Azrael grabbed the tablecloth and wrapped it around her shivering body. Fuck him! She would freeze herself to death staying in this cabin if all she wore was this really thin fabric. She looked around in her bedroom, grateful to see a wool throw on a nearby chair, grabbing it and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Granted, now she was getting cold due to the crisp, cool morning air on her body, but last night…she had had the hottest dreams about Leighton Fale! Damn him! What had possessed that devilish man to get naked and steal her clothes?
She moved the dresser that she'd placed in front of the door and left the room to head to the kitchen, not giving Leighton a look when she realized he was sitting at the kitchen table.
"Good morning, Azrael," he greeted her cheerfully. "Did you sleep well, sweetheart?" He set the newspaper he'd been reading on the table and watched her as he waited for her answer.
"Go to hell," she spat, tightening the throw around her shoulders before grabbing a pan and put it on the stove.
"Did you not sleep well, darling?" He teased with a smirk.
She remained silent, blushing a little. If only he knew all the erotic dreams that had filled her night. He never would. She'd never hear the end of it. Clearing her throat, she grabbed two eggs and cracked them into the pan.
"Could I have mine scrambled?" Leighton requested in a teasing voice.
"Oh, do you want some breakfast?" Azrael smirked.
"Yes," Leighton replied. "I'd love for you to cook me breakfast! And before you scold me for being some chauvinist, remember that I did cook you dinner last night." He gave her a wink.
Azrael narrowed her eyes at him. "Well if you would be kind enough to return my clothes, I'll make you some eggs. Otherwise, you can make your damn eggs yourself!"
Leighton shrugged. "I'm sorry. I just don't remember where I put them."
"Fuck you!" Azrael cried out. "So go ahead and make your damn eggs yourself!"
He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "You know, you're not very nice." Then he rose to his feet.
"Oh," she quickly turned away, blushing at the sight of his naked body. "I can't believe you couldn't find something to wear!" She turned and grabbed a tea towel, throwing it at him.
"What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Cover your…" She waved her hand vaguely in his direction.
"Azrael, I'm sorry, darling," he apologized. "Because this tea towel is too small to cover my…" He looked down. "My assets."
"Oh!" Azrael growled and stomped her foot. "I hate you so much!" She turned and picked up the pan.
"Do you really?" He murmured, walking over to stand next to her.
She stayed silent, her breath picking up as she felt the heat of his body behind her back.
"Why do you want your clothes?" He whispered. "Why do you want me to wear mine?" His lips were against her ear.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember to breathe as goosebumps covered her entire body. "Because I'm cold," she said dryly. "And when people are cold, they want to be warm. And as far as you're concerned, it's not very gentlemanly of you to just be naked in front of me."
He chuckled, slowly sliding the throw down her body until it piled up. "Are you still cold?"
She took a deep breath as heat filled her body. "I'm fine."
"Tell me something, Azrael," he murmured, sliding his fingertips down her bare arms. "Did you dream of us last night?"
She shut her eyes tight. If only he'd stop touching her in such an intimate way! She gave him a good, hard shove with her elbow, but it only made him laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes," he replied and wrapped his arms around her waist, tucking his head in the crook of her neck. "You smell good."
"Leighton, please," Azrael begged, feeling both thrown off and aroused by him sniffing her and being so close. "I'm trying to cook myself some breakfast!"
"Well, that's okay," he whispered. "I don't need breakfast when I have you! You look good enough to eat!" Then he began to undo the knot that kept the table cloth secure around her body.
"What…what are you doing?" She asked breathlessly, then grabbed the bit of tablecloth that he held out of his hand. He just grabbed another part, stubborn like a puppy playing tug of war. "Let it go now!" She said firmly. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" He asked, dropping the fabric and then undoing the rest so it fell at Azrael's feet before he nibbled on her neck. "You smell wonderful!"
Azrael found herself closing her eyes and relaxing against him, liking his attention in spite of herself as his hands caressed hers.
Then he growled softly, biting her shoulder just hard enough to hurt, but in a good way as his hands cupped her breasts and his thumbs gently stroked her nipples.
She gasped in surprise as she felt proof of his desire for her pressing against her back. "Dad please save me," she begged. "Save me from my desire for this man."
He grabbed her chin and turned her head toward him, capturing her lips in a kiss that deepened, triggering more passion in a matter of seconds. She felt one of his hands sliding down her stomach, his fingers then finding her welt folds and fingering her gently.
"Oh…oh dear!" She blushed as she felt herself begin to ride his hand.
"Shush," he murmured. "Let it come, beautiful," he growled, rubbing his hard length on her ass.
It didn't take long for her to orgasm. In a few seconds, she cried out, feeling her release, soaking his fingers with more wetness.
"Oh, fuck, you're so good to me," he whispered, kissing her shoulder, bringing his fingers to his lips so he could taste her.
"Yum…you taste like honey."
Azrael took a deep breath. "This…this shouldn't have happened," she got out, glancing at him and wrapping her arms around her chest.
"Oh, but it did, and it was delicious!" He winked and slapped her bare ass. "Now, cook me my eggs, woman! I'm going to go take a shower." He then limped to the table and grabbed his cane, then made his way down the hall to the bathroom.
She stood, breathless and speechless, near her eggs that were now overcooked. Fuck! If he could make her feel so many things…how was she going to resist him now?
Angelica pushed the stroller into the club and heaved a loud sigh. This had to work! It was her last chance!
Striding over to the bar, she noticed her brother Noah standing behind it. "Hey!" She greeted him.
"What do I have here?" He grinned as he squatted in front of his niece's stroller. "If it isn't the most wonderful and beautiful niece in the whole world?" He caressed her cheeks and she giggled.
"Well, I feel left out," Angelica rolled her eyes and smirked.
"You don't need to feel left out," he said. "You'll always be my favorite sister!" Noah chuckled and took his niece in his arms, cuddling her. "To what do I owe this this surprise visit?"
"Well, are you alone?" Angelica looked around the club. "No Roxie, or Vince or anyone?"
"The club is closed for a few days. Several men are coming in about twenty minutes to talk with me and present potential ideas for renovations." He kissed Victoria's hair.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" She cried out and stomped her foot.
"What's the matter?" He raised an eyebrow.
Angelica growled in frustration. "What is it with everyone I know being busy today?"
"Why?" Noah wanted to know. "Planning to throw a party?"
"No, nothing like that. I just need someone to watch Victoria for an hour," she explained. "I mean I suppose I could take her with me, but…that's really the last resort where I'm going." She leaned forward and made her eyes as big as she could. "I know you're busy and everything, and I wouldn't ask out of nowhere if this weren't an absolute emergency. "Please do it. Please, please, please!"
"Sorry, Angie," he shook his head. "You know I would love to any other time, but…we're remodeling soon, and with the meeting, I couldn't keep her out of trouble."
"What about Roxie?" Angelica asked. "Is it my own damn bad luck that she's gone too?"
"What about…what about Aunt Selina?" Noah suggested. "She loves kids. And Victoria could play with Elise!"
"No, she can't," Angelica sighed. "Elijah went to some vampire convention and took Elise with him. Selina would have gone too, but one of their cows went into labor and she had to stay behind and deliver the baby."
Noah snorted. "I never thought I'd hear 'Selina Mikaelson' and 'cow' in the same sentence."
"Tell me about it," she sighed.
"This will be a dumb suggestion because I know you've already thought of it, but…what about her father? Where's Klaus? Convention?"
"Exactly!" She rolled her eyes.
"Well, I'm sorry, Angie," he told her, genuinely apologetic because he truly liked spending time with his affectionate and giggly little niece. "You know I would in any other circumstance, but I truly can't do it today."
"What about Celine?" She was beginning to get desperate.
"No!" He shouted. "Not her!"
"Oh?" She grinned wickedly. "Problem with your goddaughter, brother? Did you finally do the deed?"
He blushed and stabbed a finger in her direction. "Don't even go there, Angie!"
Angelica shrugged. "Don't blame me! It's not like I'm blind! No one in this town is!"
"I don't want to talk about it," he snapped, grabbing some scotch and pouring himself a glass before holding the bottle out to her. "Want some?"
"No, thank you," Angelica shook her head. "I mean, with the way things have been going, lately, I would love nothing more than to just get a bottle of something and end up absolutely hammered." She paused. "But I need to be alert an level-headed in the presence of the person I'm going to meet."
"What's going on?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you need help?"
"Grandpa's resigned his position as God and skipped town," Angelica explained. "It's apparently really screwed things up. Made the world get darker by the minute."
"Is that what this is about?" Noah asked. "Well, I'm not surprised." He ran a hand through his dark hair.
"How can you not be?" Angelica asked.
"Well, I've noticed things happening," he said with a sigh. "And now…you think you need to meet with the monster we have to call 'father' to see if he knows what's going on?"
"Pretty much," she nodded, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Cancel and I'll come with you some other time," Noah suggested.
"No," she shook her head. "I mean, thank you for the offer, but…I just want to get this over with." She leaned across the bar and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm just…not thrilled by the idea of bringing Victoria with me."
"Well, I know our father is a bit of an asshole, but I don't think he'd kill Victoria, even if he doesn't like her father." He tried to sound encouraging and give her hope.
"May Grandpa hear you," She sighed and began pushing the stroller toward the exit. "Oh, wait…he doesn't listen anymore."
Astrid Fale and the woman formerly known as Eleanor Morningstar got out of the car and slowly walked up the drive to reach the porch of the house.
This made Ellie halt abruptly, putting hand on her heart. She had come with Astrid to visit her daughter several times, but every time she stood in front of Julian's grandmother's house, she felt like throwing up.
"Eleanor, it's not healthy for you to hold on to all the hurt," Astrid suggested kindly. "Let it go and keep it in the past."
"I'm sorry," the beautiful brunette shook her head. "I'm trying hard, but every time I think I have…I stand in front of the house and it…it all comes back to me: the betrayal, Lucifer pushing Mrs. Johnson to her death, me losing Diana Dove…"
"Repeat after me," Astrid said firmly. "You did not lose her!" She was doing her best to be comforting. "This is just a temporary situation. He'll come to his senses soon enough."
"How can it be temporary?" Ellie cried out, her brown eyes wide. "Diana is a toddler! She'll be a teenager any day now!" Her voice was full of emotion.
"Julian Johnson will come back to his senses and let you into his daughter's life, and then, with time…"
"You don't have to finish that sentence," Ellie interrupted. "I don't care about him anymore!" She kept her eyes on her friend, chin raised.
"Oh, really?" Astrid crossed her arms and smirked.
"Much," Ellie added. "But she was blushing bright red.
"It would be easier for you to admit that you still have strong feelings for the father of your little girl," Astrid pointed out teasingly.
"It doesn't matter," Ellie sighed sadly. "He won't even look at me when we're in the same room."
"Perhaps, but I saw you checking him out during our last visit." Astrid smiled. "No one can blame you. He's quite handsome."
Ellie shrugged. "Where am I supposed to look? The wall?"
"He's not looking at you, my dear, because he's still very much attracted to you and finds you irresistible. Furthermore, I bet he still has the same feelings he had for you before he found out about you and Lucifer and killed Mrs. Johnson."
"The whole thing was my damn Fault, Astrid! I didn't tell him I was married to the devil himself." Ellie pointed to herself.
Astrid rolled her eyes and kept walking to Julian's porch. "Oh, whatever. Water under the bridge. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you both will be able to put it behind you."
"Oh, just like you and Alistair?" Ellie asked perniciously as she followed behind her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Astrid snapped, turning quickly to face her.
"Well, let's say your house has very thin walls, and it's hard for me to ignore the bedframe hitting the wall repeatedly. It's like 'bang, bang, bang…" Ellie smirked.
Astrid avoided her gaze and blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure, you don't!" Ellie chuckled.
"Then don't talk about things you know nothing about!" Astrid snapped.
Before Ellie could respond, the door opened suddenly and a tall, bearded man who only wore a pair of jeans that were hanging on his hips.
"Astrid," Julian saluted her, barely glancing at Eleanor, who took advantage of it to take in the view. Damn, could he be any sexier? "I'm sorry for answering the door this way, but Diana's been kind of crabby today.:
"Is she okay?" Ellie asked worriedly, forgetting herself and taking a few steps forward.
"Yes," Julian replied firmly, blocking her way. "She's fine. No need for you to get involved with that."
"We understand, Mr. Johnson," Astrid cleared her throat. "We're just here for our weekly visit. Could we start it, please?"
But just then, she was startled as her phone rang. "Excuse me. I have to take this. Please give me two seconds."
She then put the phone to her ear and talked to the person on the other side, then hung up, looking irritated. "Damn!" She hissed as she buried her phone in her tote bag.
"What's the problem?" Ellie asked, worried.
"I'm needed at the Council," Astrid explained. "I tried to say that it was your visiting day, but it's an emergency." She sighed. "I know that I always need to be present during these visits, but…could you make an exception this time?"
Eleanor closed her eyes. Of course he wouldn't. She wouldn't have a chance to be with her daughter this week."
"Fine, I'll make an exception," Julian huffed. "But just this once." His expression was blank.
"Thank you for understanding," Astrid told him and squeezed Eleanor's arm. "Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine," Eleanor promised, smiling.
Astrid turned on her heel and headed back to her car.
Eleanor then watched the man standing over the threshold.
"Well, don't just stand there," he said. "Come in. You know your way around the house." Then he turned and went inside himself as Ellie followed carefully behind him.
This would not be a walk in the park.
"Mama!" The toddler's eyes lit up as she clapped, realizing that her mother had walked into the living room, and even pausing playing with the toys that were spread all over the Persian rug.
"Sweetheart!" Ellie cried with a smile. She rushed to kneel by the little girl, pulling her into her lap to hug her. "You've grown so much! You're beautiful!"
Julian leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched them with narrowed eyes. It definitely felt like he was intruding on their time together, but damn it, Diana Dove was his daughter too, and he wouldn't risk leaving them alone so Eleanor could take her away. He knew it was irrational, but he didn't care. Fuck it. He was still pissed at her for everything she'd put them through.
Diana Dove just gigged, unaware of her father's discomfort, putting her hands on her mother's cheeks. It was undeniable that Eleanor loved their daughter very much. That upset him, but he couldn't say why.
"Look what Mama brought you," Ellie grabbed her tote bag and pulled a small stuffed elephant out of it, handing it to her very happy daughter.
"You know, you don't have to spoil her rotten and bring her things every time you come," Julian remarked dryly.
"She's my daughter as much as she's yours," Ellie said between clenched teeth. "And I don't get t see her as often as I would like, so when I do, I want to make the most of it, including spoiling her as much as I want."
Julian scoffed. "I suppose that's easy to do since you have access to all your husband's money!"
She turned and stared at him, eyes narrowed. Fuck him!
"I don't live on my husband's money anymore! It's been ages since I took a dime from him!" She cried. "I know you might find this hard to believe, but I have lots of skills that I can use to support myself or anyone else in my life. And Astrid and the Council made sure of that."
The mood in the room had changed, Diana looked back and forth between her parents, curious.
"Some of us have to work for a living," Julian spat angrily. "Even me! I can't spend all of my money on my daughter to give her everything she wants, but I can teach her things like honesty, fidelity, and love."
"Good for you!" She shot back. "Believe what you want, Julian, but especially after everything that's happened, that's what I want to teach her too! As for you working…" she trailed off as she looked him over. He'd stopped shaving and had a thick beard, with longer hair. Not that that made him less attractive, unfortunately. "Is this the new look Mikael Mikaelson requires of his chauffeurs?"
"Not that it's any of your business," Julian answered. "But this is the look of a father who hasn't slept or had much time to take care of himself because he's too busy taking care of his daughter."
This made Ellie blush with shame and lower her eyes without a word.
Julian then moved away from the wall, his feet brushing the rug as he headed toward them, taking her in his arms. "It's okay, sweetheart," he told her. "Your mother is just in a mood today."
"I'm not!" Ellie spat, her brown eyes widening as she rose to her feet to face him. "Are you forgetting that this is my time with our daughter and not yours?"
Julian sighed loudly and kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Well, it seems like you forgot, Mrs. Morningstar, that this is supposed to be a supervised visit. It was out of the goodness of my heart that it was allowed to proceed without Astrid because our daughter shouldn't be deprived of her mother due to Astrid's emergency. Don't make me regret it!"
"Don't you dare call me Mrs. Morningstar!" Ellie spat. "My name is Eleanor Mikaelson!"
"So, you said many times while you were lying to my face!" he spat.
"You're so petty that you'd make me miss the two hours twice a week I get with my daughter?" She spat, hands on her hips.
Julian growled and lowered a wide-eyed Diana Dove back to the floor. She was wide eyed as she watched her parents, barely paying attention to the toys around her.
"Whose damn fault is that, Eleanor? Mmmm?" He lashed out, stabbing a finger in her direction as he looked her over with his dark gaze. Fuck him! He backed up and felt himself start to get hot. Why did he always act this way around her? And today wasn't any different from the other days she'd visited Diana.
She looked absolutely delicious in a pair of ripped jeans and oversized and very soft, fuzzy sweater that showed off her deep neckline and right shoulder.
"Look, I'm very grateful that you're taking such good care of Diana Dove," Ellie reassured him. "I know it can't be easy to raise a supernatural child when you've not been supernatural for long yourself." She paused. "But I deserve respect! I demand respect!" She poked him hard in the chest. "Yes I've made many mistakes in my life and several of those mistakes hurt you, especially when I lied after you loved me so well! But I refuse to let you call me a bad mother! Because I've never been one, Julian Johnson!"
Julian kept his eyes on her hand. Damn her! Goosebumps had broken out all over his body the second she'd put her finger on him.
"I don't know if I can agree with you!" He spat. "I never know what's real and what's not your concern!"
"Well, I don't give a damn what you think of me anymore, Julian Johnson!" Ellie snapped. "I've given up trying to make things up to you. If by some miracle things work out between us down the road, fine. If not, whatever. I'm not here for you. I'm here for my daughter!"
It was then that they heard giggling and slowly turned to look at their daughter. The toddler's eyes were locked on them and she was clapping and smiling as if the sight of her parents fighting was like some sort of new spectator sport.
Turning back to one another, they gave each other shy smiles.
"I think she's laughing at us," Ellie remarked.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Julian laughed a little. "We must look like total morons."
"Probably." Ellie laughed too. "I think I want to play with her now…if that's all right with you. And…maybe on a different visit, I could take her over to play with Victoria, my…my granddaughter? I think they might get along well. And don't worry. I'd make sure it was on a day that Klaus or Angelica could be with us."
"Sure, that sounds like fun," he shrugged. "You want a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, please. Cream and sugar." She blushed. "If it's not too much trouble."
"No problem at all," he shook his head.
Then Eleanor tried to pass him by, but there wasn't enough space and they bumped int each other as they tried to go the same way. This made her lose her balance, with Julian quickly grabbing her to help her stand.
Then they both froze, eyes locked on each other and hearts pounding.
"Sorry," he apologized at last and pushed her away, running his fingers through his wild hair. "Excuse me. I'll go make the coffee." Then he disappeared before she had a chance to say a word.
Once he was gone, Ellie headed back to her daughter, smiling as the little girl smiled back. "You stop that right now," she pretended to scold her little girl. "There's nothing between your father and me. And there never will be again!"
Dressed in a red and black silk dressing gown, Lucifer stumbled down the stairs into the living area of his penthouse, laughing as he leaned on a brunette, clad only in a pair of thong panties and a balconet lace bra.
Then she leaned forward and kissed his lips, which triggered a burst of laughter.
"Aren't you a teaser, Barbara?" He chuckled, beeping her nose.
"I'm not Barbara," she reminded him. "I'm Cindy! Barbara was the blonde who slept with us!"
Lucifer smirked. "Yes, silly me. Tomato, tomahto."
Then the devil raised his head at a cough, realizing they were no longer alone in the room.
"Well, if it's not Dexter, my faithful employee," Lucifer greeted, locking eyes with the demon, who stood in front of them with his arms crossed. "How are you? Dexter, this is Barbara, by the way!"
"I'm Cindy!" The woman repeated, pouting this time.
"Cindy, right!" Lucifer rolled his eyes.
"I just wanted to let you know that it's now four in the afternoon," Dexter informed him.
"Is it really four o'clock?" The woman explained in shock. She went to get her dress and sandals, then grabbed her clutch bag that was sitting on the kitchen table. "I have to go. Call me, okay?" She waved goodbye to the devil and reached the elevator, pushing the button to open the door and getting inside.
"Bye!" Lucifer waved to her as the elevator door closed.
"Okay, I know I'm gonna regret asking this, but…how many people did you sleep with last night?" Dexter wanted to know as he watched Lucifer pour himself a cup of coffee.
"Since when have you cared about my sex life?" Lucifer wanted to know. He gave a sly grin as he sipped his coffee. "I'm running the Paradisio night club! I'm a single, very attractive man! Why can't I enjoy myself with a few women?"
"Because it won't make you happy," Dexter pointed out, unwavering.
Lucifer paled and set his cup of coffee down, having lost the taste for it. "Happiness is overrated. It doesn't last! So why waste your time with it, my friend?"
"You were happy once," Dexter reminded him stubbornly.
"Yes, and look how that ended up?" Lucifer frowned, his dark eyes a little stormy for a moment before his expression lightened once more. "It was an illusion, nothing more. Now I'm at ease because I have the freedom to be my true self!" He paused and reached for a croissant, buttering it. "Why did you want to see me?" He took a bite. "And even better, in a few months, I'll be free of this stupid ankle monitor. That'll be something to celebrate, won't it?"
Dexter didn't say anything, but set something down on the table. "This is from the Council. It seems Eleanor has served you with divorce papers. It's about time, I say."
Lucifer leaned back and burst into laughter. "I can't believe she honestly thinks I'm going to give it to her."
"Why the hell not?" Dexter asked, dumbfounded. "Don't you want to get this whole mess behind you and give both yourself and her a chance to start a new life?"
"With that Julian Johnson fellow?" Lucifer shook his head and grabbed a bottle of scotch, pouring himself a glass and gulping it down. "Not a chance!" He smirked into his glass.
Dexter heaved a big sigh and looked away. "I can't even look at you right now." Disgust was on his face and in his voice.
Lucifer shrugged, unbothered. "Then leave! No one is asking you to stay! I have to go over the inventory before the club opens in a couple of hours. "I don't have time to waste talking about Eleanor, her lover, or her bastard little girl."
"All right, I'm leaving!" Dexter replied and then turned. But after taking a few steps, startling along with Lucifer as the elevator's bell rang and the door opened, announcing a visitor.
"Oh dear," Lucifer rolled his eyes. "I hope it's not that foolish girl coming back. Fucking her all night is one thing, but actually talking to her is something else entirely. Not something I care for one bit."
"Lucifer?" Dexter asked, carefully.
"What?" Lucifer asked impatiently, turning. Then he froze, speechless when he realized who was coming out of the elevator and making her way toward him.
Finally, Dexter was able to speak. "Hello," he greeted her as he approached. "It's been so long."
"It has," Angelica replied with a smile. "It's wonderful to see you again, Dexter."
They looked at each other for a few seconds, standing in awkward silence. Then they burst out laughing and hugged. Then Dexter looked at Victoria.
"And who is this beautiful girl?" he asked as Victoria regarded him with wide eyes. "Is it who I think it is?"
"Yes," Angelica smiled proudly. "This is my daughter, Victoria."
"Well, hello, Victoria," Dexter smiled and shook the little girl's tiny hands as he squatted in front of the stroller. "You're a beauty just like your mother, aren't you?"
Angelica blushed. "I don't know if I'd call myself a beauty," she said, waving the compliment away.
As they talked, Lucifer had made his way to the bar and poured himself another glass of scotch because he knew that he'd need it and soon. He downed it in one gulp and set the glass back down on the counter before staring at the other three in the room, noticing almost immediately that his daughter's gaze was on him. He stood a little straighter, eyes locked on hers. They stared at one another, lost in their memories, thinking about feelings and regrets they couldn't express.
Angelica was the first to break eye contact and turn back to Dexter, who stood up, taking her hand as he whispered in her ear. "Do you think you'll be okay? If you need me to stay while you talk, I will."
"I'm fine, but thank you," Angelica assured him, her dark eyes bright. "I won't be talking with Mr. Morningstar for long."
Lucifer heard this last sentence and chuckled as he poured himself yet another drink.
"All right, if you're sure, I'll be downstairs watching over things at the club," Dexter told her. "If you need me, don't hesitate to ask." Then he got in the elevator, the door closing behind him.
Then the room became silent before Lucifer spoke. "Well, this is a surprise. What brings you here, Ms. Morningstar?"
"It's Mikaelson now," she replied dryly and pushed the stroller further into the room.
This made Lucifer burst out laughing. "Well, of course it is! My deepest apologies, Mrs. Mikaelson. Is that what it is? Should I congratulate you on your nuptials with…that hybrid of yours yet?"
Angelica tensed, her grip tightening on the stroller handles. She kept quiet, not wanting to play his game.
"I guess not," Lucifer decided, sipping his drink again. "The man is too poorly behaved to inspire that sort of commitment, I suppose?"
"I've never really been interested in marriage," she told him firmly. "I wasn't when Sammy proposed, which started this whole mess, and I'm not really now. Klaus isn't either." She paused. "And also, you're the king of poorly behaved people." She stared at him, chin raised. "Tacky, low class night club. Tacky penthouse. Not surprised at all. Sleepless nights, half-naked women, lots of alcohol. You've really outdone yourself." She paused. "If this is the part of you that you protected me from for so many years, thank you."
"You're welcome," he smirked, raising his glass in the air.
"It wasn't meant to be a compliment."
The devil tensed and stared at the stroller. "Why did you bring the child here?"
Victoria stared at her grandfather for a few seconds, grinning and clapping her hands. This made a sincere smile break out on his face for a second as they shared a brief moment. Then he coughed and the moment ended. She was just evidence of why he and his daughter had become estranged.
"What's wrong with you?" Angelica snapped. "Is my daughter taking up too much of your oxygen?"
"I couldn't care less for the child," he lied.
That hit her like a slap and tears began filling Angelica's eyes. Damn him! In spite of her best efforts, he still knew how to hurt her.
"You're right," she shot back. "She's nothing to you and she never will be!" She raised her chin and glared at her father.
His jaw and whole body tensed.
"I'm not interested in any of Klaus Mikaelson's offspring. There are enough of them walking around as it is. Or have you forgotten that you're only one of many women that he's slept with?" He shot back maliciously.
"I bet he's slept with fewer women than you," Angelica shot back. "And fewer men too. I know all about that and it doesn't bother me." She smiled back, unbothered.
"Now it doesn't, but do you truly believe you'll be the last?" Her father chuckled and spun on his heel, heading back to the bar.
"It doesn't matter," Angelica said. "I love him. You throwing me out of your house meant that my greatest fear of being rejected by the person I loved most came true. It came true and I'm still here, so I've decided to stop worrying about my relationships and how long they're going to last. However much time I get in his company, whether I stay with him for a day or forever, that time will be a blessing." She paused. "It's certainly something you'll never understand, Mr. Morningstar, because you don't know what love is! Or at least unconditional love, anyway."
He set his glass on the bar with a bang, his knuckles turning white.
"Enough of his," he hissed. "Just tell me why you're here. I'm a busy man and I have more important things to do than socialize with you and your toddler."
"Very well," Angelica replied dryly. She put the stroller near the sofa and handed her daughter a stuffed animal to play with before going to stand at her father's side. "Re-regardless of what you might think, I didn't come here to start trouble. I just…I'm here regarding Grandpa's whereabouts."
"What about Dad's whereabouts?" Lucifer asked as he retied the silk belt of his dressing gown.
"Well, do you know where he could be?" Angelica pressed. "I mean, the two of you have been awfully chummy my whole life."
"Not anymore," Lucifer scoffed. "I haven't seen him or talked to him for months! You must've really hurt his feelings!"
"So, he hasn't talked to you, okay," Angelica nodded. "But you can talk to him, you know. That's allowed. But I shouldn't be surprised considering that you only like it when other people come to you and that you were the one who abandoned your children!" She began pacing back and forth.
"And whose fault is it that I did that?" He snapped, throwing what he believed to be the truth back in her face.
"It's the fault of a man whose neglect and abandonment destroyed his family!" She lashed out.
"Well if that's something to be upset about, don't forget to put some blame on the daughter who abandoned her father!" Lucifer snapped, tit for tat.
Angelica opened her mouth, wanting to shout that she had never intended to abandon him. That it had always been her goal to be surrounded by everyone she loved, him included…but the emotions were so strong… she was so shocked, that she couldn't get it out. Instead, she and her father just stared at one another, waiting for the other to speak first.
"I'm sorry I took up so much of your precious time, Mr. Morningstar," Angelica said at last. "I'll be on my way now." She turned on her heel and began to make her way back to the elevator, startled by a sudden strong grip on her arm.
"What's going on, Angelica?" her father asked in a surprisingly soft voice as she turned to face him, eyes wide with surprise. "Tell me honestly. You wouldn't have come to see me if it wasn't something important."
She lowered her eyes to her arm and watched as he slowly loosened his grip.
"Fine," she sighed. "Alistair Fale invited me to a Council meeting. "It seems that Grandpa has…that he's abandoned his position as God and has just…disappeared."
Lucifer froze, emotionless for a few seconds before heading to an armchair and sitting down. "I can't say I'm surprised. It's hard to ignore all the strange occurrences and displays of dark magic popping up."
"So…so you had nothing to do with it?" She asked, relief obvious in her voice. "I really hoped that you didn't."
"No," he shook his head. "Though I can certainly wreak havoc on Earth if I choose, I don't have enough power to do what's happening now."
"And you truly have no idea where he could be?" She asked one more time, just to be sure."
"I could check one or two places but I can't make any guarantees," he replied.
"All right," Angelica nodded. "Thank you for taking this so seriously. I won't take up any more of your time."
"Do you honestly believe I could do something that horrible to the world, Angelica?" He questioned with a tilt of his head as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why not?" She shrugged. "You tossed Mom aside like she never meant anything to you, you forgot all your children, and you even murdered a sweet, innocent human and caused an innocent human man to need to become a vampire because you tried to kill him too."
"Your mother left me for a human man!" Lucifer yelled, hitting his chest with his fists. "Not the other way around!"
"She only did that because she couldn't stand what a narcissistic jerk you had become!" She reminded him angrily. "I'm sure she did everything she could to keep your relationship alive, but you were so busy sticking your nose into my love life that you ignored her! What other choice did she have?"
"Your mother is not without her flaws, and she knew exactly the sort of man I was," he pointed out dryly. "She didn't have a problem with it when I satisfied her for years."
"Perhaps," Angelica nodded. "But then she grew up and realized how wrong she'd been. Just like I did."
As they argued, neither of them noticed that Victoria had dropped her stuffed animal, a unicorn, and had freed herself from her stroller to grab it. Then, curious about the new person her mother was talking to, made her way toward them until she reached them and pulled on Lucifer's robe.
Lucifer looked down in surprise and the little girl smiled back at him.
Her mother, meanwhile, froze, watching the scene with horror in her eyes.
"What are you doing, child?" Lucifer asked as he lifted Victoria up and stared into her eyes. "Don't you know I'm no good like your mother says?"
Victoria just stared into his eyes and threw her little arms around his neck, hugging him gently, the moment of connection making him smile.
"Can I…can I have my daughter back?" Angelica asked after a little bit in a shaky voice. "I don't know how she got out of her stroller. I can assure you that she was firmly strapped into it." She shrugged. "Maybe her powers are starting to show. I promise I'll be more careful in the future."
Lucifer snapped out of it and headed over to hand Victoria to her mother.
She took Victoria in her arms and nodded. "Thank you."
"That toy she has looks familiar," Lucifer observed. "Is that one of the ones I…?"
"Yes," Angelica nodded. "Sparkle the unicorn. I kept Smoky the dragon for myself. He's put away somewhere special."
Lucifer looked at her in surprise that she still kept the gifts he'd given her after everything that had happened. "You…you still have them?"
"Yeah," Angelica nodded. "I do."
Overcome with emotion thanks to this revelation, Lucifer turned away. "You should leave now," he told her. "I'll look a few places and let the Council know if I find out anything about your grandfather."
"Thank you," Angelica replied, setting Victoria in her stroller, making her way to the elevator and getting inside to leave the penthouse.