Lunch with the Espinoza's

"So, Luce, what do you do for a living?" was the first thing he heard when he entered the room, almost right on Lucifer's heels. He stopped dead on the spot, wondering how Lucifer would answer. This could go very badly.

"During the days I am detective Decker's partner at the police station, which is how I met your son. During my nights, I run a nightclub."

His dad stared at that. "When do you have time to sleep?"

Lucifer laughed. "I don't need any more than 4 hours. I generally sleep in the early morning hours. The club closes at 3, the dancers go home at 4 to hopefully not run into any trouble to their cars or homes and I go to sleep after they leave."

A frown made its way onto his dad's face. 'Dancers?"

"It's a nightclub. I pay a number of girls to dance for the enjoyment of the patrons. And no, before you ask, I don't sell them out for sex. I am very much against forced sex. And half my girls aren't interested in men at all and the other half are either happily married, not interested in selling themselves for sex or are wary around men."

"Then why have dancers at all?"

Lucifer frowned at that. "My club once was a boxing ring. A lot of platforms, levels and space. I tore apart the ring and placed down a piano to play. I have sets every Friday and Saturday night at 8. I play and sing for the crowd. I started the club solely as a piano bar. Someone suggested I run it as a nightclub soon after and I got that set up. There was too much space for the bar patrons solely, so I began hiring people to work as exotic dancers to fill in empty space. It worked well so I kept the girls."

"Are they forced to dance for you?"

Lucifer looked confused. "Not sure what you mean? Like, lap dances, or just the normal dancing they do?"

"Either."

Nodding, Lucifer grinned. "All the girls enjoy the job. I only hire those that enjoy the job. You'd be amazed at how many exotic dancers out there enjoy the dancing, but hate the things they're forced to do to get the job. I have a strict no touch rule. I make sure they're safe before they leave. No sex, unless they initiate it and they won't while working. They might ask someone to stay behind so they can go home with them, but that's rare. And yes, that does mean they don't give lap dances."

Dan felt alarmed as Lucifer just stated all of this like it meant nothing. Like it was a normal conversation. But it wasn't. It was a conversation with his dad. And his dad was against forced anything.

So, when it turned out there was no force when it came to Lucifer and his dancers, he saw his dad relax a little, though he still wasn't happy with the thought of exotic dancers. It was probably that Lucifer mentioned some of his girls being married. His dad was old fashioned like that.

"Hmm, well, if you're going to have dancers, at least you're dong it right..."

Lucifer nodded happily at that, before turning to Dan. "Oh, I almost forgot. My present for you is under the tree. Did you not bring any presents?"

Dan smacked himself in the face with a hand. "Damn, I was so busy wondering how you got here before me, I left them in the car. I'll be right back. Be nice and don't start a fight."

Lucifer put a hand to his chest and put on his most innocent look. "Me? Pick a fight? Daniel, I am wounded."

Dan snorted at that. "I actually was talking to both of you. Just...try to get along. I'll go get the presents."

He had bought his dad a new record player for his albums. The old one had broken down years ago and he was glad that they were coming back so he could buy one for the home. Hs mom he got the DVD sets for the third season of The Love Boat.

He quickly went back out to the car, leaned against it for a few seconds, because he knew something would go wrong if he stayed away too long but needed the short break. Opening the car door and getting out the packages, wrapped in their cheery Christmas wrapping paper, he slowly made his way back in the house and carefully placed the presents, neatly stacked on top of each other, under the tree.

Nodding at the apparent lack of any mishaps with either the presents or Lucifer with his parents, he quickly made his way back to his friend and dad. His mom had joined them, a pack of playing cards in her hands.

"Hey mom. What are we playing?"

"Daniel, we're playing Hearts."

And it struck him as funny that they were playing a game like Hearts with the Devil. He grinned widely and joined them. Lucifer looked happily down at the cards he held in his hand, before looking at him.

"So! Anyone want to tell me the rules of this game? I actually don't gamble much, so I don't really know how to play any card game."

Dan stared at him. "What the heck did you do in Vegas that time you went?"

"Sang, mainly. I am a performer, Daniel. Played piano, got a crowd of dancers of the non exotic kind and put on a show. And, you know, sex."

Dan rubbed at his face and sighed. "That really does sound like you. Okay."

He sat down and took the cards his mom dealt him, while his father happily taught Lucifer the rules of the game. It soon became blatantly apparent that the Devil did not have a poker face and sucked at gambling, which was probably was the reason he wasn't interested in it.

Dan spent most of the game sniggering at Lucifer's attempts at curbing his enthusiasm at learning something new. Naturally he failed horribly at it. He would absolutely treasure the moment he was with Lucifer when he failed so badly at something.

Naturally, after one game, his mom got up to go check on the cooking and left the three men to lay another round if they want to know. Lucifer put the cards down and laughed. "You are going to hold this over my head, aren't you, Dan?"

He grinned widely. "Forever. You'll never escape it. I will haunt you after my death with it."

Lucifer frowned, but turned the grin back on afterwards. "That would be nice. I wonder if I could make a deal with Dad..."

Dan shrugged. "Maybe I could, if I go there."

"Lucy, fly home," Dusty piped up from around the corner where he was obviously listening to everything they were saying. Dan wasn't aware a bird's hearing was that good. Yet again, they were being a bit loud.

Lucifer scowled. "Oh, shut up. You are a feathered menace, Little Bird. I am not going back. My home is L.A, got it?"

"Rrrr, Lucy mad."

Lucifer laughed at that and shook his head. "Did you seriously just growl at me, Dusty? Grrr."

A loud squawk from the cage was the only answer he got. Lucifer went to get up. "It seems pretty unfair to leave him out in the hallway all alone..."

Dan coughed. "He's fine, just leave him, man. He'll be a bit nippy for a few days, but he'll get over it."

His dad laughed at that. "Sounds a bit like a child."

"It's like raising Trixie all over again. Except stuck as a toddler. Still, he grows on you."

Lucifer's smile relaxed into his true one again. "That's true. Also true of the spawn for that matter."

Dan glared. "Can you stop calling Trixie spawn, man?"

"Can you stop calling her Trixie? Her name is Beatrice. You named her. Why give her a nickname that's a hooker name?"

And that one got another laugh out of his father. "Ah, something we agree on! I also disagree with calling her Trixie, and for the same reason!"

"It's shocking, isn't it? That poor girl, especially with Penelope Decker as a grandmother. You know, she once showed up at my club all dressed up like a drag queen by her Nan and upset over it. Seriously, people need to not fight around kids..."

Dan hummed and nodded at that. "That's true. Easier said than done though. Me and Chloe tried not to when we did fight."

Lucifer blinked at him, before clapping his hands together loudly. "Well, how about presents before lunch then? It does smell good."

His Dad grinned slightly, before getting out of his chair and going over to the presents. "That sounds good. Which one is mine son?"

Dan grinned. "The one on the bottom. Mom, presents!"

His dad picked up the first one, read the label to see who it was for and immediately Dan ran into a problem. He had wrapped the presents before making the deal with Lucifer over his name. He had written his full name on the label.

"Shouldn't I be handing out my presents?" Dan said, trying to stop the inevitable. It didn't work, as his dad handed Mom her present as soon as she walked in.

"Nonsense. My house, so I get the honour."

Dan sighed and laid his head in his hands. "Don't freak out then."

"Freak out about what? Dan, you're making no sense..."

Lucifer perked up. "Oh, you wrote my full name on the label, didn't you? Oooh, naughty. I thought it was supposed to be kept all hush hush. Way to ruin that. Should I just leave now? I will miss the lunch, though...it smells really good Mrs Espinoza."

"Margie, please."

Lucifer grinned at her. "Alright, Margie."

They all waited for her to open her gift. She smiled widely at him and gave him a hug. It was unlikely she knew the third season had come out on DVD, and he hadn't been able to resist. She loved The Love Boat.

"Thank you, Dan. It's wonderful!"

Just when he thought things would go well, his Dad reached the second present and, not being able to resist, read the label. The present was dropped to the floor.

"Hey! Dan, please tell me you didn't get me something breakable!"

Dan rubbed at his eyes and sighed. "No, I didn't. It's fine."

Mom made her way over, laying a comforting hand on dad's shoulder, before taking her own peek. The reaction was quite different, falling instead into a look of pity. "Oh, you poor man. Named after the Devil..."

Lucifer frowned. "I wasn't named for the Devil. I was named for light. What can I say; I lit up my dad's world."

And that was such a good save, because of course Lucifer didn't actually mean Devil. He laughed and shook his head. "Here, open your present."

A huge grin crossed over Lucifer's face as he reached out to grab the present from where it was still lying on the floor. He could tell Lucifer could tell it was a book right away, but he shook it anyway, probably trying to see if there was anything hidden in the pages.

He then saw those dark eyes light up with happiness as he opened the present and saw the book that hid behind the wrapping. "Oh, I don't have this one! And desserts! Daniel, you know me well!"

Dan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I went snooping one day while you were dozing on the balcony with Ella."

"Ooh, well this will go very nicely with my collection of cookbooks. Thank you! Now, you open yours. It's actually two things. The other is a gag gift from Maze, since she had to be off in Wisconsin for work related reasons."

Dan blinked. "Wait, wasn't she banned from Wisconsin?"

Lucifer shrugged. "Possibly, but this is Maze we're talking about."

He nodded his head at that one, before looking towards what had to be his gifts left under the tree. Dad handed over his present first. "Here, this one's mine."

It was a new jacket in the style he preferred. He grinned and hugged his dad. "Thanks. My old one was getting a bit worn down. I needed this. And it'll go well with the sweater Trixie got me!"

The next present handed to him was from his mother. It was a usual gift she always got him, really because a man could never have too many! It was a dark blue work tie. He grinned and shook his head. "Thanks mom. At least this one I might use."

She grinned at him. "Of course you will. I want photos for proof."

"Oh, I'll take them for you!"

He closed his eyes. "Lucifer, no."

"Lucifer, yes!"

"Lucy, nuts!"

They all blinked at that. "Are you calling me nuts, or do you want another almond now? You know you can't have more than two a day."

"'Mond!"

Lucifer turned to him. "The bird can say so many things in English, but he can't say almond yet?"

Dan rolled his eyes. "I have no idea what is going on with him half the time."

With that there was a ding from the kitchen, as the lunch was ready to serve. His mom got up and hurried her way back to the kitchen. Lucifer stared at him. "Uh, can you open my present now, or do we have to wait until after?"

He looked to his dad, who handed over the present. "May as well open it now. You can show your mother later."

Inside the wrapping paper was a box with two partitions inside, each with a wrapped present. He went for the gag gift with a tag from Maze on it. It was clearly clothing. He opened it, buried his head in the soft cloth and burst out laughing.

The words 'No one calls my Douche a Douche' were written on the front. "Aw, man. You'll have to thank her for me. This is funny."

Lucifer laughed and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

He then got out the present that had the tag from Lucifer on it. He quickly realise this might be a bit fragile, as it felt like a frame. Slowly he unwrapped it and stared. He remembered the photo being taken a few weeks ago. The whole flock, along with Trixie, Maze and Linda were in a huddle, all smiling at the camera. It was everyone outside his parents he cared for, all in one place. He realised how rare it actually was that the entire group was all together. No wonder Lucifer wanted a picture so badly.

"Do you like it? I mean, it isn't much, I know, just a photo, but...I didn't know what to get everyone, so I kind of got everyone the same thing..."

"It's a great gift, Luce. All of us are in it. The whole fl...gang is here. It's a great memory. Thank you."

Lucifer relaxed at hearing that and Dan would have thought more on how tense the devil was at giving a thoughtful gift, but at that moment his mother came back out to the lounge room grinning widely at them all. "Lunch is on. I hope you don't mind being called Luce."

Lucifer grinned at her. "That's fine. A lot of people look at me weird because of my name. But it does make a good one for a performer, like me. Most people think it a stage name."

Plates were piled high with their Christmas lunch. Mom must have started cooking the night before for all this to be ready for lunch, especially the bird. "Well then everyone, take what you want and enjoy!"

Lucifer, with his massive appetite, took a large helping of everything. The rest of them took large helpings of things they most liked and small helpings of everything else.

Silence but for the chewing of food and clinking of cutlery was heard for the next half hour.

He had been afraid this lunch would be ruined by Lucifer, especially if his parents found out his real name. Turns out, it was probably one of the best Christmas lunches with his family he had joined in on since he had still been happily married.

He'd have to thank Lucifer tomorrow, when he came to collect Dusty's Friday cage.