Epilogue

Lucifer had been right, as per annoyingly usual. It had taken her a few weeks to – adapt – to being on Earth again. She found it vaguely amusing how that made her sound like an astronaut. Could jumping planes be compared to jetting into space? The floor certainly went out from beneath her feet, and the feeling of disorientation had been strong for a while. She was finally beginning to find her feet again… meaning she wasn't running to the bathroom every few hours to throw up whatever she'd previously eaten. Trixie had been nervously hovering around her since her first bathroom trip and she'd tried to reassure her daughter that she was fine, they were fine, and everything was fine.

And it was.

Sort of.

At first it had been weird coming home to an excited Trixie who'd launched herself at her, and then Lucifer in turn who'd reacted in his usual 'hello, child-' and awkwardly patted her head until Chloe steered her away and into the kitchen as her daughter babbled about her day and how she'd met a new friend, called Sophie, and did mommy have a good day at work. Chloe had a little trouble answering, freezing as she hadn't prepared an answer and she was too exhausted to act on her feet. Lucifer – for one glorious second – had taken over, herded her daughter and placed her on the couch explaining they'd had a bad day and that she needed to look after Chloe for a little while until she felt better.

Trixie had taken her 'care giver' duties dutifully and was constantly following Chloe around as she moved from room to room, worrying her little teeth and constantly offering Chloe water when she realized she wasn't able to hold down another meal. She wasn't sure, but Chloe was suspicious that Trixie and Lucifer had some sort of contact so he could keep an eye on her – and Chloe had given herself a mental note to scour her daughter's room for a phone, or some mode of contact between her Trixie and the man who had turned her life upside down.

They hadn't seen that much of each other over the past few weeks. Chloe had taken an impromptu vacation from work and had spent it resting at home; trying to reacclimatize herself. She'd managed to keep the past few days food down and was no longer feeling as dizzy when she stood up, so she figured she'd be safe enough to drive over to Lux – she wouldn't admit it out loud to anyone but herself (and maybe Lucifer if he asked) but she missed his sturdy demeanor. The way he'd always be there, a constant reassuring presence who always had her back. Plus, she told herself as she settled behind the wheel, they had things to discuss.

Like his mother.

Among other things.

She wasn't letting him deal with her alone. For one she'd met the woman – kind of, if she wasn't so busy dying she'd have said a lot more, perhaps given the woman a piece of her mind – but Chloe also wanted penance. His mother had been a stain on their lives, and the thought of her was now plaguing Chloe nightly as she thought about the damage she could cause on her city and the innocent lives which lived here. For the sakes of her own daughter; she was going to help Lucifer put the other mother down. She set her chin as she drove; he couldn't – wouldn't – refuse her. She wouldn't drop the subject until he understood she was helping. Any way possible. She wasn't going to let it rest until his mother was locked back up in Hell, where she belonged.

Putting her car in park in the alley beside the club she dusted off her jacket as she closed the door behind her. Chloe was easily able to thread the line of babbling girls and wide-eyed men trying a little too hard to look sober, and she sent a small smile to the bouncer as he pulled back the red rope barrier for her and pushed open the door with his other hand. Telling the grumble of protests of: 'why does she get entry?', 'she isn't even dressed to party', 'what's so special about her?' at her entry to be quiet as she disappeared into the inky blackness of Lux.

It wasn't until she pushed up her sleeves as she wandered through the club, the sheer heat of the people shocking her a little as she pushed dancing party-goers out her way as she made her way to the elevator in the back, that she realized how Lucifer had somehow managed to make Lux a perfect halfway point to Hell. It had the hustle and bustle of earth, the freedom and the strong taste of being alive that Chloe had so missed; but it was darker and the lights shimmered throwing shards of color around the room reminding her of his setting star. The music pumping was the perfect volume of just a little too loud to think properly but not loud enough to make debauchery impossible as the couples writhed against each other on the dance floor. It was – she supposed, despite how ironic it sounded – his little slice of Heaven. Of home. Perfectly balanced between the two. The best of both worlds.

She could feel a small smile floating around the edges of her lips as she shook her head fondly. Understanding his love of his club a lot more now than she did a few short months ago. She leaned herself against a railing on the balcony overlooking the dancefloor, pushing herself up on her tiptoes, to check Lucifer wasn't milling around his patrons before she made her way to his penthouse. Spotting Maze at the bar, she sent her a small wave when the bartender's eyes landed on her and there was no ignoring the dramatic roll of eyes Lucifer's demon sent her before she pointedly turned away back to the drink she was pouring.

Chloe's gaze moved, there slightly slumped against the bar, looking a little unsure as his eyes scanned the crowd nervously, was Lukas. His eyes lit up as he spotted her, and he pushed himself up. Chloe quickly held up a hand to tell him to stay here. He paused, dropping his head but nodding and resumed his position. Feeling bad, Chloe pulled a hand through her hair before pulling it up and away from where it was beginning to stick to her neck and into a messy ponytail on the back of her head. She'd reconcile with him later, on her way out of here. She had to question Lucifer on what he was exactly supposed to be doing up here before she talked to Lukas. Although she did miss the little shy smiles and joyful expressions the kid – demon she corrected herself – sent her, and shook her head at herself at how easily she'd become attached to the boy as she turned away resuming her mission…

… only to bump into a random guy who had snuck up behind her while she'd been surveying the crowd lost in thought. She raised an eyebrow at him, trying to move around, but he matched her step and grinned at her. His teeth gleaming in the light as he danced. Frowning in frustration, Chloe shook her head at the guy and once again tried to push past, with him immediately moving to cross her path. Huffing at the probably inebriated guy; Chloe stomped on his foot and shoved his shoulder as she walked the last few steps to Lucifer's elevator and hopefully silent relief from the slightly too loud music for her current tastes.

Why Lucifer couldn't have a back entrance to his penthouse Chloe would never understand… well, she did, he liked the attention. The Devil soaked up attention like a sponge absorbed water – if Chloe didn't understand him as well as she did she'd be jealous. But she wasn't. Just annoyed at jerks who thought they could stop her from reaching her goal.

"Hey! Lady, I don't think you can go in there."

Drunk guy had followed her, and was grinning down at her his eyes slightly unfocused as she placed a hand on the wall to steady himself.

"Think you'll find I can." Chloe sent a smile to the guy, folding her arms, not really in the mood to be avoiding and dissuading drunken – by the looks of him much too young for her – guys.

He followed the movement, wobbling a little on his feet. "Um, that's the man's private penthouse. You can't go up there unless he invites you," he looked her up and down, sending her what he probably thought was a tempting smile, "and I don't think he's invited you."

"Ouch," Chloe would have been more bothered if she wasn't thinking about the killer hangover this guy was going to have tomorrow. The thought made even her stomach churn. And she instead arched an eyebrow, stretching her thumb to the keypad without looking away from Mr Drunk Guy. She grinned as his expression fell when the scanner pinged green and pulled her hand back; unable to resist as she stepped into the warm glow of the interior and grateful for the soundproofing walls soothing the thumping music: "I'm always invited."

The man's mouth was slightly agape as the doors slid shut and Chloe slumped herself against the elevator walls when he was out of sight. Lucifer had said to her – months and months, felt like an eternity ago – that the door was always open. So much had happened since then, but she was pretty sure the statement still stood. Especially now she understood him on a level she hadn't believed before. He was her entry to a world she wasn't really made for – and that scared her, but she couldn't leave it alone. She would always want to know more.

Chloe was an inherently curious person, and it had often gotten her into trouble as a child, and as a Detective. That wasn't going to suddenly stop now she'd discovered there was a lot more to life than she'd previously thought. She wasn't sure, but she thought Lucifer understood and was ever grateful to him when he didn't brush off her questions with a roll of the eyes or a mutter that it was obvious. If anything, in Hell or from her odd question when she'd managed to grab a second with him on Earth since returning, he'd answered her curiosity with enthusiasm. Exuberance pouring from every pour as he gave her answers… slightly more wistful when she'd asked about Heaven but generally eagerly enthusiastic to explain to her; like it meant everything that she listened to him, his side, and often agreed with him.

He was right. God was unfair. And she was angry that he'd cast Lucifer from his home simply because he'd questioned his Father's will. But she kept her silent anger to herself, figuring she was already damned to Hell anyway so how much worse could it get but guessing there were probablymany things she still didn't understand… but she knew Lucifer could sense how she felt as she ranted in her head against the lord of all creation. He'd found it funny and she'd managed to glare him into silence, as he held up his hands, and had swiftly changed the topic into safer areas.

Their weird emotional connection bond thing had changed since returning to Earth. They found – thank whoever – that they could control the extent to which it affected them. The further the distance between them the weaker the connection, and she had been able to build herself – on her own, with no help from Lucifer – what she called an 'emotional shield' where she could block his emotions from changing hers. She could still feel his emotions but stop them affecting her, but often she just blocked everything out – it was unnerving feeling what someone else was feeling.

Her 'shield' - Lucifer hated her calling it that but she didn't know what else to call it so it was staying - was fragile and needed work. It often dropped in the night and she could wake with a burst of emotion that definitely wasn't hers as she flew off the bed. That was one of the reasons she was here now, she needed to talk to him about the flutter of worry she was feeling around her heart and the building tension that bubbled just below the surface that could quickly burst into rage if he left it unchecked. It had shot up in intensity tonight and she needed to see if he was okay…

…her breath halted in her throat for a second as the elevator doors opened to reveal a tableau she definitely was not expecting. Although it did explain what Lucifer was feeling as she stepped further into the room to clear her throat.

Dan swung around, glaring, and coming up short when he realized Chloe was staring at him in confusion. "Chloe? What are you doing here?" Dan was pissed. She didn't need to be able to feel his emotions to see the anger radiating off him as he stood a few feet away from Lucifer who remained sprawled on the couch, one arm spread across the back and a drink in the other. A picture of nonchalance. Chloe knew otherwise.

Blowing out her cheeks Chloe shook her head. "I came to see Lucifer." She pointed at her chest and raised an eyebrow in his direction pointedly, he matched her expression but she caught the look that said he understood what she meant. Turning back to her ex-husband, eyebrows raised, she folded her arms, "why are you here?"

"You came to see him?" Still facing her, Dan threw a hand behind him to gesture Lucifer who looked at the hand disdainfully. "Jesus, Chloe, just how deep are you in with this guy?"

"Why must you humans always throw up his name-" Lucifer choosing an appropriate moment to speak dropped his head back against the couch, "I mean, he doesn't care. If anything he finds it annoying-"

"Lucifer, be quiet." Chloe glowered, briefly turning her attention to him and shooting him a glare before refocusing her attention on Dan and ignoring his mock salute. He was still bubbling and Chloe needed to get Dan out of here before he exploded. "Dan, is there a reason you're here because if not then I suggest you leave."

"He came to reprimand and warn me off you-" Lucifer wagged his eyebrows once, "apparently I'm an unfavorable," he played with the word, turning it over in his mouth and pursing his lips to make the 'b' pop, "presence in your life."

Chloe guessed 'unfavorable' wasn't the word Dan had used but she got the picture. Rolling her eyes she turned to her ex, "Dan-"

"No, Chloe, you're prancing around with this guy, who thinks he's the Devil, and you don't see just how much dang-"

"Prancing?" Chloe interrupted, frowning, "I'm not prancing around with anyone Dan. And who I associate myself with is none of your business."

"It is if he's somehow persuaded you he's actually the Devil and gotten you to believe his delusions. God knows what he's feeding you but he's got you as delud-"

Chloe easily slipped between Lucifer and Dan, feeling the spike in her chest, just a millisecond before Lucifer erupted off the couch. Holding out her hands, so they rested on Lucifer's chest, she craned her head to look at him. "Don't-"

"He-" Lucifer gritted his teeth and Chloe could feel just how hard he was trying to withhold his boiling rage for her ex-husband.

Shifting uncomfortably at the unfamiliar feeling, Chloe tightened her grip and swallowed, "I know." With that he looked down at her, his eyes glittering in the low light of his penthouse, "I know. But hold it, Lucifer, not here."

His eyes widened as he watched her struggle with her own emotions and his rage as she dealt with both him and her ex and immediately tightened his hold on his anger further; closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Chloe didn't know what he thought of, where his happy place was, but the constant pressure in her chest ebbed a little and she sent him a small grateful smile. "Chloe, I'm- are you-?"

She waved him off, sending him a reassuring smile. "I got it. Don't worry."

He seemed to deflate a little in relief and she gave him a small pat on his chest before turning around to face Dan, closing her eyes for a second to steel herself. "Dan. You need to leave."

He was watching, eyes huge in their sockets and brows furrowed in confusion. "What just happened?"

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with," she raised a hand now dropped by her side to shield between herself and Dan, the other reaching behind to link with Lucifer's, "but I think you should just go before anything happens."

She cringed at the choice of words.

"Happens?" Dan glowered. "What would happen Chloe? If I leave you're coming with me."

She shook her head, "Dan, I need to talk to Lucifer, I'll see you tomorrow."

"How do I even know you'll be there tomorrow?"

Feeling Lucifer bristle behind her as he struggled with his rage, she squeezed his hand reassuringly, and partially in restraint, as she felt him tense. "I would never hurt her."

Dan's eyes flicked to Lucifer, "sure, I'm sure that's what you think-"

Upon feeling the anger nearly topple over again, Chloe placed a hand on Dan's chest and pushed him slightly. "You need to go, now."

Stumbling back a step at the unexpected contact, he regarded her and Lucifer simultaneously. "Chloe-"

"No, Dan, I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself. I'm fine here, and Lucifer is a good man who'd never ever hurt me. I need you to leave-"

"Just-"

"No." She shook her head, pulling herself away from Lucifer and crowding Dan towards the elevator. "Just go, you're causing upset. Trixie is with my mom at mine, you can pick her up on your way home. Just let me know. But you need to go now." Her mom had been informed to looked after her daughter until Chloe returned, but if Dan took her at least it'd give her a little rest from the over exuberance of an eight year old Trixie.

"Promise me you'll call in the morning." Dan eyed Lucifer warily behind her back, his eyes once again falling on her. "Chloe, please, you're the mother of our child. I need to know you're okay."

Rolling her eyes, "yes, fine," she agreed for the sake of it. Anything to get him out of Lucifer's penthouse.

Stopping for a second as he reached the elevator, he watched as Chloe pressed the call button and the doors slid open. "I-" He stepped inside.

"Bye, Dan." She watched the doors close and as soon as he was gone she dropped her head into her hands and groaned in frustration.

"Chloe-"

"Shh-" she toed off her shoes, her feet aching and wandered her way over to the bar. Propping herself up on a bar stool she felt Lucifer come up by the side of her, "what the Hell happened?"

He grinned at her choice of words and leaned against the bar next to her. "Your ex paid me a visit. Stormed in here about twenty minutes before you and started a full on tirade of how I'm no good for you and how you deserve much better-" he jovially rolled his eyes but Chloe could see the slight grave tilt to his lips as she stared just over her shoulder.

Pushing herself to her feet, using the slightly twisty bar stool to gain a little bit of height she raised herself to his eye line. His hands automatically coming to her hips to steady her as she wobbled as the stool swiveled. "Hey-" he was still looking away from her so she used a hand to turn his head to hers and he met her eyes solemnly, "I think I get the final word in who is or isn't good for me," she raised an eyebrow playfully trying to lighten the mood, "don't you think?"

He sighed, "Chloe-"

She silenced him with her lips, flicking her tongue over his bottom lip and nibbling slightly. His hands tightened at her hips and she added a little pressure to her kiss before pulling back. His eyes were darker, and slightly hooded as he stared at her. "Now," she mock glared at him, "that's enough of that."

He leaned back in to kiss her again, humming against her lips, "I agree, why talk about the douche when we can be doing much more interesting things with our tongues-"

Drawing away, she placed a finger on his lips at his protest. "We have things we need to talk about Luce."

She didn't often use his nickname, it always gave her a kick when she did as his eyes impossibly darkened further and his fingers gripped her hips as he lifted her off the stool. She squealed, wrapping her legs around his waist so she didn't lose her balance. "Put me down," he didn't, propping her up on the bar top and situating himself between her legs, immediately moving to the gap between her shoulder and neck; skimming his nose up her shoulder and placing a kiss just below her ear. "Lucifer, I mean it." She pushed against his chest and he growled, but stepped back and let her drop to the floor.

"What could we possibly have to talk about that's better than this-" he skimmed his hands up her sides and raised an eyebrow pointedly when she shivered, a satisfied smile slipping over his slips as he rest his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer…

She pulled away, stepping back and slipping out from his arms. Getting some distance so she could think. He pouted at her but let her move away with no move to stop her. "We need to talk about your mother and about," she gestured at herself.

His expression fell, and he sulked as he marched himself over to his couch and threw himself down, crossing his legs and his arms thrown out along the back. "That's boring," his eyes tracked her as she began to pace a little.

"No, I want to know what's happening. Have you found her? Where is she?"

"Chloe-" He was staring at her, eyes dark and solemn.

"I'm helping." She was prepared for this argument, talking it over with herself a million times with all the ways she could think Lucifer would use to weed her out of it. "That's final."

"Mother, she's-"

"Dangerous?" Chloe rolled her eyes, plopping herself down on the couch opposite him to keep a little bit of distance so she could think. "I know. She's the reason I died."

He winced at the reminder. "She'll pay for that, I'll-"

"We'll," she reaffirmed. He looked at her in confusion for a second, eyes clouding in puzzlement. "You want to punish her. I'm not going to stop you-" she waved a hand, "but I need to be there. I need to be."

He was scrutinizing her carefully, "I-"

"She practically killed me herself. I need to see her-" she cut herself off but gestured with her hands more and his eyes narrowed as he got her meaning. She needed to see his mother suffer. She needed to be completely utterly sure that she was not escaping Hell again. She needed to know she was safe. That her city was safe. That her daughter was safe. "Lucifer-"

"Okay."

"Okay?" She frowned at his simple answer as he stared at her.

He nodded, uncrossing his legs and leaning forwards, hands linking together dangling between his legs. "Yes. Okay." An amused smile dancing on the edges of his lips as she stared at her confounded expression.

She delated, relief as well as apprehension filling her as she breathed out heavily. "Thank you." That was easier than she expected and she figured there would be more arguments about it in their future when he realized how far she needed to know everything, how much she wanted to help, but she let it slide for now. "Do you know where she is?"

His expression fell, "no." He dropped himself backwards to look at the ceiling, "all quiet on that front. Amenadiel is still out looking for her, but her little empire," he spat the word, "seems to have disbanded overnight and she's vanished, again."

"Is there anything we can do?"

He shook his head. "Not until we know more," he cut himself off and raised his head, sending her a smirk, "I'll keep you in the loop, don't worry."

Nodding, "good," she fiddled with her hands in her lap, "we wait then."

He returned the nod, "we do, for now," and reached for a drink he'd had readily poured on the table. He seemed to be internally debating with himself as he glanced at her and his drink. She let him without interruption, waiting for him to speak and playing with her hands as a distraction from the foreboding feeling she could feeling building in her chest – unsure if it was her own or his. "Amenadiel dropped by yesterday though for an entirely different reason…" he trailed off and she looked up from her hands in curiosity to find him staring at her; half way between interest and dulled amusement.

"What about?"

"You, of course." He sighed. "It appears since our little trip to Hell and back, Father has made a reappearance in Heaven."

Leaning forwards, she pinned him with her stare. "He has?" Frowning, the cogs in her mind turning, "what has that got to do with me?"

He chuckled, the sound brittle and not comforting. "You're not damned to Hell anymore."

Perking up, "why-," confusion filling her being at his tone she stared at him, "surely that's a good thing?"

This time it was his turn to pin her with his stare, eyes serious and earnest as he pressed forwards. "There's always a catch with my dad."

Feeling her stomach sink, she swallowed harshly and turned her lips inwards. "What's that?"

"You have to choose."

Blinking, she sat back in confusion, her heart plummeting and stomach churning. "Choose? Choose what?" She had a bad feeling and this time she was sure it was her own feeling as her throat tightened.

"I'm still destined to rule Hell for all eternity," he rolled his eyes, "obviously. Not that I plan on going back-" he cut himself off and stared at her, "but you can go to Heaven when you die, if you so wish, but you'll never be able to see me again."

"I- what- that's," Chloe stood up in anger, "that's unfair." She glared at nothing. "That's completely and utterly-" she swung around to Lucifer, "why the Hell would he do that?!" She knew her daughter would be going to Heaven, along with her mother and Dan and all her family and those she cared deeply about. "What? Have I done something to piss him off or-"

He stood up quickly, catching her hands in midair. "No, no, of course not." He tried for a reassuring smile but it came out a little tight as he held her hands.

She slackened her grip, feeling a little defeated, "then why?"

Sighing, he pulled her in closer. "He gave me my wings back so I have my full strength to re-capture mother and put her back where she belongs. I'm no longer even slightly mortal-" he cut himself off, eyeing her carefully to gauge her reaction. She kept it artfully blank as she listened. "My job is to recapture mother. But where I stay depends on you."

She frowned, "me?"

Nodding, he tightened his grip. "If you choose Heaven – which you should - then I'll be going back to rule Hell full time like a good little solider boy,"

Her voice was a whisper, "no-"

This time he cut her off, "but if you choose-" he paused, choosing his words carefully, "me, then I'll be allowed to stay with you here until your time comes-" they both winced at that, Chloe vividly remembered dying and hoped to anyone who was listening that when she did die she wouldn't go out the same way, "-when you die, we'll both go-" he pointed downwards to symbol what he meant.

A beat of silence as they stared at each other. Chloe dropped her head.

"This all feels like one big joke, and someone's going to jump out the cupboard and yell 'got you' any minute." She mumbled to herself, looking at her shoes as she scuffed them across Lucifer's perfect marble floor.

Tilting her chin up with his index finger, Lucifer smiled sadly at her. "I've always said assuming my Father's master plan was a good one was a fault of humanity…"

"So-" she swallowed. This was horrible, she wasn't sure what on Earth she was supposed to do. She didn't want to return to Hell, and she didn't want to lose her family, but she also didn't want to lose this wonderful, beautiful, broken – kind – man standing in front of her. He was trying to remain brave, but she could see the total defeat in his eyes and her stomach sank. "I don't-"

"You have to choose Heaven Chloe. Choose Trixie, and your Mum… your Dad will be there." He sent her a soft smile. "You do that, that's the right choice."

She hesitated, thoughts firing at a million miles an hour, "but-"

He pressed a finger over her mouth. "No buts- no talking, not now-" he picked her up and she went willingly, this time locking her legs around his waist tightly and fastening her lips and gripping his shirt in her fists as she clung on. He kissed her back, running his hands down her sides, sliding them under her to keep her supported as he carried her towards the bedroom.

The truth settled within her heart as he gently, for the first time, laid her down on his bed. Gazing at her, eyes roaming over her form like he was trying to commit her to memory. Like she was his salvation, his world, his everything… and her breath caught in her throat-

She wouldn't let him go.

She couldn't tell him … not yet, not until… she keened as he ran his warms up her sides and knotted them in her hair as he pulled her up to kiss him, she would never leave his side.

She loved him.

And that had to stand for something.

Right?

So this is it. We have come to an end my friends. I hope you enjoyed the ride.

I didn't include any smut in this chapter as I thought it wouldn't fit with the flow of the story. However, I will be posting many smutty/fluffy oneshots in the future. I have a few already half written.

Thank you to all those who reviewed, and followed this story. Keep an eye out for future fics from me. For there will be many - N.

P.S/ Go back and read the bracket parts of this series titles and pop them together. It says 'I control my soul' in case anyone was wondering. :)