"You know what they say: The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Cassie said.
"I cannot believe that you just said that," Elizabeth said and they both burst out laughing, as Elizabeth gathered her things. She gave Cassie a big hug and turned to go to Lucifer who was waiting for her up front with Azazeal.
The next afternoon after reconciling with Lucifer, Elizabeth had come to see Cassie and they had spent the rest of day together discussing the new developments in their lives. Both girls were in particularly good spirits and their conversation showed their good mood.
As soon as, Elizabeth had come in, Cassie immediately asked her what happened the night before, although she knew perfectly well what had ultimately happened, because the angels had dutifully reported what they had heard last night.
Elizabeth explained in detail and Cassie said with mock surprise, "Really, 'cause I get that all the time." Cassie had also begun her study of angelic because Fariel's gift had faded away and Elizabeth had practically insisted.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes her but then laughed.
"Well," Cassie admitted, "not quite like that but…"
"Oh, believe me, now he's in trouble for holding out on me," Elizabeth said, trying to pretend to be angry, "We should have compared notes sooner."
"You're horrible!"
Elizabeth just smiled and then after thinking to herself, quietly said, "I couldn't be angry at him for that." Then added more happily, "Besides considering some of the things he'd already expressed to me in bed, I don't think I would have guessed that there was more."
Elizabeth got up and sat down on the floor to play a little with Sara who was involved in some sort of Fisher Price contraption. Sara giggled in delight to have a partner in her little adventure and Cassie watched them for a while.
In a more serious tone, Cassie asked, "So what's going to happen between you two?"
Elizabeth got up and cheerfully announced, "Oh, I've sentenced him to community service," as she flopped down on the couch and laughed at her own joke.
"Huh?"
"We're going to go help those people somehow and stabilize the situation there if we can and maybe some other places, haven't worked out the details yet."
"You can do that?"
"Well, he can, yes. You know, I've sort of been a little dumb about this whole thing. It turns out that his influence and power can just as easily be used for good, it's just that left on his own, evil's just plain more interesting and has the added benefit of making God mad."
"Interesting, that's not the resolution that I expected."
"It's not what I expected either but I've always been more of a proponent for fixing your mistakes rather than just paying for them. When it dawned on me to ask him, he just looked at me like, "Well, of course I can do that."
"How silly of you to overlook it!" Cassie teased.
"Yeah, well, I can't think of everything."
"And you know," Elizabeth continued, "looking back on it I think that after our big trip, he was kind of restless after having had so much to do, that he didn't know what to do with himself when we went back to our normal life. That's my fault. I mean, I hardly ever ask for anything and for our whole trip I was entirely dependent on him. You know, I'm almost certain that for that whole time he didn't do anything that wasn't related to us."
Cassie smiled, "You still haven't told me about all that you guys did."
"Oh, yeah, okay, but first you have to tell me why Malachi looked so guilty and Azazeal looked so smug earlier when they left."
Cassie looked little uncomfortable and laughed in embarrassment.
"You'll never guess what I saw last night," and she sort of shook her head in disbelief."
"What?" Elizabeth was now very interested.
"So, after I came home from your place, Azazeal told me that Malachi had been out all day and hadn't come home, so I freaked out," and here she stopped and make a face like can-you-blame-me, "I went to see Ella, because Azazael thought she might be involved and…"
"And what?"
Cassie made a face like she had to take some bad-tasting medicine and said quickly, "He and Ella were in bed together."
"Ha, it's about time."
"Not you too!"
"Cassie, they've been attracted to each other for a while now. I saw it. Well, anyway, so don't tell me you've sent Azazeal to have a heart to heart with them."
Cassie looked guilty.
"Oh no, you didn't!!!"
"Well, not really, but I just couldn't deal with it and he's so proud of Malachi for catching Ella…He's gone to figure out where we all stand now."
Elizabeth was in stitches.
"But the best part," Cassie continued, starting to laugh as she said this, "was that when Malachi came home this morning, we were up waiting for him and he thought we'd be angry…but we both couldn't contain ourselves, so just before he was about to tell us the excuse he'd come up with we burst out laughing. He was so confused. The look on his face was priceless and then once we explained that we knew where he'd been, he was mortified."
"Poor guy! I wonder how it came about."
"He didn't say."
"Hm, well hopefully, we won't have to worry about Ella anymore."
"I agree, now tell me about your trip."
"We went everywhere," Elizabeth enthused, "London, Paris, Tokyo, all over Italy, Argentina (my grandfather was from there)…um…Mount Everest."
"Really?"
"Well, actually just base camp. I was not about to pop up there just like that. Too weird. And you know what was really funny, was that before we left, when I asked what I should bring along, he just laughed at me."
"What did you do for cloths and stuff?"
"I ashamed to say it but… since we always had some hotel that we used as a starting point…I would buy things where ever I was and then when I had too much, I would ship some home. Instant new wardrobe."
"That's not like you!"
"I know but it was so fun," Elizabeth giggled guiltily.
"Oh and before I forget, I have something you've got to try," Elizabeth continued in a tone that let Cassie know she was about to be shocked.
"Uh oh!"
"Okay, so, you know how they can appear to just you or some people but not everyone?"
"Yes," Cassie replied cautiously.
"Well, apparently, they can do the same to you which is very useful when you have the urge for certain public displays of affection…"
"You didn't!!!"
"More than once!" She announced proudly.
Elizabeth, at Cassie's insistence, then proceeded to describe each place they had gone in as great a detail as she could remember.
That morning when Lucifer had woken up he immediately turned to look at Elizabeth who was still sleeping. After some reflection he thought to himself that he didn't feel like he loved or desired her any more than yesterday, but he decided that he was pleased that this was the case, because it meant that he had already loved and desired her as much as he could all along. What he did find was that he felt certain calmness and the restlessness that he normal felt just wasn't there. He continued to watch her as she slowly woke up. Eventually, she opened her eyes, saw him, and smiled.
Just then a strange sensation came over him, like a shiver down his spine, and he realized that she had just thought his real name at him.
"How did you know that?"
"Know what?"
"You just said my name."
"Yeah so."
"But you just my real name."
She thought back, because she had meant to greet him with that thought…and then when she found it in her memory she realized that she hadn't said "Lucifer" like she had assumed.
"I don't know where that came from but I know it now."
She thought it again and said, "I couldn't possibly pronounce that," with a smile.
"That's how I keep it a secret," he said conspiratorially, " but I like hearing it when you say it."
"It must have come to me last night."
"Must have," he said pressing closer to her. She kissed him, but then jumped up with sudden energy and wanted to get going. Despite her efforts to get ready for the day, it turned out that the shower was an excellent place for a number of amorous activities that she'd always wanted to try.
After breakfast she and Lucifer talked all morning long. Elizabeth then said that she wanted to see Cassie so Lucifer took her there. He had some business to take care of, so he told her to let him know when she wanted to leave.
Upon seeing Lucifer and Azazeal, Elizabeth knew right away that Lucifer had been up to something today and that he'd just told Azazeal. She could just tell by the looks on their faces that they were keeping something from her but that it was a good thing. They just couldn't keep themselves from sneaking around and keeping secrets, but she was glad that for once it appeared to be harmless.
When they got home, Elizabeth immediately asked, "What have you been up to?"
"Nothing," he replied, with a happy but guilty look on his face.
"I'll get it out of you," she said moving closer to tease his mouth with her lips.
"I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.
"Oh come on, just tell me," she said, knowing that he was just playing.
"Well, I'll feel a little embarrassed, but…"
"What?"
"I got you a gift."
"Ah, then it must be good because embarrassment always comes when you've gotten someone something perfect for them."
"Really?"
"Yup," she said with her arms still wrapped around him.
When he told her what it was, her eyes lit up like it was Christmas and she jump up into his arms.
"You're serious? 'Cause if you're not…" And she laughed in giddy excitement.
He had obtained for her, her favorite racehorse, Lava Man, who hadn't been for sale. Now, she wasn't entirely sure that she was completely comfortable with some of the things that went on in the sport but she loved horses so much she couldn't help watching. She'd falling in love with Lava Man, a 6-year-old gelding, when she had found out that he had started out as a lowly claimer before rising to stardom as a stakes horse. She was mostly excited, however that she would be able to give him a good home once his career ended, because he was never going to be able to go to a breeding barn. Thus, her obsession eventually turned into a new career, but for tonight she let Lucifer take her to their bedroom where he made such gentle love to her that she almost cried.