Chapter 9

Lucifer's Pov

This cannot be happening, not here, not at this time. How is this even be possible? I've been forced to stay in Hell for over two Earth months then happily returned back home only to find out that the detective is pregnant. And what's shocking, she is carrying my child. There's a tiny, Devil spawn growing inside of her.

After leaving the detective's apartment, I raced back to my home needing some personal space. I've been awake all night just sitting on the brown sofa just thinking about it till the orange sunrise. No matter how much alcohol I plunged in my mouth and swallow, I could still feel the aching there in my chest, my heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to pop out at some point. The thought that my father had something to do with this made my stomach twist in a tight know making me feel sick. I already dealt with my dad interfering in my entire life, Michael causing trouble was just the icy on the cake. But, dad's final cruel trick was the cherry was the top… making me become someone like him, a father.

That morning, I had too many thoughts on my mind and I needed to get them all out instead of caging them inside. I thought about discussing with Dr Linda, but then I thought of my brother and remembered that Amenadiel was about to tell me something last night after my fight with Michael. I realised that he was going to tell me about the pregnancy, but that angers me more because Amenadiel must have known about it, yet he didn't come to tell me. That bastard.

Unfolded my wings and flew out from my empty penthouse and flew over to Dr. Linda's home knowing my brother would be there. Landed at the front of the house and began banging harshly on the front door. I did not stop until the door was finally opened and it was Amenadiel as he welcomed me with a surprised look, "Lucifer?"

"You knew the detective was pregnant?" I angrily growled before straightaway walking past him through the front entrance without permission.

"Please, come in" I heard Amenadiel sarcastically purred before closing the front door.

Walked down the stairs and stopped in the centre of the bright, living room, where the floor was half-covered with baby toys. I turned around and face him again as I spoke in a calmer tone yet he was sure to feel my anger vibrating from my death stare, "Well? I hear no objections, brother."

"Okay, yes. We all knew" he calmly replied.

"Great. Great and you never considered coming down to Hell and tell me this?" I deeply growled, feeling my anger growing towards my brother's stupid decision-making.

"We talked about it, Luc. But, Chloe thought about if you came back, then demons might return to Earth. She didn't want to risk Charlie's life" Amenadiel explained.

The mention of the detective's name was like a sharp thorn pricked the soft skin of my heart. Remembering back to last night, before I left in shock when I discovered the detective's pregnancy and I saw how helpless and sure she looked when I reacted. It breaks my heart knowing that I put her in that position, but I needed to get some space to adjust to the fact that I'm going to have a baby.

Amenadiel watched the shame spreading across my face, "Lucifer, I'm so sorry that you had to hear it from Michael first."

"I still don't understand" I muttered in a half breathlessly tone.

"Lucifer?"

"She's pregnant. The detective is pregnant with my child. I mean, how is this even possible?" I asked the question that has been repeating itself again and again in my head.

"Well, I assume you know when a man and a woman love each other very much" Amenadiel sneakily joked without sharing a sound of laughter.

I gave my brother a death stare, warning him that this time for jokes, especially for me, "Ha. Ha. Need I remind you, brother, that angels cannot produce offspring."

"And, need I remind you of your nephew?" he held up a teddy and rattled it, pointing the fact out that Charlie is actually proof that a half-human and half-angel baby.

"Well, that's different" I argued.

"How?"

"Because you self-actualise to become closer to humanity" I reasoned.

Amenadiel theorised, "Well, maybe your vulnerability around Chloe has somehow made you open to the possibility of creating a child with her."

Quietness caught my tongue as I stood still and thought over what my brother just said; maybe Amenadiel was right. The detective and I countlessly had wonderful sex and never used protection, but perhaps my vulnerability suddenly kicks in and allows a sperm to enter into the detective's womb. If my self-actualization is being controlled by my subconscious, then why did it unexpectedly decide to allow me to impregnate the detective?

The sound of a small squeeze broke the short silence as I turned around and saw Dr. Linda walking inside the room while carrying her baby boy in her arms. I haven't seen the doctor since the day I left Earth, she looked like she was still in good health as the doctor was wearing a purple asymmetric top with smooth, black trousers.

"Lucifer, hi" Dr. Linda greeted me with a warm smile but, it was quickly faded when she scanned my nonplus face. "You okay? You looked very pale?"

"I'm… I'm not what to feel at the moment, doctor" I truthfully answered.

I sensed Amenadiel's head dip to the side and loudly whispered to Linda, "He knows."

"Oh…" Linda made an 'oh' shape on her mouth.

"How about we can talk in my office. I don't have an appointment till 11" Dr. Linda offered and I slowly nodded.

"Um… Amenadiel. Would you mind?" she darted her gaze past my head to my brother behind me, while lifting Charlie a bit high in her arms.

"Yeah. Sure" my brother walked around me and the doctor carefully passed over her baby to Amenadiel.

"Thanks. Bye sweetie" she softly purred and kissed on the side of Charlie's cheek.

Within that one glance at the three of them together, I could see what the detective might have imagined with me, her and our unborn baby; her head filled with bright and happy thoughts. But the more I thought of it, the more I felt my stomach twisting again like it was trying to make me feel frightfully sick.

Dr. Linda's Office

A wave of relief whirled within me when I entered inside the doctor's office like I was welcomed back into normality. I sat in the centre of the sofa with my legs crossed, while Dr. Linda sat on the opposite side of me on her usual chair with her legs crossed toot. "Alright. Why, don't you tell me what's going on in your mind right now."

I exhaled in a deep breathe before slowly storytelling what's on my mind, "Well, went down to Hell and stayed there for about thousands of years, received a word from a damn soul saying he saw the detective with a person who looks exactly like me. I came back then jumped into a fight with my evil twin, and the next thing I found out is that I've impregnated the detective with my hellspawn."

I ended with a fake grin and the doctor took some short time for us to adjust what I just said, she costively nodded, "I could see how all of that can cause you a huge headache"

"A massive headache. Like my head has been suddenly sat on by John Candy" I joked in a low tone as I laid my whole body on the entire sofa.

"Should we start off with Michael?" the doctor suggested and the sound of my twin brother's name formed a strong disgusting taste on my tongue. The firepit of my wrath quickly heated up at the thought of Michael toying around with the detective. Dr. Linda added, "I mean I didn't even notice him. We never noticed him pretending to be you. So, what's going to happen?"

"Oh, not to worry doctor, Michael is fully out the way now" I calmly answered as the edge of my lips smirked as I recalled the painful cries flooding out from Michael's face from the scar I was marking on his face. Then, I lost that grin and was bothered by my deep worries again as I complained, "That's one problem I've dealt with and now I've another."

"The baby?" Dr. Linda questioned my unclear choice of words. Even though the doctor replied in a judgemental approach, she developed a pool of worriedness in the middle of her eyes, "You're referring to your baby as a problem?"

"Well…" I couldn't add anything else, I wanted to say something through my wide, void mouth but my voice didn't allow me to release some words. Gradually raising myself up and sat up properly while I was trying to find the right words to reply, "It's… it's like a problem. When something unexpected happens when it shouldn't."

"Is it a bad something?" the doctor asked like she was searching deeper for a hidden agenda behind my sealed lips.

"I just didn't expect any of this" I rested back again on the comfortable sofa feeling my tired body being drained out of energy.

"How do you feel about Chloe being pregnant with your child?" she asked.

"Shock. What else?" I huffed in an obvious tone.

"Well, scared perhaps? Because this is your first time to have a baby, ever" she exampled and then her own word hit her face and her voice became quieter, "The Devil's first baby. Wow, did not see that coming. This would be perfect for chapter 17."

"Focus Doctor!" I yelled bring the doctor's attention back to me and grumbled, "I don't know what to do."

"Okay, sorry. Forget what I said" she professionally straightened herself a bit, and I followed her advice as I was curious about what she meant by 'chapter 17' but I had my own problems to deal with. The doctor continued, "Why don't you talk to Chloe about the pregnancy. Try and see from her side of the situation while you try letting her understand what you're thinking of the pregnancy. Because, she might be feeling scarred too like you."

Her wise words began rewinding in my mind and I formed an idea; I needed to communicate my worried feelings to the detective about how bad "So, I should just explain to her how I feel and what I think? And she might agree with me."

"Yes, that's an… actually a good idea" Dr. Linda agreed to my proposal.

I know that babies are difficult so why should the detective let herself get dragged by such troubles when we had our life together ahead of us, "So, I should just tell her that this pregnancy a not a good idea for us and our future."

"Yeah… Wait! What?"

I didn't give a second to notice how my shocking words painted the doctor's face in a pale colour. I stood up while continued explaining my thoughts to Dr. Linda, "I just need to remind her that it's better to get back to what our lives used to be."

"Thank you, doctor" I returned a grateful grin before walking straight to the door.

"No! No! Lucifer, wait!" the doctor shouted out for me but I ignored her calls and closed the door.

Chloe's Pov

This morning was a rough start for me, especially after last night when I watched Lucifer's reaction as he left in shock when I told him I was pregnant. At first, I was heartbroken and cried myself to sleep thinking I'd lost Lucifer for good because I know that sometimes it's mainly the fathers who distant themselves from their kids. But, during my breakfast, I start thinking that perhaps after some time and space, Lucifer might come back to me and we could talk about the baby in a serious matter. I remind myself to be patient since this is a huge bombshell to Lucifer after he just spend thousands of years in Hell alone.

Soon, I got dressed in a grey T-shirt underneath a grey, stripy, smart jacket with back trousers, before tying my hair up in a ponytail. My sorrows were dried up and my heart was already filled with warmth when I felt the heat of the sun's light touching my soft skin. The bright morning magically lifted up my spirits and I gradually convinced myself that everything is going to be alright. It's a new day, a fresh start, perhaps Lucifer had time to rethink how this baby will have an impact on him.

Drove down to a film studio where a murder has been committed, it felt weird because I haven't been in a studio in years since I was acted for Hot Tub high School. The studio was huge and has a lot of open space for me to park my car. I quickly spotted some rookie police officers securing the crime scene and medics wheeling out a stretcher for the dead body. Ella was already there snapping close-up photos of the deceased man outside.

I jumped out of my car, ducked underneath the yellow police tape, and walked up to Ella with a steady and sedately voice, "Hey, Ella. What do we have?"

"Hi! So, meet Meet Matt Owens, stabbed to death" Ella started and my eyes darted down straight to the stab wounds where most of the dark blood widely stained on the victim's shirt. Scanned around his entire body while Ella continued examining, "He was a TV writer. A showrunner, in fact, Matt was in charge of a series that shoots here on the lot. I mean, dude's got a figure, he was the boss, he had all these plans, and then bam! Somebody else has a plan for him, you know?

"Hmm. Yeah" I cheerlessly replied. Hearing those last two sentences from Ella's mouth made me think back to last night. Wondering if that's how Lucifer really felt; he came back from Hell, thinking he's back into his original life until it all changed when he learnt that he's going to be a father.

I know in the past that Lucifer sometimes doesn't take it well he faces a certain change in his life; like when he found out that God somewhat made me and draw our paths together, Lucifer ran away to Vegas and married a stripper, or dancer, whatever. But, it worries me more thinking that Lucifer might run away again because of this unexpecting news about the baby.

"You okay?" Ella friendly asked as she noticed how my face was rapidly painted with deep fear and anxiousness.

"Yeah, um…" I groaned to myself before taking a deep breathe in, feeling like my voice was about to break down, "Lucifer and I had, um, sort of a difficult conversation."

"You've told him about the baby?"

"Yeah, he um…" I confessed, didn't see the point in hiding the truth from Ella, and it felt quite nice to get it off my chest, "He didn't exactly take it well. But, he just needs some time to progress it that's all."

"Oh, yeah, relationship drama. Huh, believe me, I hear you" Ella tried to sound cheerful to lift up my spirits, but slowly that light-hearted tone melted away and Ella draw a 'lost and never found' look, "I'm still not straight with the big guy. Now sure I ever will be."

My eyes rapidly became flooded with grief and shame as I forgot that Ella is going through a crisis of faith. I wish I could try to explain to Ella that everything she believed in was true; that God is real, that Charlotte is in Heaven. But, then how would she react towards Lucifer if she knew that he was the actual Devil, I didn't react well when I found and I'm guessing Ella might have the reaction. Still, I wanted to say something encouraging because I missed her bright and cheerful self until Ella cut in before I could manage to speak.

"Anyway, we're still looking for the murder, but I'm guessing, you're looking for a 40cm long knife" Ella held her two index fingers apart to approximate the length of the murder weapon. I was too distracted on the case, I didn't hear the loud rumbles echoing behind me as a car arrived close to the crime scene.

"Detective!" I heard my name called out from behind by a nice, sexy, British voice.

"Lucifer?" I gasped as my head raised up and my eyes widen in surprise as I turned around and a wave of shock hit when I saw Lucifer jumping out from his car and started strolling towards the crime scene.

My feet began moving as I was walking to Lucifer as well as he was heading directing to me. I couldn't help but grow a small smile on my face like hope had finally been released out from Pandora's box, "Hey! You're still here. Not that I don't want you to be here."

"Well, there's murder and who's better than to have your own partner back" Lucifer answered.

"Yeah. That's great. Thank you" I "Hey, listen I understand that you need time to absorb the news from last night. But, I think that we talk about it."

"Right. But, in the meantime, why don't we absorb what we got right now?" Lucifer pointed back to the deceased body behind me.

I eyed Lucifer in a puzzled stare, "You sure?"

"Of course. I may as well help solve this murder like the good, old fashion days" Lucifer still held a wide and happy smile. I had a slight feeling that this was Michael again personating Lucifer with his strange and bad acting skills, but Lucifer told me that he scarred his brother.

I haven't seen Lucifer so interested in a case unless he was to distract himself from something happening in his life. I wondered if he's trying to avoid talking about the baby, while I would say that it's completely rude of him yet maybe he needs more time and space. After learning that Lucifer has spent years in Hell, I didn't want to pressure Lucifer into making a decision. I kindly asked him again, "Okay, but can we still talk later after the case?"

"Oh. Hello" Lucifer suddenly walked past me like I was a ghost. Apparently, he was more focused on the dead victim than on me, I was about to question him until Lucifer said something quite useful, "I know that man."

"Really?" I asked as I rushed over and stood beside Lucifer.

"Yes, that's Matt Owens. I did him a favour a couple of years ago to help get his career started as a TV writer" Lucifer answered, and it sounds like our victim. And it would make sense to how Matt became a famous and successful TV showrunner because Lucifer helped him out for a favour. I stare up at Lucifer as he continued telling us his story with Matt, while my gaze darted past his face and saw something draw-dropping, "And, even after the favour, Matt would come over and we'd talk for hours. It's funny, I've been wondering what he was up to recently."

"I may know the answer to that" I mumbled in a half breathless tone.

Lucifer follow my gaze until he finally sees what I was seeing. A huge, landscape poster was handing on a billboard with the title 'Lieutenant Diablo' and there was the main star in the poster who strangely dressed exactly like Lucifer. Matt's new and popular show had a title in a similar name to Lucifer and has an actor who looks similar to the devil himself. If this is what I think is, then it's either I'm dreaming or it's some kind of a crazy joke.

"Actually, now I think of it, we did mostly talk about me" Lucifer mentioned and I nodded in a look that says, 'of course.'

I couldn't believe it that there was an actual show inspired by the life of Lucifer, everything about this show I all about Lucifer; the title, the characters, the storylines. How did Matt managed to listen to every word Lucifer and said and transform their words into life on screen, is beyond me.

Soon, one of the showrunners informed us that they were filming the last scene of an episode and lead us to the set room. The indoor set room was designed to look exactly like our precinct with small desks and officers around. Lucifer was widely beaming at the indoor room, "Oh, this is interesting"

"Yeah" I nodded.

They began filming their last scene and we stood behind the cameras and the , watching the last scene while I noticed that all the characters seem very familiar to the names I know from the real precinct. For example, there's an awakened character called 'Detective Doofus' and I knew instantly that it's meant to be Dan or as what Lucifer likes to call him as 'Detective Douche.' We get to see the star actor, Alex Quijano, who plays the main character of the show 'Diablo.' He dressed similar to how Lucifer usual dress, with a neat suit and his hair combed to the side.

I turned to face Lucifer and asked, "This is the show that you helped Matt..."

"Shh!" Lucifer quietly shushed me because I was talking a bit loud while he was more interested in watching the show.

I repeated my question again but in a whisper, "This is the show that you helped Matt get on the air?"

"No, no, no. All I did was introduce him to a network exec. I had no idea why he was asking me so many questions" Lucifer explained while we continued But I have to say, it's shocking. I mean, the way in which he's brought my descriptions to life, the accuracy, is truly eerie."

I couldn't argue there, it was like seeing a parallel universe of my own world, it felt weird and creepy. Lucifer continued, "I can see why he had such a meteoric rise in the biz. Obviously, the man was a tremendous talent."

"City Council has asked me to present you with this" an actor who played the show's lieutenant offered a prop that looks like an award and the fake officers on the set cheered. I held in my laughter as I thought it was hilarious to think that Lucifer should be given such a huge award when half of the time he jokes about and distracts himself during an investigation.

Then, Alex was the next to say his lines, "Thank you, everyone. But really, I should share this with my partner. Where is she? Detective Dancer?"

"Dancer?" I gasped at how that name sounded extremely familiar to my surname.

The doors in the fake station set opened and a tall, blonde woman walked into the room, wearing a pair of black jeans, a colourful, flowery vest with a red jacket over it. Her blonde hair was in a curve shape that stops just underneath the length of her chin. She stopped and stood by Diablo in a straight catwalk and talked in a ravishing voice, "Sorry, Diablo. I was just pumping a suspect for leads. Oh! Is that a commendation for you?"

"No, Dancer. This is for us. If anyone deserves this, it's a woman who's gone from the stripper pole to the detective pool in just three years" my eyes widened as I recognised how Lucifer must have mentioned my acting past with Hot Tub High School to Matt, and the writer used that story for Dancer but reshaped her past as a stripper.

"Oh, dear" Lucifer quietly gasped while my jaw was half-open in shock as he knew I felt embarrassed at how Matt portrayed me in this show. I watched through the camera frame how my character is represented sexually through a male gaze angel.

"And... cut!" the 1st A.D shouted and all the actors were able to free willy and rambled off the set to their breaks.

Even after the cut, my jaw was still dropped halfway and I faced Lucifer with the most bombshell look I have ever formed, "Is that... Is that how you described me to Matt?"

"Well, he didn't know everything. Obviously, he took some creative license" Lucifer sounded innocent like all of these characters' descriptions are all Matt's ideas and not by Lucifer's description about me. I bet Lucifer didn't miss any little detail about my looks and my personality and guessed Lucifer wanted to make me sound so erotic.

He looks up and seems excited, "Are they going again?"

Rolled my eyes before walking away from him as I didn't want to disturb his attention from this ridiculous show. I heard Lucifer's footsteps rushing from behind as I was heading towards the actors by the food table; Alex Quijano, the main stars of the show and the lead actress, Brianne Davis.

"Excuse me" I walked up to the actors and revealed my police badge, "L.A.P.D. Can we ask you some questions?"

"O.M.G. you're real cops investigating in a crime show. How cool is that" Brianne cheerfully grinned, maybe this actress should have played their version of Ella.

"Yeah, weird but cool" Alex added and to me, this actor sounded like he's one of those people who wanted to think of himself as a cool dude, but he was actually pretty awaked.

"Yeah, it is" I commented, while Lucifer picked up and chewed a red, strawberry pencil from a full jar. I questioned, "And, it also seems a little weird that you all are shooting today, even though your showrunner was killed this morning."

"We were told to leave and call the day off. But, Matt would've wanted us to keep going" Alex was the first one to answer, "We're the biggest hit of the fall, and he was really proud of that. People can't get enough Diablo."

"Hear, hear" Lucifer chuckles as he sounded delighted to hear that everyone were very interested in watching a show based on his life.

"Well, I think it's gross that we're still working" Brianne jumps in and express her opinion, "I mean, in all honesty, I know it's bad to speak ill of the dead, but I'm not surprised someone stabbed Matt, either."

I asked, "And, why not?"

"Sorry, is that a vape pen?" Lucifer interrupted as he spotted the vape pen Alex was using.

"Hot cinnamon. Keeps the weight off" Alex waved his hand from up to down over his body.

"You were doing so well" Lucifer groans in a low, disappointed tone.

I rolled my eyes and quietly sigh before calmly waving my hand at the actress, "Please continue."

"Matt was a control freak. I mean, I know all showrunners have to have an ego, but... Matt was a megalomaniac" Brianne continued,

"Come on. The man was an artist" Alex argued, however, I noticed Brianne held a 'disagree' look on her face while Alex carried on, "He had all the ideas, the characters, the costumes, the storylines. Everything."

"So, as the megalomaniac showrunner, he chooses what happens in Diablo's life? Correct" Lucifer asked, though I thought at first it sounded quite a random question, but I was pleased that he was actually getting involved with the case.

"Yep. All his idea" Alex eyed up and down his whole body before facing us, "I wear what he gives me, go where he needs me and do what he tells me."

"Right… So, it must be frustrating to follow a certain storyline, or perhaps a pathway where you never had a choice for it. It's just suddenly there and you are expected to follow through it without any say in the matter" Lucifer exampled a theory.

At first, I thought Lucifer was building up an ideal motive for our killer, but if I know lucifer, and I do, he would usually try to make the case somehow about him and his little life problems. I soon realised that Lucifer was linking this case to his own troubles; 'a pathway where you never had a choice for it' and I believed he was referring to the pregnancy. I understood that Lucifer was scarred and shocked about having the baby, but the way he's talking makes it sound so horrible.

"I mean, it must have bothered you?" he ended with a question, yet Lucifer darted his stare at me like he was sending me some kind of mixed message.

"Are you kidding? We are the lead in a hit show" Alex smiley disagrees which leaves Lucifer with a dispirited look on his face.

"Yeah, and you know, there are strippers out there considering becoming detectives now. I'm kind of a role model" Brianne mentioned.

"Ah, great" I grew a fake grin, while it does sound great that a lot of women are empowering themselves into more dominating positions. It annoys me that Lucifer told Matt about my acting days during Hot Tub High School when I was half-naked and Matt uses that story to create a fake one for Dancer about her being a stripper.

Anyway, I carried on with the questionnaire, "So, anyway, did either of you have a problem with Matt?

"Us? No way" Brianne answered before Alex included, "But let me tell you something. I've been doing this job for seven episodes now, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's why people kill."

"So, basically a motive?" I spoke the correct term while my eyes scanned this complex man, questioning how Alex thinks about crime cases. Even though he's starting in a crime show, Alex doesn't seem to understand how it works, seems like he should have played the show's version of dumb Dan.

"Yeah. It's because they yearn for something. You want to find the killer, figure out their yearning" if Alex was portraying a character like Lucifer in the show, then I guess that 'people's yearning' in the show is similar to what we called 'people's desire' in real life.

Lucifer and I were both baffled by the strange word they used as Lucifer asked, "Right. Isn't there a better word for that?"

"Nope."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure."

I guess if we have our mojo then they have theirs. Lucifer seemed half confused and offended by the mixed wording, meanwhile I pursued questioning, "Okay. So, who do you think yearned to kill Matt?"

"Keri Belwood, his number two. You should talk to her" Brianne suggested as she explained a short reason to why, "Everyone knows she did all the work on the scripts and he took all the credit."

"So Keri killed Matt to finally be in charge?" Lucifer thought and I nodded agreeing to his theory.

"Yes. Her yearning was for his job" Alex rephased what Lucifer just said and sounded in a professional way. Two cringy smiles formed on my face and Lucifer's when Alex used the word 'yawning' again while Brianne rolled with the same expression on her face.

"Well, uh, of course, it's a possibility. There could be other motives to kill him" I suggested before decided that it's best to finish, "Okay. Well, thank you for your time."

"Yes. Thank you" Lucifer added before we both walked away from the actors.

Once we had a good distant between us and the actors, I gasped, "Yikes"

"I know. Matt could have just easily use 'desire.' Hearing that 'yearning' word just makes my character sound so desperate and petty" Lucifer complained and I rolled my eyes at the end.

Fortunately for us, Matt's partner, Keri Belwood was already in the studio working with other writers for the show. They were in a big, white room all sitting at the end of a table, there was a large whip-board with written ideas of a storyline for 'Diablo.' This takes me back to when I was a young actress; I sat around a table with the film crew and other actors and we read through the script together and talked about what we do specifically in each scene.

I knocked on the door and, even without an answer, we entered inside the room and walked to the other side of the table where Keri was sitting, "Keri Belwood? LAPD."

"I figured I'd be your first stop" Keri sighed as she watches us walk through the writing room

"Why is that? In my experience, the innocent don't normally expect to be questioned by the police" I raised my eyebrows suspiciously at Keri.

"Unless, of course, they're hiding something" Lucifer added after me before he spotted another jar filled with red, strawberry pencil and decided to take one for himself.

"Look. I've written 100 episodes of TV murder mysteries and I got the carpal tunnel to prove it" Keri closed her laptop while explaining. My brain began thinking about if Keri was the murder then it would be easy for her to get away with it, because she knows every little thing about committing a crime and playing innocent as like what Keri said, she has written many episodes based on those situations. Keri continued, "Motive, Opportunity... It adds up. Unfortunately, I don't have the 'Means' to be the murder."

"Well, you certainly know the math on this. We could see why Matt put you in charge" I commented.

"Yeah, I was the one who was always here doing most of the work, but I was definitely not in charge. Matt was the worst kind of boss: lazy and a control freak" Keri replied in an irritated tone while standing up and getting herself a drink from the coffee machine.

"So, Matt must have been pretty hard to deal with?" Lucifer jumps in after chewing a piece from a strawberry pencil.

"He was. He never even came into the writers' room. I'd usually send him a script overnight, and by the morning, it'd be completely changed" Keri complained in an vexed tone which clues me that Matt has done it multiple times.

"So, you and the writers would work in here well into the night, and then Matt would come and undo all the work" I sat down opposite to Keri. I didn't want to rush in, but I wanted Keri to snap a bit and bleed out more motivations for her anger towards Matt.

"Do you know how dispiriting it is to spend days figuring out a clever clue path just for your boss to replace it with a lap dance?" I felt her frustration vibrating through the low tone of her moans. I felt Lucifer's close presence behind me

"Yes. It must have been difficult, or perhaps anger you when you come in everyday wanting to live your life as you wanted, until something, or someone pops up and disturbs everything. Ruining everything" a sudden chill ran down my spine when Lucifer's words reached to my ears. I quickly realised he was repeating the same suggestion from before when we were talking to the actors. Then, I felt his eyes laying upon the side of my face, "Don't you agree, detective?"

"Can anyone say where you were at the time of the murder?" I ignored his question and focus back on questioning Keri, I felt Lucifer's face develop a stupefied look.

"My assistant can vouch that I was here writing all morning. So, if you're suggesting that I killed Matt to take his job, then you need a new theory" Keri sounded pretty confident considering that she is, at the moment, our key suspect. She laid back on her chair and mentioned, "Besides, showrunners have all the power, but you know what else they get? The blame."

"But I thought the show was doing well" I questioned as when we first arrived at the studio, everyone kept on chatting about how great the show was.

"Well, that's almost worse. You got a network show that's a hit and suddenly everybody at the studio takes an interest. Everybody wants a piece of it, and the second the ratings dip, everyone wants someone to blame" Keri explained, and I understood how stressful these issues can be as I was once an actress and I know what troubles lies within the film industries. She took a sip from her cup of coffee before commenting, "No, thanks. I already got two ex-husbands and three kids. I don't need a drug problem on top of that."

I raised my head in surprise, "Matt had a drug problem?"

"Did you know?" I shifted my questionable gaze up to Lucifer.

"Well, I knew Matt liked a bit of a smoke now and then" Lucifer answered before I stared back at Keri while waiting for her answer.

"All I know is, one-night Matt's email was down, so I had to hand-deliver a script at midnight. He has me bring it to a seedy motel full of tweakers and burnouts" she painted us a picture of Matt's messy place filled with drugs and pills.

"I see. Well, I'll need you to give an official statement at the precinct, and then also, if you have the address of that motel" I kindly ordered.

Once Keri did as she was told, I walked down the hallway while I searched up the address on my iPhone and it drew up a map on the app 'Waze.' At the same time, Lucifer was walking beside me and he was awfully quiet than his usual. The mixed messages Lucifer was sending today were utterly confusing; first, he continuously refers to the baby as a disturbance in our lives, and then Lucifer rapidly cuts in and changes the subject before I could have the chance to talk to him probably about the baby.

"You seem very uptight today" I broke the silence which drew Lucifer's stare to me.

"I am?" he asked in which I returned a quiet hum without facing Lucifer as he continued, "Well, after spending years in Hell, I'm just trying to get back into the old habit. You know back into the old ways."

"Yeah" I mumbled in a disproved tone before walking faster creating a bugger distance between us.

Since we both arrived in separate cars then we left in our own separate ways, which was better for me to think over about what to do with Lucifer. Obviously, Lucifer isn't doing too well as I hoped with accepting the fact that I am pregnant with his child. But, what's frustrating is that Lucifer is sort of rubbing it in my face and he's been trying to coax me into remembering all the good times together before I was pregnant, as though, he was suggesting that the baby was a bad idea.

I was the first one to arrive at our destination, 'The Pink Motel' where there were pink buildings ahead of me and I was welcomed by its' quiet and deserted atmosphere. After 10 minutes of waiting, Lucifer finally shows up in his Chevrolet Corvette, I noticed his arrival when he light beeped the horn. Parked his car on the left side next to mine, Lucifer jumped out and yelled in a medium, gleeful tone, "Detective! Sorry, I'm late. Forgot about the traffic. So, where are we going?"

"Uh, Room 18" I answered while desperately wondering when it is the best time for us to have this chat. I thought it's either now or never, "Lucifer, I think we need to talk…"

"Hell? Yes. I agree" he cut in and fill in at the end of my unfinished sentence. However, I was distracted by Lucifer mentioning Hell and where does it may lead to, I prayed that Lucifer knows now about the baby that he could stay somehow. He continued, "Of course, Hell is still not secured without a king. And, I don't wish anymore harm to come to Charlie or anymore else. So, I'll try to think of something to make me stay."

"Is this it?" Lucifer pointed at a red door ahead of us with the rusty, golden number at the top centre.

"Yeah" I nodded while secretly feeling annoyed that Lucifer was trying to avoid the baby subject. However, I was a little bit pleased to hear that Lucifer was brainstorming thoughts on how he could avoid going back to Hell. I slightly shook my head and thought it was best to focus on the case too, "Anyway, Matt had no family, lived alone. But, if he had a drug problem, why not stay home?"

"Illicit venue for illicit acts, I suppose" Lucifer guested and took a few steps forward so he could reach to the door first and unlocked it with his bare hands, while my right hand near my gun in case for an emergency, "Be prepared, detective, for a good old-fashioned Hollywood den of sin."

Opened the door wide enough for us to view the whole room which was actually not messy, I scanned the entire room and didn't see a single part of filth on the floor or on the wall. The whole room was filled with ordinary furniture; like lamps, a mirror, a desk with books, papers and pens on top, and a coffee machine with all the dips supplied from the motel.

"Well, this place looks pretty tidy" I commented while trying to work out Matt's life here if he's was a drug addict and theorised why he would want people to think he is. I bend over and look in the bin, didn't find any small bags, or needles expected just some crushed up paper and empty crisp bags, "Doesn't look like a drug den to me."

"Over here? Number 18?" a voice was heard outside, and the beating of my heart increased.

"Lucifer!" I loudly whispered, catching his attention and drawing it towards the front door.

"Hold on, someone's in there" the voice appeared again and it sounded a bit lighter and closer to the door, but they talked like they weren't alone.

I quietly pulled out my gun getting it ready to aim and fire. I felt a close presence by the side of my arm and, by the corner of my eye, Lucifer was standing so close to me. His body was leaning forward like he was ready to leap in front and get me behind while I sensed his focus his stare directly at the door. I know that Lucifer shielding me might be helpless since he is still vulnerable around me, but deep down, I found it affectionate that Lucifer is willing to stand in the face of danger so I could be safe. Then, I questioned that maybe he's doing it knowing that I am pregnant, making me feel that not all hope is lost.

Within a second, a man opened the door and a woman barged in and at the exact same time, our loud voices connected, "Freeze! LAPD! Drop the gun!"

The words came back to me like a recorder and soon realised the same actors from the studio, Alex and Brianne, who were standing in a similar position reflecting the same movements as Lucifer and I. It was literally like being part of 'Through the Looking Glass' and we are stuck with our weird doppelgangers.

"Wait. I'm a real cop with a real gun. That's a prop. Now, put that down" I commanded.

"Sorry. Force of habit" Brianne chuckled as she lowered down the prop gun.

"Well, that little showdown will be fueling my fantasies for the next few millennia" Lucifer cheekily commented which lead me with my eyes rolling and the actor, Alex widely smiled.

"What are you two doing here?" I questioned as I safely shoved my gun back in its' holster.

"Trying to solve the case, of course" Alex added with Brianne nodding along, "We can do it on TV. Why not in real life?"

"Well, because you are not professional officers" I replied with an obvious answer, "How did you find out about this place?"

"I found this where Matt was killed. It fell out of his pocket. Just a little thing I like to call evidence" Alex revealed a piece of paper and smirked like a 'know-it-all.'

"You stole evidence from the crime scene?" I asked with a serious stare and my arms crossed over my chest, which spread worriedness and disappointment on their faces. It got worse when I added, "You do realise you could be charged for interfering with a case by stealing evidence and by breaking into a possible crime scene if we won't here."

"We're sorry, but we do want to find out what happened to Matt" Brianne stepped in and explained in an ingenue tone.

"Okay I have to bag the whole place for evidence, and you both are not cops. So, come on. Play time's over. Out!" I ordered while waving my hands out at the actors ordering them to get a move on and leave the room.

"Don't take offence. She used to say the exact same thing to me" Lucifer steps in front and pushes the distance between the actors and himself until they all exited out of the room.

Lucifer closed the door behind them before I could release a deep, exhausting sign, "For God's sake."

"Let's not bring my dad into this" Lucifer pleaded as he sounded annoyed when I mention his father. Then, Lucifer walked around me till he was in the centre of the room and I noticed his brown eyes widen a bit like something popped up in his head, "You know. I've just realized why this place feels so familiar. This is where Matt was living when I first met him."

I scanned around the room again before questioning, "This was his first home?"

"Yes" Lucifer carried on explaining, "Matt mentioned he had a place he liked to hide from the world when he was writing."

"So, Matt didn't hole up here to go on a drug binge, but why would Keri say that he had a drug problem?" I wondered.

"Maybe Matt just wanted people to stay away from his personal life" Lucifer's guess was as good as mine, until he ended in a bitter note as he eyed directing to me, "Maybe he was trying feel like he was back in his old life."

And, there it was again, like Lucifer was trying to communicate to me about something. He keeps on mentioning how our lives from before was perfect and the baby could be a bad thing. I was getting pretty sick of his strange rejection and decided to put my foot down, "You know, I think I can take it from here"

Lucifer faced me like he was deaf and didn't hear me, "What?"

"You can go home" I repeated myself in a more confident position with my body straight and my arms crossed over my chest.

My words were like sharp pins that pocked through Lucifer's face and paint it with shame and puzzlement, "You sure, Detective?"

"I am, yes. I'm feeling a little... uh, overwhelmed by, um, well, you right now" I truthfully replied but made Lucifer look even more confused but shameful.

"Right" he didn't argue, thankfully, and slowly left the room while I closed the door behind him.

Once, I was finally alone I rested my back against the cool, wooden, red door and closed my tired eyes. Took a deep breathe in and out trying to not overload my head with sad and anxious emotions that are aching my mind. After last night, I tried to believe that Lucifer might see the brighter side of this pregnancy, instead I find him childishly ignoring the subject and trying to link the baby to our case by referring to it as an object that is interring in our lives. God knows I am trying to be patient, but I couldn't deal with Lucifer and the sure words he was choosing to describe our child.

Hey guys, hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Hope everyone is well and safe.

It was quite hard for me to write this chapter but I wanted to make it sound realistic when it came to Lucifer's reaction to the baby. As you may have noticed that this is based on season 5 episode 3 "¡Diablo!" but the tables flip where instead of Chloe struggling with the 'Gift from God' issue, Lucifer is the one dealing with his doubts.

Keep hanging in for the next chapter. And, if you want, you could see me on my Twitter account, BWolf5201 and check out my review on the whole show of 'Lucifer' on my YouTube channel, "The Debate Hut" where my best friends and I give do debates, reviews, games and much more so please check it out because I will adore you if you will. :)

See you soon...