Disclaimer: Don't own nuthin ;)

Authors Note: So this one is actually the first story I ever planned to write for this fandom but with my muse running away on different projects (as you might have noticed) it's taken me a little bit longer than I thought to get this one to go where I wanted it to.

This takes place from the point that Lucifer gets shot by Malcolm but when his father sends him back, Lucifer isn't returned exactly as he left. Does his dad have a strange sense of humour or is there a reason behind what he did?

This story is already written, just need to complete some revisions. It will be 'roughly' 10 chapters long, and will have some fluff, angst and lots of hurt (sorry Lucifer) kidding...sort of ;) This is AU and please note that Lucifer might be a little OOC...you'll see why...*evil chuckle*

Hope you enjoy!

DB

Lucifer thought he knew what pain was. After Maze had cut his wings off he'd been in agony for weeks if not months, but he'd finally felt free. He'd given up the role his father had set out for him and flipped the old man the grandest of birds.

Getting shot in the leg by Chloe after repeatedly asking her to had hurt, though it wasn't anything compared to what he was feeling now. The bullet lodged in his gut was killing him slowly, he could feel his life essence spilling between his fingers and pooling underneath him.

He pressed his hands over the wound, attempting to keep pressure on the wound and hopefully slow his impending demise before Malcolm managed to hurt the one person Lucifer had truly come to care about. His body was going into shock, tremors travelled through his entire being and he fought to keep his hands where they were, but the darkness was encroaching his vision and taking what little strength he had left.

"I don't know if this is all part of the plan," he said, taking a stuttering breath, struggling to get the words past his lips as blood trickled from the side of his mouth. "Or if you can even hear me? But if you're up there, dad, I need a favour." Lucifer swallowed, choking on more blood. He could feel himself growing weaker, but he had to get the words out. "I'll be the son you always wanted me to be, I'll do as you ask, go where you want me to. I-in exchange all I ask, that you'll protect Chloe."

In that moment he felt the life drain from his body and when he opened his eyes he was back where he loathed to be, yet if it saved her life Lucifer would do it all over again. The smell and taste of sulphur was thick in the air and he fought the urge to gag. He began moving through the maze of walls, never second guessing where he was going even though around every corner looked the exact same as the one before it. He'd built this place, and knew his way around like the back of his hand. Trailing his fingers over the cold bricks, he felt himself being guided almost like someone wanted to show him something.

Father?

He received no answer. Typical.

"Home sweet home," he declared and continued walking down the path. The ash was getting thicker the further he travelled. "Bloody ash," he complained, dusting the flakes from his suit jacket and stopped when he noticed the broken chains and busted door.

"That can't be right."

He walked further in, his heart thumping wildly in his chest at the implications of what he was seeing. He reached another door and froze at the sight of the loose chains and another door lying open. It couldn't be. It wasn't possible.

Lucifer stared inside the empty room feeling a strange emotion flow though him, one that he hadn't felt in a very long time. Fear. He was truly afraid. If she'd escaped, if she was on Earth right now he had to go back. It didn't matter if he got into another tiff with his father. She had to be brought back to hell.

Just as he was ready to call to his dad and explain what had happened, Lucifer's eyes snapped open and he sucked in a strangled breath, willing the taste of sulphur to disappear. Feeling slightly nauseous, he glanced down to see that the bullet wound had vanished, but the blood he'd lost remained stained on his clothes as a reminder that he hadn't just come close to dying, he'd crossed over, back to hell. The only way he could've returned was by His hand.

Maybe his father was watching him after all.

He heard a noise to his right and turned his head. Malcolm was still here and he was hunting Chloe. Lucifer's eyes glowed red and he smirked devilishly. Now he would extract some punishment. It wasn't until he stood up that he realised his normally tailored clothing was hanging off him, the cuffs of his jacket covering his hands and he almost tripped over the bottoms of his trouser which were trailing the floor.

"Bloody hell," he gasped, his hand coming up to his face and touching the smooth skin instead of scratchy stubble. "Is this some kind of joke?" he asked the heavens and was positive that he heard an amused chuckle in his ear. He didn't have time for this. Chloe needed him.

Malcolm had almost closed in on the Detective by the time Lucifer caught up to him, the dirty cop had the gun raised and ready to shoot when the Devil swooped in with a, "Hello Malcky," and a solid punch to the face which sent the other man sprawling backwards into a stack of crates. He was about to raise his weapon again when Chloe fired off three shots from her own weapon.

Malcolm collapsed to the floor, his shaking fingers searching for the coin Lucifer had given him. It was his only escape from the hell he knew was awaiting him. The Devil shuffled closer and crouched next to the fallen man, his gaze showing no sympathy for the man on deaths door.

"Looking for this?" Lucifer gritted his teeth at how young he sounded and glared at the bleeding man before him. This was all his fault. If he hadn't shot Lucifer, then the Devil wouldn't have died, which meant he wouldn't have made a deal with his dad and been sent back to earth in this, this child's body.

Malcolm's gaze widened when he spotted the coin in the kid's hand. He was about to ask who the hell he was when he noticed the clothes and the blood stained shirt. Holy crap, he realised, this was the Devil. He didn't even have the energy left to make a comment as the darkness enveloped him, body and soul.

"L-Lucifer?"

The Devil turned to face the Detective, wondering how the hell he was going to explain this turn of events.

"Hello Detective. Did you miss me?" He said flashing what he hoped was one of his dashing, devilish smiles. What he didn't expect was Chloe's eyes to roll up in her head and her body to drop to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been severed.

"Oh, bollocks." Lucifer moved quickly and caught the woman before she cracked her head on the concrete floor. At least his strength hadn't disappeared, so that was a bonus.

"Mommy?" Trixie cried out, racing from her hiding place and running to her mother who was being laid gently on the ground by - "Lucifer?" she questioned, unsure if her eyes were working properly. How could the tall man she practically worshipped, the one who teased her and made her laugh suddenly look like a teenager?

"Ah yes, hello child." Turning to the little girl he wondered what to say, though it didn't seem to matter because the next thing he was aware of was small arms wrapped around his waist and tears soaking through his completely ruined shirt. He patted her back gently trying to offer some comfort. "There, there small spawn, everything will be alright." Even though Lucifer had no idea how to reverse what his father had done, at this moment in time he had someone else to take care of. He did however plan on having one hell of a rant to the heavens in due course.

"Come on, lets get you both home, hmmm." With surprisingly little effort he scooped the detective up and headed towards her car. He manoeuvred her gently into the back seat and watched with a heavy heart as Trixie climbed in beside her, lifting her mothers head on to her lap and running her small fingers through Chloe's blonde locks.

"Is she gonna be okay, Lucifer?" she asked with a quiver in her voice.

Lucifer slid into the front seat, his jaw clenched in irritation as he had to slide the seat forward a few more inches. This was truly unjust. Glancing over his shoulder he caught the little girl's gaze and nodded with a gentle smile.

"Yes, she will be. Your mother just needs some rest." He paused when he saw his reflection in the mirror, then added. "And perhaps a drink."

"How come you're young now?" she asked finally and Lucifer grimaced.

"My father has a strange sense of humour it would seem." Turning the ignition he pulled out of the hanger and headed for the precinct. He was going to have to return the money Chloe had taken in the hopes of saving her daughters life, he couldn't very well let her get in trouble over such a minor infraction. It wasn't like she killed anybo-...oh monkeybottoms. Perhaps he should let the police know that Malcolm was dead, as well as returning the money?

Lucifer blew out a frustrated sigh. As if things weren't complicated enough he was also quite a few inches shorter than his normal self, his voice sounded like a squeaky teen whose voice had yet to break and he was going to have to charm his way into the precinct without anyone noticing. Muttering a curse under his breath he parked the car in Chloe's usual spot.

"Where are you going?" Trixie's bottom lip trembled, her eyes suspiciously wet. She didn't want Lucifer to leave her and her mom on their own. Not after everything that happened.

"I have to return some evidence before your mother gets into any bother. Don't worry, I won't be long." Lucifer grabbed the heavy bag from the trunk and groaned at his reflection in the window of the car. This was beyond embarrassing. He quickly rolled up the bottoms of his trouser so he wasn't tripping over them, tightened his belt and rolled up his sleeves so finally his hands were visible.

"Now then, this should be fun." He muttered to himself and headed inside.