil." His voice became a hoarse whisper, "Your life will be so much better without me. I know that and accept it."

Chloe shook her head in distress, but Lucifer hurried on, "I wasn't strong enough to let go. Your relationship with Pierce bothered me more than I cared to admit. But when you turned him down, I took a chance. At Linda's urging, I told you how I felt and for one brief, shining moment, I thought I had gotten my own true desire. You chose me. I actually believed I could be with you and care for you." He clenched his fist and mocked his own foolishness, "A happy ending for the Devil…"

Unable to look at her any longer, he tipped his head down to run his hands through his hair, "Then it literally all went to Hell when you saw my Devil face." He gave an empty laugh, "Apologies, again Detective. That was not how I wished for you to learn that particular truth."

Lucifer kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. It was a fool's game to think he would be allowed to love her. Nothing would ever happen between them. The look on her face when she saw the real him… Lucifer's face became a mask of anger. This was his father's doing. Chloe had been created to destroy him and in such a cruel way. She was the perfect human to snare him and make him feel. Make him love; so that the loss of her would be the grandest torture, rivaling anything he and his demons had ever done in Hell.

Chloe's eyes glazed with tears as she heard Lucifer's side of the story. She was his desire! She reached for his hand as she tried to put her feelings into words, "First, you are not a monster. You are a good man. Second, I'm glad you told me how you feel. I've wanted to hear that from you for so long."

Lucifer looked down at her hand holding his, once again astounded by her goodness.

She continued softly, "But accepting you for who you truly are is going to take some time. Can you give me that time and can you forgive me for the way I acted when my reality shifted? It was a pretty big shock to find out that God is real and that Heaven and Hell exist."

Lucifer's mouth hung open, unable to believe what he was hearing, "You are asking me for forgiveness?"

She nodded slowly, watching as his dark eyes shifted from their joined hands to gaze into her eyes hopefully.

He slid off the couch and sank to his knees, "Chloe, I'm the one who should beg your forgiveness. I never wanted to scare you or hurt you in any way."

She smiled softly, emotionally exhausted and still unsettled by her new knowledge, but satisfied by the beginning they had made, "So neither one of us wants to hurt the other. I think that's a good place to start…"

She gave him a sideways glance, "Still like to play cop?"

Lucifer gave her a broad smile, "I like to play in general, Detective…"

"All right, I'll call you when the next case drops."

Lucifer stood up quickly, offering his hand to help her stand.

She lingered for a moment, enjoying the feel of his strong, warm hand beneath hers before she released him. She walked to the elevator and then turned to give him an encouraging smile, "Everything's going to be okay."

He gave her a puzzled look, "Can you define 'okay'?"

Chloe shook her head and smiled as the elevator doors closed.

Lucifer stared at the elevator long after Chloe was gone.

Perhaps both he and the Detective did have free will. Perhaps they could start over; because more than anything, he wanted to know if Chloe could love him again. Despite whatever difficulties, he planned to find out.

Smiling defiantly, he walked out onto the balcony to gaze up at the stars.