Viva Las Vegas
"- and here's one of her favorite blankets, the one made from alpaca wool. Oh, and here we have Mr. Wiggles. And Sir Floats-A-Lot, otherwise she won't take a bath –"
Chloe put a hand on Lucifer's arm, hiding her amused smile. "Honey, it's okay. Mom has watched Rory before, she'll be fine."
"Of course, dear," Penelope said from the doorway, her arms full of baby stuff. Amusement twinkled in her eyes. "And I watched Beatrice a thousand times when she was younger, so I have plenty of experience."
Lucifer hesitated for a moment, before pulling out a heap of onesies and adding it to the pile. "Just to be sure. It has been quite chilly lately."
It was mid-June.
Rory cooed from her spot in the baby carrier, and Chloe saw the conflict in Lucifer's eyes.
It would be the first time they'd leave town ever since Rory had been born. Sure, they'd had date nights to themselves, but they'd know that the kids were only a twenty-minute drive away.
Now they were going out of state for the weekend – and she knew how Lucifer was feeling.
Remembers the feeling all too well when she and Dan had a mandatory LAPD training seminar upstate when Trix had only been a couple of months.
Needless to say that there had been a lot of check-up calls to her mother.
Now wouldn't be any different – especially since Rory wasn't completely human.
Chloe just hoped that the Antichrist would save any potential surprises for when they returned back home.
You're forgetting that she's Lucifer's daughter. Surprise is probably her middle name, right after 'troublemaker'.
"Just know that the glowing thing is completely harmless," Chloe said as Lucifer furiously re-read his check-list for the hundredth time. "And her wings aren't coming out for another year or two. Hopefully."
Penelope briefly disappeared into her house to drop off all the supplies. She re-tied her velvet bathing robe, then held her hand out.
"We'll be fine, pumpkin. Aurora and I are going to have a lot of fun while you're in Vegas. Aren't we, darling?"
"Fun!' Lucifer piped up, frantically patting himself down. "Where's Mr. Wiggles?"
"Babe, you just handed him to mom."
Lucifer thought about this for a second, then relaxed. "Right. Yes, I did indeed. I feel like I'm forgetting something."
Penelope raised an eyebrow. "Your worries? Why yes, you should leave them here as well. I've got you covered, Lucifer."
"She does," Chloe said, slipping her hand into his. The worry was etched plain on his face in the golden morning light. "It'll be okay, Lucifer."
"I know," he sighed, shoulders slumping. "I just – I don't want her to feel like we're abandoning her."
A sharp stab went through her chest. Oh, Lucifer. How he could break her heart sometimes.
"You're not," Penelope cut in, unaware of Lucifer's underlying trauma. "You're simply choosing not to subject your newborn to the sins of Las Vegas – which is excellent parenting, might I add."
"Hey," Chloe said softly, ignoring her mother. She gave his hand a squeeze. "She'll be fine. She's going to nap and eat and cry and we'll be back before she knows it."
"You're sure?" The tentative hope in his voice broke something inside her.
"I'm sure. I'm very, very sure." A smile curled at the corner of her mouth. "And I also look forward to some alone time with my partner."
Something sparked in his dark gaze, and some of the lingering worry disappeared. He squeezed her hand in return before crouching down until he was level with Rory in the baby carrier.
Taking her tiny hand in his, he said, "Mummy and daddy are leaving now, princess. You're staying with your gran because apparently it's frowned upon to take babies into a casino."
Chloe chuckled quietly, not wanting to disturb the endearing scene in front of her.
"So be good, alright? No Antichrist trickery. Keep your wings tucked inside that little body of yours." He leaned in, pressing a whisper-soft kiss to her head. "I love you, Rory. And I'll always come back for you, don't you ever forget that."
Warmth bloomed in her chest, and Chloe found herself tearing up as well.
Because it wasn't easy, leaving your kid behind for the first time – even if it was just for two nights.
And Lucifer…
Well, these things were just harder for him than most people.
Rory cooed happily at the sight of her father, a golden glow starting to radiate out from her. Then she let out an adorable yawn, blinking sleepily.
Lucifer laughed warmly and stroked her hair. "Yes, that's what you get for waking your old man up at five in the morning. Time for a nap."
Chloe handed over the carrier to her mother as Lucifer straightened himself. She leaned to cover her daughter in kisses, relishing the way she squirmed at the onslaught of affection.
"Bye, baby," she said, waving her hand at Rory. "We love you so, so much. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Lucifer slid an arm around Chloe's waist. "But first daddy is going to bleed all the casino's dry to make your mum happy. And to buy you the largest plushie they have."
"Like she doesn't have enough plushies already," she countered softly, but couldn't disagree. They were so going to get her the largest stuffed toy in Vegas.
"We'll be fine," Penelope said, slowly closing the door. "Bye, mom and dad. Your little angel will be fine. I'll call tonight!"
And with that, the door slid shut before them.
Lucifer sighed, then pressed a kiss to her temple. "Well, looks like there's only one place to go now."
Vegas.
Those two syllables held such influence over their lives that it was ridiculous.
Time to dispel some of that dark magic.
They'd decided to take the Corvette for a road trip to Nevada.
Lucifer had suggested they'd fly first, and as romantic as that could be, it wasn't really handy for taking luggage along with you.
And since Lucifer has been proclaiming his deep-rooted hatred for commercial airlines for as long as she's known him, they were only left with one option.
Road trip it is.
It was a bright day, the warm morning a prelude to another hot day on the West Coast. The sky stretched out endlessly above them as they coasted past the San Bernardino Hills.
Rough plains and mountains under an endless blue sky. It reminded Chloe why America was often called the Land of Dreams.
Long hair blowing in the wind, Chloe relaxed in her seat. Ray-Ban sunglasses kept the worst of the glare out, one of the many gifts Lucifer had gotten her for Christmas.
Speaking of which, her partner was driving like he'd done before Rory – careless, leisurely and way past the speed limit.
It didn't bother Chloe anymore – especially since he drove like a grandma when the Antichrist was in the car with them.
If Lucifer could babyproof the world, he would.
They spent most of the drive in comfortable silence, sometimes singing along to old classics on the radio. Lucifer's hand rarely left her knee, drawing idle circles with his thumb as he cruised along the highway.
Chloe's eyes were glued to her partner when she wasn't resting them. He was, as always, unfairly handsome.
There wasn't a hair out of place, the amount of gel and other products preventing the wind from ruffling it. His beard was neatly trimmed, his navy suit impeccable. She could see the lean muscle beneath it, knew every inch of him by now.
But it was his eyes – always his eyes – that told Chloe what he was feeling.
His gaze was open and relaxed, the sunlight bringing out the gold in his irises. Crinkles at the corner that had appeared ever since his trauma had been worked through – a sign he was letting himself restore.
Letting himself live.
Because of course he has to age more gracefully than anyone I've known.
Unable to help herself, Chloe slid her hand up Lucifer's neck and into his hair. "What's on your mind?"
He smiled and leaned into her touch. Her nails scratched lightly, and he made a content purring sound.
"The things I'd do to you if we weren't on the highway, my love."
She hummed. "We've got to save some for the hotel room, don't we?"
Taking his eyes off the road for a second, Lucifer pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. "You don't even know where we're staying yet."
"It's a surprise." Chloe gently carded her fingers through his hair. She was the only one who could do it without loud protest from him. "Just tell me it's not some tacky gold room."
Lucifer winked as he turned his attention to the highway. "All in due time, dearest. All in due time."
They passed a green sign indicating they were roughly a couple of miles outside Vegas. Chloe's stomach sank.
It was fine.
Lucifer loved her, and only her. He'd proven it time after time again - both with words and actions.
She knew that as sure as the earth orbited the sun.
Yet the memory of seeing the penthouse covered in white sheets, of seeing the man she'd fallen for waltz into the precinct with his bride…
It was hypocritical of her, she knew that. Chloe had betrayed him in the worst way possible, this time on purpose.
Had sold him out to the people who'd done nothing but vilify him.
Nausea rose, but she pushed it down. It felt wrong that they took a trip to Vegas to get rid of Candy-related memories while she hadn't atoned for her crimes.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Lucifer shot up, grip on the steering wheel white-knuckled. "Is that your mother? Is something wrong with the girls? Did Rory sprout wings?"
Chloe ignored him and pressed the phone to her ear. The wind whistled beside her, and she turned the volume to max.
"Mom? Can you hear me? Is everything alright over there?"
Long story short, Lucifer has forgotten one of his credit cards in of the jackets he'd left for Rory - claiming she would miss his smell.
Which is no problem, because he's got, like, twenty.
By the time the call ended and she'd explained to Lucifer – multiple times - that everything was fine, a glittering skyline rose up from the desert like a mirage.
Las Vegas. Sin City - now complete with the Devil himself visiting.
Chloe swallowed as she put her phone away. They were going to be fine, and this was going to be fun.
"Are you alright, my love?" Lucifer's sounded concerned as he put a hand on her knee. "We can still go somewhere else, if you wish."
Chloe shook her head. "No, I want to go to Vegas with you." She gifted him a smile and put her hand atop his. "Especially to see you decimate everyone at the poker table."
Light sparked in Lucifer's eyes, a devilish grin curling his lips. "Then let's get going, shall we?"
Lucifer made her close her eyes the second they drove down the Strip. He didn't want her to see which hotel he'd booked – lavish, luxurious and way too expensive.
But ever since they'd gotten together officially, they'd set up a joint account. And Jesus Christ, Lucifer had more money than he could ever spend – even with his ridiculous habits.
A part of that money was set aside for Trixie and Rory to go to college, but that didn't even scratch the surface. Those two could practically live in the Ivy League for the rest fo their lives.
Even though Chloe had her eyes close, she could feel they'd entered Vegas.
The scent of smoke and fried food and desert washed over her. A man was covering 'Jailhouse Rock' to her right, probably an Elvis impersonator – although he wasn't very good.
She heard giggling groups of women, probably teetering on heels, going from one tourist attraction to the next. One was still talking about the Céline Dion show from yesterday.
The tell-tale pop pop pop of fireworks echoed distantly to her left, even though it was only morning. People cheered and clapped, wanting more.
"Can't I peek for one moment?"
Lucifer chuckled beside her. "Just a moment longer, my love. We're here for the weekend, we have plenty of time."
Chloe hummed, resigning to her fate. She searched Lucifer's hand on the driving stick, putting it atop his.
They slowed down in front of a red light, then took a few turns off the main road. After a few more minutes, Lucifer stopped and turned off the engine.
He gave her hand a squeeze. She could hear the smile in his voice. "Alright, we're here. Open your eyes."
Chloe did, and was met by the towering columns and triangular roof of Caesar's Palace. It was ridiculously tall, all the windows glinting in the morning light. The complex was huge, with high hotel buildings stretching into the sky and lower ones adjacent to it.
"Holy crap," she muttered, craning her neck to study it. "That's even bigger than in the pictures."
Lucifer's smile was bright, but there was a hint of anticipation and tension lining his shoulders.
He's waiting to see if I like, she thought. Waiting for my cue to go further.
"This is awesome," Chloe said, taking off her sunglasses. She leaned into the driver's seat to give her partner a kiss. "Thank you."
Lucifer kissed the tip of her nose before pulling away. "Well, you've been talking lately about how you want to go to Rome again – this time for happy stuff." He gestured towards the hotel. "I know this is not that, but I thought that maybe it would make you feel better?"
"Yeah," she said, memories rising to the surface. "It does, actually. Maybe not in the way you think."
Lucifer got out of the car and walked around to hold her door open. "Let's start exploring, shall we?"
Their suite was located in something called the Palace Tower, which is the largest tower of the entire complex. They had a villa – that's right, a villa – on the famed 29th floor.
A man from the staff in impeccable uniform led them through the extravagant hallways – the architecture varying from Grecian to German to empirical French.
It made Chloe's head spin a little. Lucifer seemed perfectly at ease in this over-the-top environment.
Then he opened the door to their villa, and her jaw hit the floor.
It was huge – with elegant columns and brightly colored frescos arching overhead onto the ceiling of their room. Vaulted windows looked out over the busy Strip, giving a view of the city and mountains looming behind it.
Chloe turned to her partner, dazed. "Lucifer, this – this is –"
"Too much?" He tilted his head to the side, dropping her suitcase on the leather couch. "I can ring Donny, ask him to move us to –"
"It's fantastic," she said, looking down at the intricately carved flooring. "I wonder how much time it took them to furnish these villas."
"A significant amount, probably." Lucifer walked over to her and laced their hands. "You're serious, right? No pretending for my benefit, darling."
Chloe sighed, squeezing his hands. "I am – really. This is going to be good for us. Healing, as Linda likes to say."
"I bet the Doctor would give her right arm to be here right now. For scientific purposes."
A content hum. "Probably. But she's not here right now." Chloe slid a hand up the lapels of his jacket. "And neither are the kids."
Desire glittered in Lucifer's dark eyes. He untangled their hands and slid them around her waist, pulling her close. "And what, pray tell, is on your mind, my love?"
"For starters, I –"
A knock came at the door, followed by the voice of the boy. "Mr. Morningstar? There's someone here to see you?"
"Tell them to wait," Lucifer said, not taking his eyes off her. "They can come back later."
"They claim it's urgent, sir." The voice sounded muffled through the door. "And they're being very persuasive."
Lucifer rolled his eyes, and Chloe followed. Gone was the mood. What's the point of leaving the state for the weekend only to be bothered elsewhere?
"Do you think it's Maze?" Chloe slid her hands down his suit jacket, straightening the lapels. "I wouldn't put it above her to crash our party. She loves Vegas."
Lucifer grumbled something under his breath, then yelled at the staff member, "Fine, let them in."
The young man let out a sigh of relief and used his master key to open the door. The lock beeped and turned green.
Lucifer held his arms around her waist as the door opened. "Mazikeen, I don't know what you understand under 'romantic getaway' but I can assure you –"
Only it wasn't Maze walking into the room.
It was Candy.
His ex-wife stepped into their villa. Brown hair instead of blonde streaked with pink, designer jeans and a blouse instead of kitschy Valentino. Still the same shrewd gaze and quick fingers.
"Hey, I heard you were back in town –"
Then her gaze fell on Chloe, and she stopped in her tracks. "Oh."
Bloody Hell, was Amenadiel having some fun up there? Yanking his younger's brother's chain and giving his future sister-in-law a heart attack.
Lucifer felt Chloe stiffen in his arms – saw the blood draining from her face. A mixture of hurt and confusion and rage flickered over her face.
But she was too stunned to speak, so Lucifer took it upon himself to sort things out. The Doctor would kill to be here.
"Candace." He gave her a polite nod, keeping his voice distant. He stroked Chloe's back who'd frozen like a deer in headlights. "Why are you here?
She shrugged, taking in the splendor of their room. "You told me to say hi when you were back in town, so here I am."
"Here you are," Chloe said slowly. Her eyes were like chips of ice. "How wonderful. How did you even know he was here?"
Candy turned to Chloe, slightly amused at her cold welcome. "I slip some of the staff members a little extra. In return, they keep me posted on interesting arrivals."
Lucifer stepped in before a catfight could start. "Why are you here, Candy? This is my free weekend with Chloe."
Chloe – my Chloe. My Detective whom I love very, very much.
"I missed you." She lifted a shoulder in an elegant shrug. "It's been years since our divorce."
That did it for Chloe.
"Unbelievable." With a disdainful scoff, she pulled herself free from Lucifer's embrace and stomped towards the bedroom. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
Lucifer's heart clenched as he watched her storm off. This had been exactly what they had wanted to avoid.
Exactly my kind of luck.
Holding up a finger towards Candy, he sprinted past Roman columns to follow his partner into the huge master bedroom.
Chloe was sitting on the king-sized bed with her back towards him. She was pulling tissues out of a box next to a bust of Augustus, dabbing her eyes.
Guilt churned inside Lucifer's stomach at seeing her so upset. Especially since he wasn't the cause of it.
"My love?" Lucifer sank down on the scarlet bedsheets, their edges trimmed with gold. He put a hand on her shoulder. She didn't pull away. "I'm sorry."
Chloe sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Why are you sorry? This isn't your fault."
"Perhaps it is. I shouldn't have told her to contact me if I ever came back here."
She turned towards him, her beautiful blue eyes rimmed with red. Her mascara was smeared a bit in the corner – but nevertheless, she looked radiant in the morning light. "You couldn't have predicted that this would happen."
"What, that I'd meet the love of my life and get to start of life with her?" Lucifer smiled, wiping a stray tear away. "No, I honestly hadn't expected that."
Chloe returned his smile, then wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry I overreacted. It's really childish of me."
"It's not, alright? I understand why you got upset seeing her." Lucifer exhaled softly. "I would be too, if the roles were reversed."
Chloe wound her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. She smelled like coffee and coconut shampoo.
"I love you."
Lucifer pulled her against him, resting his cheek against her head. "I love you, too."
"She's still out there, right?" Her words sounded muffled against his suit. "Maybe we should check up on her."
Lucifer sighed. "Probably. And then we'll get to the point of our weekend. Would you like to start in a mall or a casino?"
With a chuckle, Chloe pulled away from him. She patted down her hair and shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. As long as you're there with me."
"Try and pry me away from you. It's not going to work."
She linked their hands and took a deep breath. "Let's go see her. She must think I'm crazy or something."
Hand in hand, they descended the three marble steps into the larger-than-life living room of the villa.
Candy was perched on the edge of a leather sofa, nails clicking on her smartphone screen. She looked up when she saw them enter.
"Hi. I'm sorry to have caused you both trouble, I'll just go."
"No," Chloe said, shaking her head. "I shouldn't have responded like that. That was rude of me."
Candy's brows rose in surprise. "You saw your partner's ex and you're apologizing? You were right to be pissed."
His ex's gaze dropped to their joined hands. "Though I suppose you're a little more than colleagues now."
"We're partners," Lucifer said proudly, squeezing her hand. "In every way of the word."
Candy shrugged as she got up from her spot. "I guessed it was only a matter of time. The way you spoke about her the first time we met told me enough."
"What did he tell you?" Chloe asked, old detective instincts kicking in.
Candy smiled as she looked at her. "That you were the one thing that truly got to Lucifer – when the entire world just passed him by. The only one he let in his heart."
Lucifer felt the warmth of Chloe's gaze on him – burning with love and questions. He hoped she would get every answer she desired.
"You're a lot smarter than you look," Chloe said eventually, tearing her eyes away from him. "Why do you play dumb so often?"
Candy's gaze turned shrewd. "Makes men underestimate me." She nodded at Lucifer. "Including that one."
"That was one time," he protested. He had to save what was left of his reputation. "And I was having quite the emotional crisis at the time."
"Yeah, you with all your biblical references. Gifts from God and such – I've told you again and again you would do good in Vegas."
Understanding clicked in Chloe's eyes. He'd never told her flat-out what the reason was for his sudden disappearance.
They tended to skirt around the subject of Candy and Vegas or just ignore it completely.
Until now, Lucifer supposed. Somewhere high above, Amenadiel was giving him a self-satisfied smirk. The bastard.
"Perhaps. But Los Angeles is my home – it's where my family is. I won't leave them behind for anything." Lucifer smiled at Chloe, who returned the gesture. "They're my everything."
And you're mine, she mouthed quietly.
Candy inclined her head, taking a few steps towards the door.
"I can certainly see that." Her gaze softened, and Lucifer could see he still occupied a space in her thieving heart – however small it might be. "I'm glad you found your happiness. I hope your mother fucked off to somewhere far away."
"Oh, she won't be returning anytime soon," Chloe said with satisfaction. "The psychopathic hag. Your father might be a neglectful bastard, but she's just downright crazy."
Lucifer let out a laugh. He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. "Yes, quite odd to think I'm not even the worst one in my family."
Candy watched them with a smile. Then she perked up. "Oh! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter."
'How do you know that?" Lucifer frowned, then saw his suitcase was open. "Snooping around are we, Candace?"
"I didn't take anything," she said, holding up her hands with a laugh. "Thieves' honor, I swear. I just wanted to see if you still had those ridiculously expensive socks."
"Yep," Chloe said. "He still does."
"What's wrong with my socks?"
"Nothing," the two women said in unison, suddenly looking everywhere but him.
Strange.
Lucifer frowned and tugged on Chloe's hand. "Honey? What's wrong with my socks?"
"They're… fine," she said, and he knew she was lying. "Don't worry about it. Besides, you can hardly see them when you're wearing your suit."
That was not the answer Lucifer had hoped for.
"I'd never thought you were the kind for children, Lucifer." Candy tilted her head. "You never were fond of them."
Not entirely wrong there – but he would lying if he said that Beatrice hadn't been the exception to the rule back then.
"Well, the Antichrist is different, trust me." Lucifer pressed a kiss to Chloe's temple, who let out a pleased hum. "And so is her sister."
Candy smiled, twisting one of the rings on her hand. Lucifer wondered how many of those were truly hers. "I think it's time for me to take my leave. I'll leave you two to your romantic getaway."
With a barely suppressed sigh, Chloe's shoulders relaxed – the tension lining her shoulders fading away. "Thank you. We really appreciate it."
"Goodbye, Candace," Lucifer said with a half-wave. "Don't get into too much trouble you can't get out of."
"Nine lives, remember?" Candy gestured to herself with one hand on the doorhandle. "Must have at least five left by now."
Then his ex-wife turned to Chloe, brown eyes soft. "He was always yours, you know. Even if you didn't know it back then. No marriage of a week will ever change that."
And with that, the door clicked shut behind her.
Lucifer and Chloe both let out a deep sigh of relief – the tension in the room going from one hundred to zero in the span of a second.
"I really did not see that coming," he said, passing a hand over his face. Candy didn't have the shocking memory Chloe had of her, but she did remind of a time in his life when he'd been miserable.
His brother dead. Mother manipulating him. His partner and crush turning out to be his Dad's work.
"Yeah, me neither." Chloe squeezed his hand, stepping in front of him. "Are you okay, Lucifer? You didn't want this to happen either."
Lucifer brought one hand up to cup her cheek. "I'd be lying if I said that didn't catch me off guard. Honestly, I'd never thought I'd see her again."
"You and me both." She sighed, pressing her cheek against his palm. "So, did you have a plan for this weekend, or are we just doing whatever we feel like at the moment?"
Lucifer grinned widely. He'd been waiting surprise her ever since they'd planned their impromptu trip.
"Reach into my jacket pocket."
Chloe half-frowned, half-smiled as she tilted her head. Then she slipped her hand inside his jacket and took out an envelope.
"What is it?"
"Open up, Detective. I always thought you liked uncovering the evidence yourself."
With a raised eyebrow at him, she tore the paper open. And nearly dropped it when she saw what was inside.
"No way!"
Lucifer smiled. "Yes way. I had to pull a few string to get them on such short notice, but it's nothing I can't manage."
"Holy crap," Chloe breathed, staring at the tickets in her hand. "Holy crap! I'm going to see Cirque Du Soleil live!"
She threw her arms around him with an excited squeak, the sound sending a spark of joy through Lucifer. "Oh, thank you! You're the best."
"No, that would be you, my love." Lucifer wound his arms her. She fit so perfectly beneath his chin when she wasn't wearing heels. "It wouldn't mean this much if it wasn't for you."
Chloe circled her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Soft and gentle at first, then turning more fiery when she nipped at his bottom lip.
Lucifer groaned in delight, cradling her neck with one hand. He felt her smile against his face – and he fell a little harder for her.
If such a thing were even possible by now.
"You know," she murmured in between kisses, guiding him towards the steps of the bedroom, 'the performance is tonight. We still have a lot of time to ourselves."
Lucifer's heels hit the back of the first step. In one smooth motion, he lifted Chloe into his arms without breaking their kiss.
"Say no more, my love."
Her answering giggle made his heart race and jump with joy.
Chloe settled herself down with a sigh.
The Cirque Du Soleil show had been everything she had dreamed it would be. Beautiful decors and lighting. Artists in hand-crafted costumes swinging and flying above her head.
The music from the live orchestra swelling and dying down with every act – only to revive every time a new part of the story started.
The surprised gasps and shouts of the crowd each time one of the actors did a risky move. Even though everyone knew they were secured, that didn't diminish the adrenaline.
But despite all the glamor and splendor, Lucifer had been looking at her most of the time.
With that soft, tender expression he only reserved for her.
Needless to say there had been a lot of kissing in between the acts. Sometimes someone would pointedly cough in their vicinity, but they ignored it.
It's not like she lived in Vegas, anyway.
Lucifer sat down across her at the restaurant table, adjusting the lapels of his jacket. He looked like he could have walked straight out of a fashion show.
It was one of the finer establishments in the complex of Caesar's Palace – one of those places where a bottle of wine could easily run up to a thousand bucks.
"Did you enjoy the show, my love?"
Chloe reached for his hand across the table. "I did. It was so, so amazing. Especially the part where they did the pirouettes in the sky."
She was still buzzing with excitement more than an hour after the show had ended. Their run-in with Candy this morning seemed like a distant memory.
"I'm happy you're happy," Lucifer said, giving her a smile. "And I must say our…nap before the show was excellent as well."
Chloe blushed at the memory. They'd taken their time to explore all corners of the larger-than-life bedroom – and each other.
She'd lost the count after round three, when they'd finally ended up on the bed. Reveling in the luxurious of her skin against his, his arms cradling her.
She only felt a little sorry for their neighbors.
"Yeah, me too. That bed can really handle a lot."
A feline grin spread over Lucifer's features. He was about to make a comment when the waitress came to take their orders.
The young woman taking their orders was completely mesmerized by him. Lucifer had to repeat his choice three times, but he remained kind and patient.
"The steak a point for me, please. And what would it be for you, my love?"
The waitress snapped out of her daze when she laid eyes on Chloe. She blinked in surprise, not having noticed her before.
"Ma'am?"
Poor thing – they really couldn't help it. It didn't bother Chloe like it used to. "I'd like the salmon, please. And a glass of white wine to go with it."
The waitress jotted it down and took away their menu carts – ones without a price listing. The restaurant itself was styled after a Roman villa – with pale columns and intricate mosaics and domed ceilings with painted frescoes.
It was grand, but the many candles and chandeliers gave the place an intimate feeling.
Perfect for a date with her beloved partner.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow at her. "No comment about how that woman was undressing me with her eyes?
"No," Chloe said, shaking her head. "I know your heart's with me. And that's enough."
With a pleased hum, he raised her knuckles to his lips. "I'm glad. I'd hand it to you if I could."
She chuckled. "I have no doubt you would."
Another waiter brought their drinks, a glass of white for her and a bottle for the table. Chloe didn't recognize the label, but it sounded expensive.
"So," Lucifer said as he poured her another glass. "How was your first day of Vegas?"
"Despite the surprise this morning, I don't think I've had such a great day ever since Rory was born. Just the two of us."
Lucifer raised his glass, and she followed. "I will second that, my love. As much as I adore our Antichrist, I never imagined handling a baby could be so exhausting."
"Yeah, especially with the whole glowing-panic we had. God, I thought we were going to lose her again."
Lucifer's gaze darkened for a second. "I wouldn't have known what to do with myself. There's been enough loss to last me a lifetime."
"Hey," Chloe said, reaching over to cup his cheek. "I know, honey. We've both lost family." She gave him a hopeful smile. "But we made ours, right?"
He pressed his cheek against her palm. "We did."
With brightened resolve, he raised his glass. "To putting the past to rest, and to new beginnings, my love."
"To new beginnings."
The wine was crisp and sweet – sun-ripened fruits with a hint of citrus. It left a pleasant burn down her throat.
Yet something didn't sit well with Chloe.
Lucifer had put this entire trip together – had to even deal with the unexpected sight of his ex-wife – just so she would have a positive memory of Las Vegas.
He truly always went above and beyond for her, in his own Lucifer-y way. He couldn't have been more dear to her than in that moment.
She was sure he'd give her the stars if he still could.
Lucifer picked up on her unease before she had the chance to voice it. "Is – is something wrong, Chloe? Don't you like the wine? I can ask for –"
"No, it's great. I just –"
Chloe sighed, battling her conflicting feelings. She didn't want to ruin the nice atmosphere of their dinner, but she also felt like this was the perfect opportunity to talk about it.
"I never really said why I went to Rome."
Lucifer blinked in surprise. A look of worry crossed his face. "You don't have to. It's in the past, Chloe. I forgave you a long time ago."
"I know," she said hoarsely. God, she loved him so much. "I know, but it didn't seem fair to me that I get a trip to Vegas and you don't even get a reason why."
Reaching out to link their hands, Lucifer gave her a tender smile. "If that makes you feel better. I will love you anyway."
That made the stone in her gut sink even further.
And she knew they were fine – more than fine. For the first time in their partnership, they'd found a way to openly communicate with each other.
They were raising Trix together, raising Rory together.
Sure, they were always hiccups along the way. Discussions about subjects and matters that always seem trivial afterwards.
But it wasn't like it had been in the beginning – when he'd been as reliable as a broken clock and she'd been rigid and unrelenting in her ways.
No, they were far past that.
She only had to look in Lucifer's eyes to see that – full of patience and understanding and love.
So much love.
"When we found out that Pierce was in fact the Sinnerman, I fell apart. Deep down, I'd known something was off – but I'd just ignored it for my own peace of mind."
Lucifer listened patiently, sometimes brushing his thumb over the back of her hand.
"Once again, the people close to me had turned out bad. Dangerous. I'd let a killer into my house – let him close to Trix."
"You couldn't have known, Chloe."
She shrugged, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "Maybe. But I could have listened to you when you tried to warn. Listened instead of writing it off as just jealousy."
His lips curled into a half-smile. "Well, I was jealous. And not a little bit."
"I should have trusted your instincts – should have trusted you." Guilt settled in her stomach like a stone. "When I went to the Vatican, I'd never felt so hopeless in my life."
Lucifer gave her hand a squeeze but remained quiet.
"And at first, I wasn't convinced you were evil. I was just scared and confused and questioning every single thing in my existence."
He exhaled softly. "I know that feeling."
Chloe stopped talking for a moment when a group of people passed them by. With a deep breath, she continued –
"There was something that Father Kinley said that broke me – that made me believe in the Biblical you."
Compassion swirled in Lucifer's gaze. But there was also a hint of curiosity. "What did he say?"
Memories flashed to the surface – of marble halls and ancient leather tomes and cloying incense.
Of dark days and longer nights, filled with terror for her own life and soul.
For Trixie's.
Chloe exhaled a shaky breath, hanging onto Lucifer's hand like it was a lifeline. "The Devil doesn't come wearing a tail and horns – he comes as everything you've ever wished for."
"I guess the padre took the desire thing very literally, then."
She chuckled darkly. A tear streaked down her cheek. Conflicting emotions crashed and burned inside of her, making her sick.
"Maybe. But you were, Lucifer. Maybe not when we first started working together, but I was so in love with you. I still am."
Lucifer reached over to gently swipe her tears away. "And that's when you started doubting."
"Yes," she nodded, voice tight with emotion. "But when I came back home and I saw you again – when you saved my life twice – I doubted Kinley's words. Because I knew you, even if I was troubled."
"But you didn't poison me, my love." Lucifer smiled, and she wondered when exactly he'd forgiven her. "You stopped working with the old cockroach, and fought to send the demons back to Hell."
Chloe plucked at the linen napkin in her lap. "I know. But it's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life."
She looked at Lucifer, her voice breaking. "I'm sure that my hell loop is the moment you realized I'd betrayed you."
Without missing a beat, Lucifer stood up and walked around the table. He wound his arms around her, holding her tight against him.
"There, there, Detective. It's alright, my love. All that is behind us now."
Chloe let out a shuddering sob and clung to him for dear life. People were looking strangely at them, whispering behind their hands to each other.
She didn't care.
"It's not like I haven't done things that hurt you, Chloe," Lucifer murmured, stroking her hair. "I have – countless times. I don't know how you only shot me once during our partnership."
Despite her guilt, she chuckled. "It's a testament to my infinite patience."
"Must be. Otherwise I'd be riddled with 9-mm holes right now."
The couple next to them gave them an odd look, but one glare from Lucifer had them flustered and browsing the menu.
After a few more seconds, she pulled away from Lucifer. There was a wet stain on his dress shirt from her stains.
"I'm sorry, she said as she wiped her cheeks dry. "I think I messed your suit up a little."
Lucifer looked down at himself. "What, this? This is nothing compared to Rory's post-milk vomit. And I love you both enough that you're allowed to ruin my suits."
"I'm flattered."
"You should be." He sat down in the chair opposite her and reached for her hand. "There's only three people in my life who are allowed to mess up my clothing."
Chloe let out a soft hum, a wry smile curling at her lips. "In case you were wondering, you can ruin my clothes as well – either with vomit or tears."
"I'm honored, my dearest." Lucifer tilted his head as he studied her features. "Do you feel better now? How long had that been eating at you?"
"A while, I guess. Ever since we decided to go to Vegas and I hadn't talked or apologized for my mistakes." She gestured to the restaurant. "So, you know, when in Rome – or in this case, Caesar's Palace."
Before Lucifer could reply, both their phones buzzed.
They perked up instantly – because either it was one of their friends or Mom and the kids.
Lucifer was first, holding his breath as he opened his phone. Only to exhale in relief as he smiled happily. He held the phone out to her.
"Look, Chloe."
Penelope had sent them a bunch pictures over WhatsApp.
The first one was a slightly confused Rory in her princess onesie. She lay on her alpaca blanket with the caption, "Fresh out of the bathtub!"
Then there were some more pics of Rory during bath time. Sir Floats-A-Lot (the rubber one) bobbed serenely on the water beside her.
"Aww," Chloe said, a pang going through her heart. "Now I miss her so much."
Lucifer nodded with a sad smile. "Makes me want to fly to LA just to tuck her into bed. I hope Penelope doesn't forget to sing 'Once Upon A Dream'."
"Honey, I'm pretty sure she won't forget. You've said it at least ten times before writing it down on a post-it and sticking it her stuff."
The next picture was Trixie holding Rory and giving her a bottle. The Antichrist's tiny hands clutched the milk bottle, but she was completely focused on her big sister.
Big doe eyes – Lucifer's eyes – taking in every single detail.
Chloe smiled as she stroked a finger across the screen. "I love seeing them together so much. I'd never thought Trix would end up enjoying this so much."
"Me neither," Lucifer said, putting his phone away. He took her hands in his. "So see, Detective? The past hasn't hindered us in making this – making our family."
Two waiters slid pas them, neatly putting their plates in front of them.
Her salmon smelled smoky and mouth-wateringly good, like citrus and dill and a bunch of other herbs. Her stomach growled in reply.
"I guess so," Chloe said, the pictures of her kids etched into her mind. Maybe the past was truly dead after all.
Lucifer lifted his glass of wine, and she followed. "To you, my love. To putting the demons of our past at ease."
"To us." Chloe clinked her glass against his. Hope sparked bright inside her. "And to our future."
The space around the fountains of the Bellagio was already crowded by the time they'd left the restaurant.
Luckily, Caesar's palace was just a stone's throw from the fountain. They even had a view of it from their balcony, but Chloe preferred to be on the ground.
Lucifer's idea of flying her over the water sounded very romantic, but wasn't exactly subtle. No need to shake up the world-view of everyone gathered on the Strip.
"Excuse me, coming through." Chloe slipped through the gathering of people, holding Lucifer's hand as he followed suit. "Coming through, thank you."
After a few glares and Lucifer smiling apologetically at people, they made it to the edge of the giant fountain.
The towering mass of the Bellagio and the many columns of Caesar's Palace were lit up against the dark sky – one of the many jewels on the Strip.
"I've got to admit, I've rarely seen you burst through a crowd like that." Lucifer stepped up beside her with a grin. "I like this side of you."
Chloe raked a hand through her loose hair, grinning as well. "What, my persevering streak? I'd say you two are well acquainted."
"This lust for life." Lucifer surveyed their surroundings, then back to her. He looked at her like the sun. "Like a burden has fallen of your shoulders – like you're truly feeling alive."
Chloe tugged on his hand to pull him closer. She rose on her tiptoes and pulled him in for a lingering kiss.
"Maybe I do," she murmured against his lips. "And maybe that has something to do with you."
Lucifer hummed and angled her face for another kiss. "Whatever it is, it suits you. No better thing than seeing you happy."
After a few more kisses, they both pulled away – breathless and grinning like idiots.
Movement in the corner of her eye caught Chloe's attention. Under the water surface of the fountain, lights had begun to glow.
"Oh! I think the show's starting."
Maybe it was silly to be so excited about such a trivial thing. The Bellagio's fountain lit up every half hour or so after all.
But they were in Vegas anyway, so why not enjoy the time they have together?
Lucifer moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He rested his cheek against the side of her head. "Do you think I should install something like this at Lux?"
Chloe scoffed. "I'm pretty sure most of the partygoers would jump in at some point. People are just like that."
Whatever response Lucifer had ready had to wait.
Arcs of water sprouted from beneath the surface – the water turning blue and green and violet from the spotlights beneath.
People to her left and right started chattering excitedly, taking out their phones to film the spectacle.
But Chloe just sighed contently. She leaned further into Lucifer's embrace, his chest warm and sturdy against her back.
Lucifer responded by pressing kisses against her cheek and temple. He smelled like scotch and sandalwood – like home.
"I did always like that about Vegas," he said, brushing his hand against her waist.
The water jets curved and swayed like snakes, mesmerizing in their elegant motions. Every now and then, water would spray up high into the sky.
"What's that?"
"The lights. Everything is lit up like Christmas – the entire time. Even despite all the debauchery and façades, there's a very real desire to keep the darkness at bay. To celebrate life. I like that."
"Yeah," Chloe said, watching the fountain water twirl and sway like there was no tomorrow. But the light was nothing compared to the Lightbringer at her back. "Me too."
They stayed there long after the show had ended – embracing each other as they looked out over the twinkling expanse of the Strip.
Chloe hadn't felt so light in ages.
Maybe Vegas wasn't so bad after all.
