Visiting Hour – First Draft

Impossible.

She was impossible.

Angels shouldn't have been able to have children.

Yet here she was.

Lucifer was sitting on the couch in their room at the hospital, holding a sleeping Rory in his arms.

Chloe had fed her before getting some much-needed rest herself. His partner was now curled up on her side on the bed, snoring softly.

Exhausted from creating life..

And that new life was now nestled snugly against his chest, one tiny hand clutching the fabric of his dress shirt.

As if he would go anywhere right now. Not a chance in Hell.

Lucifer couldn't help but admire his newborn daughter. Could never get tired of the sight of that frowny face, the shock of downy black hair and those huge, dark eyes that watched everything closely.

And while she had his coloring, she definitely had some of her mother's features as well.

The curve of her mouth, the soft slope of her nose. The way she would immediately protest if he moved as much as an inch.

She was perfect.

Completely and utterly perfect.

"I love you," Lucifer whispered, softly brushing his thumb over her back. "I love you so much, princess."

Aurora Jane Morningstar. Born on the 28th of March at 5:38 A.M. in the morning, because even now she possessed a spark of that rebellious spirit the older her had had.

Rory stirred from her nap, letting out a small, adorable yawn. She stirred, stretching out her tiny arm towards his face.

They'd dressed her in one of the pink onesies Ella had stuffed in the bag, and it was a little too big for her.

But oh so cute.

Blinking once, twice she took in her dad's face. Rory cooed and looked at him intently, curling her little legs in on herself.

"Hello, there," Lucifer said. "Look at you. Aren't you the most adorable little creature in the world?"

Her tiny face scrunched up, and she started fussing. She let out a cry, and Lucifer was immediately alarmed.

"Oh dear. It's okay," he hushed. "It's okay. What's wrong? Are you hungry? But Mummy just fed you, and now she's resting a bit."

Rory's cries increased in volume, and Lucifer's carefully got to his feet. He started walking around the room with her, gently rocking her from side to side.

"Don't wake mummy. Mummy just brought you into the world, and now she's earned herself a well-earned nap. Don't you agree?"

It seemed that she didn't, because Rory kept on crying. Chloe was stirring on the bed now, and Lucifer was out of options.

But maybe…

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream."

Rory sniffled, but he'd obviously caught her attention. Lucifer continued singing softly, rocking her in his arms.

"I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam," he sang. Oddly befitting that song, seeing as they'd already met in the past. Future. Something.

Lucifer smiled, his becoming steadier. "And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem."

Rory's cries were becoming softer now, little whines instead of loud complaints. He truly had her interest now.

"But if I know you, I know what you'll do."

Hugging her closer to his chest, he sang the last lines. "You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream."

Rory had calmed down now, lying in his arms and watching her father with big eyes. Watching him as if waiting for another song.

"You liked that, didn't you?" Lucifer said with a smile. "It's quite befitting, you know. The song's from Sleeping Beauty, and well, you're Aurora."

And we have met before, even though you don't know that.

"She recognizes your voice."

Lucifer slowly turned around. Chloe was sitting up in the hospital bed, reclining on her forearms and watching them with a bright smile.

"Must have been from all the times you sang to her while I was pregnant," she added, lovingly gazing at her partner holding their baby girl. "No way she could have forgotten."

"Hey," Lucifer said softly, carefully sitting down on the bed so Rory wouldn't start crying again. "I'm sorry. I tried to keep her from waking you up, but I didn't succeed entirely."

"Babies cry, Lucifer. That's what they do. Besides, you did an amazing job at calming her down. Less than a minute and she's already stopped crying."

Chloe turned to Rory, taking her tiny hand in hers. "And I think she likes it when daddy sings. Don't you, baby?" Then she smiled at Lucifer. "I know I do."

Lucifer leaned forward, sweetly pressing a kiss to her mouth. "I love you," he murmured against her lips. "I love you so incredibly much."

"I love you, too," she said, cupping his cheek with a hand. "My amazing, fantastic, incredible partner."

Rory cooed, as if trying to raise attention to the fact that she was a bit squished in between her parents.

Lucifer pulled back with a chuckle, handing Rory to Chloe. "The Antichrist doesn't want to be ignored. Are you hungry?"

"Starving," Chloe replied immediately. "But I really don't want to eat hospital food. It all tastes the same."

"I'm delighted to tell you that Miss Lopez has got you covered."

Chloe perked up. "Is Ella coming? With Maze and Trixie? It's after two PM, so technically it's visiting hour."

"While I am sure everyone is on their way," Lucifer replied, digging through the bag Ella had dropped off yesterday. "But let's just say that she really embodied her role as Famine."

Chloe opened her mouth to reply, but that turned into a gasp of delight when she saw Lucifer holding two giant chocolate muffins.

"Oh. My. God!. I love Ella so much right now."

Lucifer handed her a muffin. Chloe had placed Rory in the crib next to the bed, who was now lying on her back. Content to keep an eye on her parents.

"How are you feeling, my love? Not too much in pain, I hope."

Chloe took a large bite, brushing the crumbs off her shirt. "I feel like a truck ran over me. Twice. But that's nothing out of the ordinary."

"So, yeah," she shrugged, and took another bite. "Blake has to approve me before we can go home, which I don't think will happen today."

"I don't think it'd feel safe if they let you go today, honestly." Lucifer plucked at his own muffin. "It's for the best if the doctors keep an eye on you for a day or two."

I know." Chloe sighed, adjusting the pillow behind her. "But as long as you keep providing me with snacks like this, it would things a lot more pleasant."

Lucifer stretched out on the bed beside her, careful not to topple off the edge. He propped his chin up on a fist. "Even more pleasant than my company?"

"Mmm," Chloe said, pretending to be deep in thought. "Muffins or my partner. Seems like a tough choice. I think I'll need a moment to think about it."

"You like chocolate better than me?"

"Never come between a woman and her snacks. That's like an age old form of wisdom."

Lucifer held his muffin out to her. "And what if I gave you an offering? Could that sway you in my direction?"

"Perhaps." A smile tugged at the corner of Chloe's mouth. "But you're lucky that I'm already on your side," she added, leaning in to kiss him.

Lucifer carefully shifted closer, cupping the back of her head with his free hand. Kissing her deeply, lazily – like he'd be content to do this all day.

He could do this all day.

Chloe ran her hand over the stubble on his jaw, fingers brushing his skin in soft, languid motions. She moved closer, and closer and –

She snatched the muffin out of his hands.

"Traitor," Lucifer gasped, mock-offense written clear on his face. "Using you partner like that. And they call me the Devil."

Giggling, Chloe rolled onto her back, clutching her stolen muffin to her chest. Laughter bubbled up inside of her, and she snorted as she fought to suppress it.

Her laugh…

Lucifer could listen to it all day. That beautiful, joy-filled sound that vanquished the darkness inside of him. Filled him with more light than any star ever could.

"I'm sorry, she said, laughter slowly subsiding. She turned towards him. "But you did offer me the muffin, so technically I didn't steal it."

"You're lucky I love you so much."

Chloe's gaze softened, and she cupped his face with her hand. "I am. I am so, so lucky. Probably the luckiest woman alive."

Lucifer covered her hand with his own, brushing his thumb over her ring. "Then I'm the luckiest man alive to have such a fantastic person as you as my partner."

"Seems like we agree, then." A sliver of melancholy crept into Chloe's blue-eyed gaze. "You know, this morning when I woke up, I was afraid to open my eyes for a second."

"Why?" Lucifer asked, but he already knew the answer.

"I feared that when I opened my eyes you'd be gone. That Rory would be gone." Tracing the familiar lines of his face with a soft finger, she added, "I was afraid that I'd just imagined this – dreamed this. That it couldn't be real somehow."

"But it is. It's real, Chloe."

"I know," she said softly, giving him a weak smile. "I know, trust me. But I think my mind still has to catch up on reality from time to time. Especially after everything that happened."

Lucifer returned her smile, then planted a lingering kiss against her brow. "I think I may know something that can help with that."

But before he could reply, a knock came at the door.

Chloe perked up beside him, some of the life returning to her instantly. "Oh, that must be Maze and Eve with Trixie."

"I'll get it." Lucifer got up from the bed and walked to the door, casting a loving glance at Rory in the crib, who was starting to doze off again.

Opening the door, he said, "Well, it's about time you got here, Mazik –"

But it wasn't Maze standing in the hallway.

Instead, it was an elderly looking man with his lovely wife. He smiled brightly, then pulled Lucifer in for a big embrace.

"Hello, son."

Lucifer froze, a thousand different thoughts whirling through his mind.

"Dad?"

He pulled back, studying his father's face. "What – what are you doing here?"

"We heard the news from Gabriel."

Mum hadn't changed, still bearing the features of Charlotte Richards. Only hers were…brighter somehow, a hint of the primordial being lurking beneath the skin. "So of course we wanted to come and see you."

"But how? I thought the gates between the worlds had been shut for good?"

His father's bright expression faltered for a second before he caught himself. "We don't have long. A few hours at most. It wouldn't be wise to stay for longer. We don't know what…consequences that could have. For both our worlds."

Reality slowly sank in.

They were here. His parents were here.

Together.

Alive and together.

Lucifer had mourned for them this summer – in his own time and way. Silently. Deeply. Needless to say he never had the best relationship with them, but they'd always been there.

In Heaven or Hell or some distant corner of the galaxy. Never in another universe.

They weren't dead to him, exactly, but it wasn't far off, either. Mum and Dad had moved away, forever. Never to return again.

Or so he'd thought.

"Lucifer? What's going on? Is everything okay?"

Chloe's concerned voice floated from the room behind him, snapping him back to the here and now. Right. Visiting Hour.

"It looks like your future parents-in-law are here, honey."

"My what?"

"Can we come in?" his father asked carefully, the gray streaks more prominent in his hair than last time. "I'm sure seeing us would be easier than explaining everything."

"Fine." Lucifer stepped aside, holding the door open for them. "Please, come in."

Dad walked inside quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of his grandchild as soon as possible.

But his mother lingered on the doorstep, giving his arm a squeeze before following her husband. She seemed nervous, for some reason.

Or maybe she just hated hospitals. Both were equally plausible explanations.

Lucifer closed the door, then dashed to Chloe's side by the bed. No doubt she'd be rattled by the entire affair. It's not every day that two immensely powerful, immortal beings visit you.

Chloe was sitting upright in the bed, cradling Rory to her chest, who had dozed off for another late-afternoon nap. Her eyes flitted between his parents, unsure what to make of it.

"Um, hi? It's, uh, been awhile."

But Mum and Dad didn't react.

Instead, they stared in awe at the tiny bundle in her arms.

"It's true," his mother said softly. "I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes." She turned to him, eyes swirling with emotions. "You're a father, Lucifer."

"Hello, Chloe," Dad said kindly, walking up to her. "I hope you're doing alright. I heard what happened last year."

He reached out, as if wanting to put a hand on her shoulder, then thought twice of it. "I'm sorry. For everything you have been through. I should have know Michael was far worse than I'd initially thought."

"Yes." Chloe dismissed the former God, turning towards her baby daughter instead. "You should have. But it doesn't matter. Not anymore."

Feeling a twinge of regret for her snappy answer, she turned back to Dad. "Do you – do you want to hold her?"

"I would love to." His answering smile made his eyes crinkle at the corner. Carefully taking over from his partner, Dad held his granddaughter with the utmost care. "What's her name?"

"Aurora," Lucifer said proudly. "But we call her Rory most of the time."

"Rory," he repeated, as if testing out the name. "What a lovely name. It suits her. I don't doubt she'll become good friends with Charlie."

"You're a father, Lucifer." Mum stood beside him, beaming with pride and joy. "Who would have ever thought that?" She eyed Chloe. "For that have happened, it would have taken… a miracle."

"Don't call her that."

His bitten answer caught her off-guard. Mum narrowed her eyes, getting defensive. "I'm merely stating the obvious –"

"No, you're not. Your facts have caused us enough trouble in the past."

Old anger rose inside him, bubbling to the surface. He'd had enough of the condescension aimed at his partner. "She's not a miracle, or a gift. Not a present made for me in Heaven."

"She's Chloe Decker. A brilliant, brilliant cop and mother and friend. She's the best person I've ever known. The love of my life, and my partner."

Lucifer glanced between his mother and father, who both wore a mildly stunned expression. "And those are the only things I want to hear her referred to as. Nothing else."

A tense silence fell in the room, only broken by Rory's little whines of complaint. Probably hungry again.

"Thank you," Chloe whispered against him, lacing their fingers together. She pressed a soft kiss against his shoulder. "That means a lot to me."

Lucifer kissed the top of her head. "Anything for you."

"She looks like you, son," his father said, though he was looking at him Chloe huddled together on the bed. "You must love her very much."

"I do. With all my heart."

Rory cooed, reaching a tiny hand up to her grandfather. She wasn't afraid of the stranger holding her, not in the slightest. Like somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that she could trust him.

Knew that he was family.

His mother was perched awkwardly on the couch, affronted after his outburst. Knowing the Mother of Angels, it could either take five minutes of five years for her insult to pass.

Maybe he should nudge her a bit in the proper direction. Couldn't hurt to try, right?

"How's your universe, Mum?" Lucifer asked in the hopes of getting a conversation going. "The only one of us who's seen it is Gabriel, and we aren't exactly on speaking terms after the war."

The word 'war' made her flinch almost imperceptibly, but she recovered quickly. "There's always a lot of work going on, always room for improvement. Your father helps out from time to time, but mostly he's content to sit back and watch."

Dad hummed in agreement, pacing around the room with Rory in his arms and speaking to her in a kind voice.

"Why do you still look like Charlotte?" Chloe asked out of the blue.

Her voice was strained, and Lucifer wanted to hit himself for forgetting. How did it feel to see a goddess walking around with the face of your dead coworker – your dead friend?

"I like this form. It suits me." Her answer was clipped. "But I only wear it on Earth, since it is not necessary in Heaven."

"So you could change it?"

"Why would I -"

"I heard you wanted to take over from me, Lucifer."

Dad rounded the corner of the room, walking back to the bed with Rory. "I must say, son, I hadn't expected that from you."

"Lucifer would have made a great God," Chloe said, casting a loving glance at him. "But he wouldn't have been happy."

"No." Lucifer took a Chloe's hand in his, pressing a kiss to her fingers right above her ring. "I've found my purpose. And It's right here with my family."

"And from what I've heard," his father added, "you also discovered Hell's purpose."

"I did. Though a heads-up would have been very much appreciated."

Dad cast his downward, shame lingering in his voice. "I know, Lucifer. I've done so much wrong. Caused you so much pain. And still you somehow ended up on the right path."

"I've got a gift for being in the right place at the right time," he quipped, looking away. The guilt in his father's eyes was too much to bear for a second.

At least he's not calling me Samael, anymore, he thought. Silver lining.

"And I had help," Lucifer added, glancing at Chloe. "Without it, I would have never become the person I am today."

Without Chloe, who knows what his life would have become. She inspired him to do more, nudged him in the right direction.

Made him want to be a better man.

'You make each other better."

All heads in the room swiveled towards Mum, who sat with her hands folded in her lap. An air of confidence around her, yet aware of the gravity of the conversation.

Of how close she was to a possible misstep with Chloe.

"I noticed it even before I left for my own universe. In the small period of time he'd know you, Lucifer had changed. Besides the physical vulnerability, he was more open. Relaxed. Perhaps even less troubled."

"No thanks to you," Chloe mumbled to herself, so quiet only he could hear it.

The Mother of Angels hung her head, shame creeping up on her. "I realize I made mistakes. Many of them. And some of the things I might have…alluded to, weren't entirely truthful."

"What?" Lucifer stilled. "You lied about Chloe being a gift from Dad?"

"No," she added quickly. "But the entire matter with Uriel – it could have been avoided if I'd been clear about my intentions."

His father laid a hand on Mum's shoulder, wanting to comfort her but seeming at a loss of words to do so. Did he feel sorrow for his dead son?

Regret at not having been able to stop his wife?

Anger at what she'd done?

"I don't think apologies will ever quite make up for it, Mother," Lucifer said softly. Resentment and rage swirled in his chest, turned his stomach upside down. For a moment, he thought he was going to be sick.

Rory let out a small coo in Chloe's arms, and Lucifer gently stroked the dark, downy hairs on his daughter's head.

Perhaps his parents had apologized. Realized the wrong of their ways – realized they'd been manipulated and played by one of their own.

But that didn't make it right.

Even if his daughter grew up to be the most rebellious teenager the world has ever seen – Lucifer would never, ever throw her out of the house. No matter what she'd done.

He would never pit Rory and Trixie against each other, lying to them and casting the other sister in a bad light. Wouldn't allow them to fight and get hurt severely, or worse.

Lucifer would tell Rory she was loved – every day, every night and several moments in between. His daughter would grow up knowing she was cherished and beloved and that her parents would always – always have her back.

He wouldn't leave his daughter to figure out her life's calling by literally throwing her in the abyss and threatening her with the loss of her loved ones.

No.

This time, things would different.

I am not my father's son.

"No, Lucifer," his father said, sounding old. "It doesn't, son. It doesn't."

The silence that fell in the room stretched on endlessly, permeated by distrust and old wounds. His parents had tried to make amends – were making amends.

But time doesn't heal all wounds.

"May I – may I hold her?" Mum asked, sounding as meek as he ever heard. "Please. I won't do anything. Just for a second. She's my granddaughter, too."

Chloe clenched her jaw, not taking her eyes off Rory. She was gently rocking the girl, holding her close to her chest. Lucifer could feel her internal struggle.

This was the woman who ruined their budding relationship.

This was the woman who almost waged a war on Heaven.

This was the woman who nearly killed Linda.

Chloe looked at him, the conflict clear in her eyes. She swallowed thickly, at a loss for what to do next. Even though she was used to being around celestials by now, his parents always kept her on edge.

"It's your choice, my love," Lucifer offered softly. "I don't think she'll hurt her, but you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

You don't have to bend to her whims, he thought.

Turning her gaze back to the Antichrist, Chloe said slowly, voice like steel, "Only for a couple of minutes. And stay in the room."

"Only for –" Mum looked offended at her tone, but swallowed her pride for once. "Yes, fine. I'll stay here."

The Mother of Angels strode towards the bed, his father at her heels. Whether to take another look at his granddaughter or to keep an eye on his wife, Lucifer didn't know.

Chloe handed her the baby, her eyes like chips of ice. She tracked her every movement, watching her future mother-in-law like a hawk.

"Hello," Mum said, holding Rory. Her tone was warm and nurturing, one he'd never heard before. "Look at you, my darling. You look just like your father, don't you? I'm sure you will have his beautiful wings as well when you grow up."

Mum cast a glance at Chloe before adding, "And your mother's tenacity and stubbornness."

"Thanks," Chloe gritted out, not sure if it was a compliment or a veiled insult.

"That's quite the combination." His father chuckled, patting Lucifer on the shoulder. "She'll be quite the handful when she grows up."

"Nothing we can't handle," Lucifer replied, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Dad froze, then pursed his lips together before admitting defeat with a sigh. "You'll make a magnificent father, Lucifer. Better than I ever was."

Despite everything that was going on, hearing Dad say that sent an unexpected rush of pride through him. Why was it that after all those years he still craved his approval, somewhere deep down in his being?

Would it ever go away completely?

"Yes," Mum agreed, handing Rory back to Chloe, who quickly took her back into her arms. "And you'll have Amenadiel to talk to in case things get difficult."

Lucifer hummed in agreement, too distracted by the breathtaking sight of Chloe holding their daughter to formulate a proper response. No way in Hell he would ever get used to that.

Mum whispered something into his father's ears, who paled. He started fidgeting with one of the buttons on his knit jumper before he spoke up.

"We're almost out of time, son."

Lucifer's head shot towards his father. "Already? I thought you said you'd have at least an hour."

"We did everything we came here to do." Dad smiled, that vague, mysterious, infuriating smile. "There's nothing left for us here anymore."

"We wanted to see you one last time," his mother clarified. "Say everything left unsaid. See our granddaughter."

"What about the rest? Everyone has missed you. Amenadiel and Zadkiel and –"

"Everything is done," his father repeated kindly. "It's time for us to return home."

Dad extended his hand towards his mother, who took it graciously. Ethereal energy flowed from them, creating a humming undercurrent in the room.

A golden glow surrounded them, starting to obscure their faces. Rory let out a cry of alarm at the sudden shift in temperature in the room.

"We're so proud of you, Lucifer," the Mother of Angels said. "And we're sorry. For everything. I know you'll do better than we ever did."

They were fading, become one with the flow of their powers. "We love you, son," his father said. "We love you so much. "

"Goodbye," his mother added, though her voice was nothing more than a distant whisper.

Then golden flood of light become smaller, folding in on itself. A loud zip sounded, like all the air was being sucked out of the room.

And then they were gone.

"Are you alright, Lucifer?" Chloe asked carefully, breaking the heavy silence in the room. Rory was fussing in her arms, scared by the sudden lights and sounds.

"I'm fine. Honestly," he added at seeing her disbelieving look. "They were gone for me anyway. Them coming back for half an hour doesn't change any of that. Like ghosts from my past with a huge sense of drama."

"At least they've become self-aware of the mistakes they've made."

"Creating another universe with its own batch of children will do that to you."

Chloe gave him an incredulous look. "They had more kids? After everything they've done?"

"If what Gabriel says is true, then yes." Lucifer leaned over Rory, softly humming to her in an attempt to hush her. "One's enough for me, though."

Chloe rested her head against Lucifer's shoulder, cradling their daughter in her arms. "I should have given them another lecture."

"Perhaps," Lucifer chuckled, feeling a deep glow of affection for Chloe. "I would have loved to see their faces when you give them Hell."

"Does this bring up old any feelings?" Chloe asked. She angled her head to meet his eye. "You know, with your dad and now the Antichrist?"

The Antichrist let out a small cry of joy, her unease from earlier no longer to be detected. She was trying to grab one of her mother's blonde locks that were dangling above her head.

"Anger, yes. Resentment. Guilt. More anger."

Noticing her worry, he added, "But not as bad as before. Not that 'bat'."

Lucifer smiled as he watched his daughter pulling on a strand of hair. "I know exactly what to do now. Or rather, what not to do. I'm here, she's here. We're all together. Whatever happens, we're going to be fine."

"You're going to be great as a father, Lucifer." Chloe cupped his cheek, a soft smile on her lips. "You are a great father. Nothing will ever change that. You got this. We got this."

"I know." Lucifer pressed a kiss against her temple, settling his arms around her. "I love you."

"I love you, too,"

Rory had abandoned her mother's hair and was now gazing at him with those big, dark eyes. She reached a tiny hand out to him.

Lucifer reached out his index finger towards her, which she grabbed with any hesitation. From the determined look on her tiny face, he could tell she wasn't planning on letting go any time soon.

Well, who needed ten fingers, anyway?

Familiar voices floated through the hallway. A harsher voice was snapping at the reception desk about the 'rules for visiting' while a softer voice was trying to make amends.

At least she wasn't threating someone with knife violence.

Yet.

"I think Maze and Eve are here, my love."

"Shit," Chloe swore, patting her hair with one hand. "With you parents barging in and all, I still haven't had the time to shower." She turned to him, insecurity written plain on her face. "How do I look?"

Lucifer leaned to kiss her deeply, slowly – like he had all the time in the world. Because he did.

Pulling back, he caressed her cheek with his free hand. "You look heaven-sent."

A bright smile bloomed on her lips at the compliment, undimmed by the memory of what had happened after he'd said that to her.

"And I'm not going away anymore," Lucifer added, cherishing the feeling of his partner and daughter in his arms. "Never again."