24. Дьявол прячется в мелочах.

Lucifer actually made it in less time.

He did not skip the three-piece-suit. He was dressed to kill, or at least to punish the murderer. Chloe always wondered how he achieved virtual perfection, but besides an obsessive-compulsive organized walk-in-closet, she hadn't figured out how he kept his appearance, the beard mostly trimmed the same size no matter what the time of day it was. It was the same enigma with his hair. No gel could be that strong. He said it was pure willpower. And he wouldn't lie. Right?

Both entered the office, hands intertwined, and as always, the women present were mesmerized by him. He painted a bright and winning smile on his face, made small talk seem effortless, getting all the information Chloe couldn't obtain, even with acting experience, and handling her mother just fine, what was a major feat. No, he was a league of his own. Still, he was unable to read some emotions, like an Asperger child trying to put sense in some minor facial expressions, even if he was good at hiding feelings himself. Maybe it was because of his mojo. He didn´t have to figure people out, Chloe being the only exception.

The women told him about her desires, one trying not to suffocate on the student loan while wanting to party and balance her life, the other much more ambitious, saving money for a beachfront house in Newport Beach.

"Beachfront? Have you seen the real estate prices?" Lucifer expressed his rhetorical question rather matter-of-factly.

"Yes. I need a better life. I was renting a tiny room in the proximity of my law school, but that is no longer possible." She snapped out of the trance.

"How come? Chloe asked.

"New semester, new challenges." Coupland was back in professional mode.

"I see. Well, thank you very much," the detective concluded.

They left. Lucifer slightly annoyed.

"Why didn't you corner her as LAPD Detective?" he asked when they reached the Beemer.

"We are in Santa Monica. I have no jurisdiction. I need to put in a request. It's easier to get her at the law school if needed."

"I had the impression she was involved. Don't you?"

"Yes, love, but I need to place her at the crime scene. Ella will help me with that, I got her fingerprints on my purse and I already send it by WhatsApp." Chloe winked.

"You are indeed a little rascal! By the way, where is the promised espresso?"

"Just at the corner." Taking his hand, she pulled him towards the siren's coffeeshop and inside.

"Double espresso? No milk? That's the Devil's desire?"

Lucifer just nodded and while he got a lover's couple to leave the sofa waving a greenback, she ordered, paid, and picked up the coffee.

"You asked what my desire was. Was that a serious question?" Chloe settled on the comfortable place he mentioned beside him and put the white ceramic mugs on the coffee table. He wouldn't settle for paper cups unless there was a stakeout and then he preferred his flask.

"Why, yes. I care about you. What is it?" She frowned when she saw his pensive stance.

"And you will be absolutely honest with your answer?" Almost black eyes were searching in her blue-green ones. "No deflecting?"

"You are the master of deflection, not me."

At that remark, Lucifer squinted as he took her hands into his, so she wouldn't have a way out.

"We are going to be parents, right?"

"I already am a parent Lucifer." She twisted somewhat uneasily. She knew this time she couldn't postpone her decision any longer. He inclined his head, his features clouded with sadness.

"You don't want the child. Why Chloe? Why?"

"I need more time." Chloe stared into her lap. "I just don't know if I can deal with another child."

"Meaning the child of the Devil." He lifted his right index finger. "Don't look or run away whenever my condition makes you uncomfortable. You have to decide if you want me, all of me, in your life, not solely the image you created of me. It's the whole package, not merely the nice parts and the others go into the rubbish bin. My desire is a family for I haven't had one in so long. I want, need to show, that I am able to show affection to my offspring and take responsibilities, in spite of my progenitor. I believe I have been very patient and waited a whole week for you to make up your mind and it has been torture to me." His voice almost broke, but he got his grip again. "I am taking care of your protection, of the baby's room, of help… I have told you I will take full responsibility. So don't start with 'I am too old' or any other weak excuse."

Linda had told him earlier to take the steer by the horns and expressing his wishes in the first person for Chloe not to feel threatened. It was all or nothing.

Chloe let out the air she was holding in.

"You are right. I have always turned a blind eye for your Luciferness, and I find it very hard to reconcile the two or maybe three sides of you. You are a complicated man."

"I am no man." He whispered hoarsely. Where had his saliva gone?

"Right. It scares me sometimes. What if a child raises Hell again? Or angers your father or some of your many brothers?"

"Hell won't rise. I have taken care of that in a way the dwellers wish for me not to appear if possible. Dad hasn't opposed Charly, why would he veto our child? Not to worry about my siblings either, I can take care of that. So everything is coming up Lucifer." He wouldn't let go of her hands. "I just need you to say: 'it's a go' and you won't have to worry about anything. I need to know if you trust me and if we are going to have a family."

The fallen angel couldn't blink out of fear to miss a nod or a shake, and neither could he sit still.

"You deserve an answer and yes, I am worried, but I am worried about Trixie, too. So, I have thought about it, weighted the pros and cons and yes, let's do this. I love you and if you are willing to be a better father than Dan ever was with Trixie, and I have seen you handling her quite well, then I think we could do this." A honey colored strand fell into Chloe's beautiful face.

Although she hadn't finished, the detective already found herself in a bear hug from the fallen angel in front of her.

"Thank you! Thank you! I am overjoyed, I don't deserve it!" Lucifer flashed his bright teeth and kissed her everywhere on the face. "So can we formally announce that you are bearing my son? Ella would certainly enjoy arranging the baby shower."

What was she getting into? These coming months and years were going to turn into interesting times. A teen, a baby, and a hellhound! What could go wrong? Probably everything.

Epilogue

At the precinct Ella presented an oversized 'rosca de reyes' with hot chocolate, before she reported that the same fingerprints had been found as partials on the burial site of Rosalind and she was going to analyze the DNA sample, a Kleenex Chloe handed her. Lucifer got a "muñequito", a small plastic figurine, and was informed he had to provide breakfast for the whole homicide department in February. To everybody's astonishment he played along without much complaining.

Dan had left Trixie's 'reyes' gift on the detective's desk, a simple envelope, gift card or money for sure. As always unimaginative, but Trixie would be happy as she wanted some new clothes – she was entering the stage of adolescence where that started to become an issue. Chloe wondered when pink hair would pop up, or some mesh or fluorescent shoelaces or if Trixie would copy Mazikeen's clothing style.

Not even a week later Heather Coupland had been arrested for murder one as well as her boyfriend Bill, the bartender. He claimed to be unaware of the murders but that was for a jury to decide.

For the time being this is the end of the maratón Guadalupe-Reyes. Unfortunately I have been wrapped up and I didn't elaborate this final chapter (maybe further ahead), but I do hope you were more or less entertained, even if I finished 4 months later than anticipated. Thanks for reading and I hope to read some of your Luciferverse soon. All the best and stay safe!