The next days of their vacation passed quickly for Lucifer and the kids but dragged on for Chloe. Chloe was able to get Lucifer to do activities that normal human families might do at the Jersey Shore like going mini-golfing or shopping or back to the beach. But his Luciferness reminded her that she could never forget that she was not married to a human, but was actually married to the devil.

Lucifer took every opportunity to research the Jersey Devil. He was a devil on a mission. She had managed to limit the devil talk in front of the kids, but they had noticed Lucifer's new obsession in something. He had admittedly been distracted over the last few days. Things finally come to a head for her. She wanted him to be all here for their family vacation, physically and mentally. She was surprised though she finally got the answer from him.

They were in bed together on their second to last night of their vacation. The kids were in a separate bedroom of their suite, tucked in and dead to the world. Their large master bedroom had a beautiful view of the ocean and a huge balcony with a sliding glass door. Her head was pillowed on his chest and the sound of his heartbeat and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest were calming.

"Lucifer?"

"Hmmm." He asked from where his face was buried in her hair.

"Lucifer, I really would like to talk to you."

Noting the serious tone in her voice, his body tensed up. He removed his head from its previous position and met her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Chloe cupped his face tenderly. "Where have you been the last few days?"

Lucifer looked at her confusedly. "I've been right here with you."

Chloe shook her head from side to side. "Don't play dumb with me, we both know I mean."

A sigh escaped Lucifer as he anxiously took a pillow and turned his attention to it and busied himself playing with it. "I've just had…a lot of things on my mind. It's really nothing I want to bother you with."

"Hey, we agreed remember? No lies. You said you'd always be honest with me."

"This isn't a lie."

"You're being evasive and I want to know why. Is this about the Jersey Devil?"

That caught Lucifer's attention. "What?" His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Why would I be distracted by that?"

Chloe shrugged. "You always get odd about paranormal stuff, especially when you think it has anything to do with your dad. You have been doing a lot of reading about it this week."

"That was just for fun. I was just curious about it and trying to figure out what the creature was."

"Really, come to any conclusions?"

"Oh yes, It's just a cambion."

"A what?"

"Half human and half demon."

Despite her year living in hell, Chloe had never heard of these things. "Those exist? I thought demons couldn't reproduce?"

"Not with each other, hell is crowded enough with the monsters as it is. For every Maze you get one hundred Grubbies."

Chloe nodded and shuddered at the thought of Grubby reproducing.

"Demons can reproduce with humans although it rarely happens. You know how they hate physically leaving hell. Look how angsty Maze has gotten up here. And the cambions are not the most attractive creatures, this Jersey Devil looks like a horse of some kind. It's rather insulting to have him bear my name. Not every half human can be as splendid as our offspring. But with two such dashing parents how could they be anything else?" Lucifer grinned widely at her and waggled his eyebrows.

She felt a powerful urge to pin him on the bed right than and make another nephilim. She couldn't though, she had to be an adult and keep the conversation on track. They had to talk about this.

"This is all very interesting Lucifer but it doesn't explain why you've been so distracted."

"In my father's name, you never let anything go do you?" Lucifer huffed.

"I am a detective babe."

"A damn good one."

"Lucifer…."

"Fine." Lucifer gulped and focused his eyes on the wall behind her. "That first day we were at the beach you said you wanted to freeze time while the children are young."

Chloe nodded. "I remember."

And she did remember.

She also remembered his wistful tone and faraway look.

"This is something we've never talked about. It's mostly because I've never wanted to have this conversation because it's just to painful." A sudden sob escaped from Lucifer's throat but he managed to keep himself composed. "I don't need to freeze the children in time because they have all the time in the world. They're immortal like me and they will have wings by the time they're grown. They will be able to travel to any realm they want, hell, Earth…and heaven. You won't be so lucky."

Tears gathered in his eyes as he spoke. "You're going to die Chloe and we're going to be separated forever." Chloe gathered him in her arms as sobs rocked through his body and he continued. "It's my father's cruelest joke on me. I find you and I only have a few years with you."

Chloe brought his face to her as she kissed his tears away. "Oh, my silly devil. Why would we be separated? I said I was with you always Lucifer and I mean it."

The devil shook his head. "You're going to heaven Chloe. That's the one place I can't go. At least we'll both have the comfort of our children visiting us."

"I'm not going to heaven, Lucifer."

Lucifer's eyes turned red and flames appeared in his eyes. "Of course you are. My bloody brothers and sisters wouldn't dare keep you out."

"No, I mean I won't go."

Lucifer's eyes returned to normal. "No…Chloe. I can't make you follow me to hell. Or our children. If I go back at all, I'll only let them stay for short visits."

She kissed him deeply and than broke it and learned her forehead against his. "What about free-will?"

"What?"

"You're always talking about free-will and how you want to be your own man. How you want to give our children what your father didn't give you. Well, what my free-will? Why do you get to make decisions for me?"

"I wasn't…"

She interrupted him. "Yes, you were. I know it was coming out of a place of love and wanting what you think is best for me. But you're what's best for me, Lucifer. I've been in hell and I think I could live with being the queen down there. It wasn't such a bad gig, especially with the king beside me. I want to be with you, Lucifer. It's not because I have to, it's because I want too, because I love you. That's of my own free-will."

Lucifer was stunned and speechless and he gathered her in his arms and held her tight. They laid for a few minutes holding each other.

A tap on the glass outside startled them both as they heard their glass door being pulled open.

It was the Jersey Devil himself.

"My lord and lady." The cambion said while bowing deeply. His hoofs clicked against the tiled floor and his red wings tucked behind him. "I noticed your presence in the area and I am honored. I've been in contact with my illustrious father and he sends his regards."

Chloe was too surprised to speak but Lucifer quickly rose from the bed and gained his composure. "Interrupting me and my lady in a private moment is not welcome, young one. I've also noticed that you dare to use my name without my permission, tell me why I shouldn't punish you for your insolence."

"Please, sire. I meant no disrespect. It's the name the humans gave me and I had no choice in the matter. My father was furious when I told him, he so does love order and proper procedures."

A sinking feeling started to develop in the pit of Lucifer's stomach.

No way.

it wasn't possible.

Surely human women had better sense than that.

Against his better judgement, Lucifer asked the cambion a question. "Who is your father?"

"While your most loyal servant, your demon Grubby. He speaks so well of you and your lady, sire. I knew you at first sight!"

Fucking Grubby.