Authors Note: Just a quick one...You guys ROCK! Seriously! ;)
Chloe finally came around to the sound of voices attempting to speak quietly. She pushed the fleece blanket that was covering her to the side as she sat up and looked around. She was back home. Frowning she rubbed her temples as the past few hours came crashing back to her.
Lucifer, Malcolm, Trixie being kidnapped and finally Lucifer getting shot and seemingly returning in a teenagers body? No, that couldn't be right.
She stood carefully, her legs shaking as she made her way towards the sound of the voices. Maybe it was just a bad dream. Yeah, that's what it was. Her conclusion was thrown out the window as she stepped into the kitchen and saw the miniature version of Lucifer and Trixie sitting at the kitchen table playing cards.
"What the hell?"
"Ah Detective, you're finally awake. We were beginning to worry." Lucifer stood from his chair, shuffling uncomfortably, unsure how Chloe was going to react to his new 'image'.
"Mommy!" Trixie cried, running to her mother and embracing her tightly. Chloe returned the hug, murmuring words of comfort to her daughter before lifting her head to gaze upon their guest.
"Luc-Lucifer?" she questioned, seriously in doubt of her sanity.
"In the flesh, so to speak." He shifted uncomfortably under her steady gaze. "I'm glad you're not dead." He offered with a small smile, hoping she understood what he was trying to do.
Chloe followed Trixie to the table and slumped into the seat next to her daughter. She was grateful that Lucifer had taken care of her little girl in the midst of all the chaos and she knew what he was doing by saying those words to her. It was the same ones he'd used just before leaving her with Trixie at the hospital.
"How is this possible?" she asked, confusion warring with her need to know more.
Lucifer sat quietly, toying with a loose thread on his shirt and unwilling to look her in the eye, which was so unlike him. Chloe reached over, covering his hand with her own and gave it a squeeze, hoping the small action might provide some comfort. She could see the fear in his eyes, the uncertainty and she swallowed her next question because she didn't want to upset him anymore than it looked like he already was.
"Isn't it past her bedtime?" He gestured toward Trixie whose eyes kept sliding shut and then snapping open when her head tilted forward. It was quite adorable, although he'd never admit that out loud.
"C'mon monkey, time for bed."
Scooping the half dozing child into her arms, Chloe carried her to her bedroom and tucked her in. Her daughters favourite teddy which was named Lucifer, a small red, plush devil was placed in Trixie's arms. The little girl snuggled into it with a sigh and like a damn breaking, the days events finally caught up with Chloe. It felt like her chest was going to explode, tears blurring her vision as she fought not to start sobbing over her sleeping child. She'd almost lost her tonight. Malcolm had almost taken her little monkey away from her. Chloe manage to stifle a sob and turn away before she broke down completely.
A soft tap on the door alerted her to Lucifer's presence, his dark eyes crinkled in concern. "May I?" he gestured toward Trixie.
Chloe continued wiping her tears away and nodded at the young man. She was curious as he usually didn't want to be anywhere near her spawn, as he so affectionately called her daughter.
Lucifer reached out to rest his palm on Trixie's head, pausing at the look her mother was giving him. He waited for her slight nod and took that as a sign of approval before touching the child. Closing his eyes he used his talents to lock the dark thoughts which might plague the little girl while she slept, placing them behind doors inside her mind. He put a mental lock on the doors and once he was satisfied she wouldn't have any nightmares he opened his eyes and stepped back from the bed. His head felt a little fuzzy and when he turned little black spots invaded his vision. For one terrifying moment Lucifer thought he was going to faint, no not faint - pass out. The Devil didn't faint. Instead he stumbled, losing his equilibrium and almost crashed to the floor. He would have if Chloe's quick reflexes hadn't kicked in.
Chloe managed to cradle his head against her chest, though he still took them both to the ground. She could just imagine the type of innuendo he'd say about their compromising position, but it appeared young Lucifer wasn't thinking about that, in fact when she looked into his eyes, the only thing she could see was how scared he was. It made her want to protect him even more. He always acted like such a child, but now, seeing him like this was not only surreal; it was terrifying.
"Hey, I got you."
"What's happening to me?" His voice was soft, unsure. Not the deep, confident tone she was so used to.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out Lucifer." She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, frowning at the heat he was radiating. "Lucifer?" She waited until he finally focused on her. "Are you sick?"
"Don't get sick. I'm the Devil," he mumbled, then added. "Just tired, used a lot of power today." She had no idea how much he'd used in order to get the money back where it belonged. At first he'd simply charmed his way in and when the strange looks started he decided it would be quicker to slow time. It only took him a few minutes to place the bag back in to evidence but by the time he'd walked out to the car he felt physically drained.
Chloe wasn't entirely sure what to say to that. Could she really continue to deny what was right in front of her? What she'd seen not only tonight, but since the moment they'd first met. There were so many un-explainable things, yet maybe she just didn't want to admit it was all real. That would mean the Devil, God, Angels and Demons existed and Chloe wasn't sure her brain could handle all that right now. So instead she turned her attention back to the one thing she could manage; her fallen partner. Sort of.
She managed to pull him up and with only a few stumbling steps she got him to the sofa and laid him down. Unconsciously she ran her fingers through his short, dark hair, shocked at how soft it felt. His eyes fluttered closed, his breaths coming out deep and even. Seeing he was finally asleep it gave Chloe a moment to just look at him.
It was strange because he still looked like her Lucifer. Still had the same dark hair and eyes. He might not be as tall but he was still quite lanky, and she supposed that without his stubbled jaw, he would have quite the baby face. Her gaze finally fell on the blood stained shirt and for some reason she just had to get him out of it, she couldn't bare the reminder that her partner, her friend had been shot. He'd lost so much blood and Chloe realised she really couldn't deny it any longer. Lucifer had died. Her fingers shook as she unbuttoned the shirt and once it was done she somehow managed to manoeuvre his arms out of it leaving him in just his trousers. She'd find him something to wear in the morning. Right now they needed to rest. Everything else could come later. She used the throw draped across the back of the sofa and covered him up.
She stood up, her joints cracking as she did so and turned to go to her own bed when a quiet voice stopped her.
"Goodnight Chloe," he mumbled sleepily.
"Goodnight Lucifer."
Chloe padded downstairs for her morning coffee. She pulled her robe tighter around herself as she entered the kitchen and turned the kettle on. While she waited on the water to boil she walked into the living room to see Lucifer sprawled face down on her sofa. The blanket had slid down during the night revealing his naked back and Chloe let out a shocked gasp at the sight of his flawless skin.
She was crouched next to him and reaching out to touch him before she even realised what she was doing. What the hell was she doing? She had no right to touch him, he was just a kid. But it was Lucifer. This was all so confusing.
"Stop staring," he muttered, voice muffled by the pillow.
"Lucifer, your back."
He rolled over smoothly, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"
Chloe gestured to his back. "Your scars are gone."
Moving faster than she thought possible, the teen was on his feet and twisting his head awkwardly to try and see what she was talking about. Chloe moved quickly to the bathroom and retrieved the small mirror off the wall, returning to find him still in the same position.
"Here, take a look." Holding the mirror up, she watching fascinated as Lucifer's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed upon his unmarred flesh.
"How is this possible?" he whispered mostly to himself. Still trying to touch his back.
This was all too much for the Lord of Hell. Here he was stuck in a kid's body, his mother was on the loose, which he hadn't had much time to think on with everything else going on and now this? What did it even mean? Did his father forgive him, or had he done this for some other reason? He couldn't feel his wings and he didn't want to test his theory inside Chloe' home. Not with so many breakable items around. Feeling a familiar surge of anger through his veins, he turned away from Chloe with his hands clenched tightly into fists, his whole body shaking with rage and for the briefest of moments, fire flashed behind his eyes. He was beyond annoyed now.
"What do you want from me dad, huh? What the hell do you want! Just tell me instead of playing these insufferable games!" He shouted at the heavens, and inadvertently scaring the crap out of Chloe who was standing right next to him.
He glared at the ceiling and the Detective thought that if looks could kill her lamp shade was surely dead.
"Lucifer? Calm down." She pleaded, gently tugging his arm so that he would join her on the sofa.
Instead the young prince of darkness pulled away from her, taking a moment to try and collect himself. He took a few deep breaths, counting to ten and finally raised his head meeting her gaze. His dark eyes filled with such sorrow, there was so much pain that all Chloe wanted to do was wrap him in her arms and never let anything hurt him again, but at this moment she knew it wasn't the time for that.
"How can I be calm, Chloe? Tell me, because I would love to know." He started to pace. "Look at me. I'm stuck in this, this body, my mother has escaped hell and I'm tasked with bringing her back and now I find out I may have my wings back?" He stopped mid-stride and glared at the ceiling. "You're just bloody loving this, aren't you!"
Decker couldn't help it, but her jaw dropped a little at his tirade. This was all still so new to her and she was a little proud of herself for not having a melt down, yet. "Your mother?"
"Ah yes, I hadn't gotten around to revealing that piece of information yet, not with all the fun we had yesterday." He seemed to deflate slightly and finally dropped on the seat next to her. His dark eyes boring into hers and Chloe found she couldn't have looked away even if she wanted to. "When I died, I was sent back to hell, but it seemed that my father wanted to show me something. He guided me to where the worst of all hell's prisoners were kept and the door was unlocked. My mother was in that cell, her own private hell with no one around to listen to her manipulations or her attempts to make a bargain for her release. Now she has escaped, on the loose here on Earth and Dad has tasked me with catching her."
"Is she really that bad?"
The colour drained from Lucifer's face and he swallowed audibly. "You have no idea."