By the time the pair of them found there way back into Lucifer's bedroom, Chloe was feeling chilled. A towel and sopping wet hair probably wasn't the best way to keep warm. At least Lucifer was warm, (almost too warm, actually) and maybe a little too close when she was so exposed both emotionally and physically, but she welcomed it all the same. His fingers clutched gently at her shoulders as he steered her to the bed. She expected a few witty remarks or jibes at her state in a poor attempt to lighten the mood, but he did no such thing. In fact, he seemed...so enthralled with her well being that she was a bit taken aback. Or at least, she would have been if she were in the right state to think clearly. Chloe sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. The bed dipped as the dark prince sat beside her. His hands hesitated - barely touching her still as they sat in silence. His touch slowly slipped away, a hand sliding into his damp pocket to slide over a particular coin.

"I'll go make us some breakfast, how's that sound? Call the station for you? I'm sure that your captain won't mind. Charming lady, that one." His breath tickled the back of her neck. Chloe shivered, offering him a slight nod of her head. There was no strength in her to argue. And to be frank, a day off was surely the best course of action. How could she work like this? He was probably the only person that could charm her boss to giving Chloe the day off, too. Most employers had a fit if somebody else called for their employees. He was unbelievable. Not that it was like her to really accept help like this often. She was strong, independent, and had worked hard to get the detective position she had. But sometimes, a part of her mind rationalized, it was okay to accept help.

Lucifer made to stand back up and allow her some privacy to change. As he headed to the door, panic of no particular source swelled in her chest, but she pursed her lips, watching him saunter out, gaze burning into his back. God, what had she gotten herself into? Another sniffle, then she surveyed the clothes Maze had brought and scrunched up her nose. Ah, well. They would have to do until she got home. She bit back her belated embarrassment and began to change.

Lucifer sighed as the door shut with a quiet click. Thoughts of confusing nature ran rampant in his mind, causing him to frown. The detective was a right mess. Of that, at least, he was certain. Humans were such fragile creatures. But why did that make him feel...squirmy inside? Her distress unsettled him. His pace slowed as he neared the small, but quite luxurious kitchen. He would prepare a decent meal: three egg omelets with sausage and potatoes, some toast. This time it wouldn't burn or go to waste as it had when he had come to her home to prepare a meal for her. Then, he had done it in an attempt to "woo" her into sleeping with him. This time...he wasn't sure why exactly. Out of compassion? Pity? The Devil wasn't really the sort to just cook all willy nilly for mortal women if it didn't serve him in some form. But now is different, isn't it, Morningstar? Lucifer retrieved his ingredients and began right away, shoving the thoughts aside. Best not to dwell, he told himself.

Mazikeen slipped into the kitchen, dressed in a delicious set of red leather pants and a matching crop top. Her gold earrings hung like little raindrops from her ears; it was a nice accent for her dark red lips. Which were locked at that moment, in an even darker scowl. She raised an eyebrow at the hell lord, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What are you doing? I don't understand why you're still out here catering to your mortal pet. Let her go home and make herself some damn food."

"I'm doing what I want to do, so what does it matter to you?" He spoke lightly, but hidden underneath, the demon knew there was a sharp warning. She chose to ignore it and rolled her eyes and clicked her sharp fingernails across the counter top. Lucifer frowned at her but then just continued cooking.

"Don't forget, she's only human. You're the King of Hell -"

"Was. I'm retired now." The words rolled off his tongue smoothly, the slightest trace of annoyance embedded in each syllable.

"Mmh, so you say." Maze grumbled, pulling her hand back as Lucifer chopped a piece of potato a bit too close to her fingertips. His eyes flashed crimson for the barest of seconds. The demoness retracted her hands and clenched them by her side.

"Don't worry," she chuckled humorlessly, "I'm going. It isn't as if you'll heed any advice anyway. I'm not sure why I waste my breath."

Mazikeen slipped out as easily as she had coming in, no doubt back downstairs to ready Lux for business. And probably because Chloe chose that moment to slip out of the bedroom in search of Lucifer. Her face was freshly scrubbed, and the Devil found himself eyeing the well fitting outfit she had slid into. A small, sly smirk made its way to his face. He couldn't not be at least a little pleased about it.

"Breakfast is nearly ready."

Chloe cleared her throat, nervously smoothing invisible wrinkles from her outfit. It wasn't like her to be so open or feel so hopeless. And being here lately had definitely made her feel that way. She stared at the potatoes he slid into a warm pan, licking her bottom lip as she sought the right words to express herself. It wasn't in her today especially after what he'd gone through for her to really be smart with the eccentric man.

"Lucifer...thanks."

"You're quite welcome, Detective." He winked at her, whisking by her to wash his hands.

Chloe tapped her fingers at her sides against her thigh, unsure what she should be doing. She licked at her bottom lip a second time before hovering over Lucifer's shoulder. He'd moved on to seasonings - a dash of this, a dash of that. It actually smelled incredible. Chloe's stomach flopped in excitement at the smell of food.

"Do you, uh, need any help?"

"No, no, have a seat, love," Lucifer spoke animatedly, motioning to the stools at the kitchen island and flipped the frying potatoes. He hummed softly to himself, and for a moment, it was almost as if none of the bad stuff - nor the embarrassing moments - had ever happened. Chloe blinked, chewing thoughtfully on the inside of her cheek. But they had happened, hadn't they? Her mind wandered to Lucifer's scar mottled back. She ached to look at those markings more closely...and to-to touch them. She tamped down on the urge, staring blankly at the counter top. Ugh, what was she doing here? Besides their case work and the attempts to control Lucifer's wild journeys into places he shouldn't be, how much did she really know about him? After all, the man believed he was the Devil. Satan himself, for heaven's sake! And yet, she spilled her guts to him, and he was - dare she say it - her friend. Maybe her only friend.

"Detective?" A steaming plate of deliciousness was slid before her, and Chloe found herself startled out of her thoughts. Her pale eyes met dark ones, noting that elegant brow arched in question, the pearly white half smile on that handsome mouth. Her mind tried to wander. Did she know anyone else that could smile with such charm without even trying?

"Sorry, I just -"

"I know," he murmured, slipping into the counter stool seat beside her. God, what was with this man? She wanted to push him away, and at the same time, wrap back up in him. Looking as if the food before her was a glimpse of heaven, Chloe Decker chose that time to ignore Lucifer and see if he was really as good of a cook as he previously claimed. She slid into her seat somewhat awkwardly, and poked at a few pieces of egg and potato with her fork, swirling them together on the plate before popping the morsel in her mouth. The woman's eyes fluttered shut.

"What is it?" Lucifer was hovering. Too close. His breath puffed gently against her cheek. She pushed him, palm open on his chest, gaze snapping to him so abruptly, and tried to scoot her chair a bit further from his. The chair threatened to topple over at her hasty motions. His quiet laugh reached her ears and slid smoothly down to warm her heart, and forced her to swallow her prized bite.

"Nothing! Back up, so I can eat," Chloe grumbled. She found herself very pleased with the taste of breakfast and the man actually acquiescing to her request. His bar stool scooted several inches left, and out of her bubble somewhat. How rare. Chloe eyed him suspiciously before scooping up another morsel. Damn him - money, good looks, friends in strange places, and he could cook. What was his deal, anyway?

Hours after breakfast, with a stomach pleasantly full and several more aggravating flirts later from the man beside her, Chloe found herself in her car. She glanced over at her...'partner' (or so they had begun to refer to each other during investigations), and stared. He was flipping a coin, but not in the usual way. Said coin was rotating as if the man's thumb was an axis, hovering in mid air, and coming back down while continuing its rotation. Was that her eye twitching? She let out a slow breath, and gripped the steering wheel tightly. Another strange, maybe impossible thing from Lucifer. But he could never be who he told everybody he was. Of that, she was certain. A parlor trick - yes, that was it.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, I'm actually rather bored." Lucifer's head shot up so those chocolate orbs could meet with hers. The coin dropped to his palm and he stared back at her. "Did you have something in mind?"

"I, uh...how were you doing that?"

"I'm the Devil, remember?"

Rolling eyes and the potential for a stress headache... "Of course you are, Lucifer."

"Mmh," was the only, soft sound the man made in return, leaning back against the leather seat of the car and staring out the window. Why should he argue with someone who quite obviously didn't want to listen? Although, he had given her, in his opinion, some very sufficient evidence. Lucifer was beginning to see that she might just always be in denial. Odd, for a human - eventually they all believed in one way or another. The presence of a supernatural being alone often called to their souls, and whispered fear into their hearts. He slipped the coin back into his pocket.

"Now listen up, Lucifer. When we get to Trixie's school, no...funny business. Leave the staff and parents out of your crazy magic tricks, okay?"

"Why am I being scolded again? I'm not the one that usually does the misbehaving - it's them!"

"Yeah, well, you're not trying too hard to ever discourage them. With...with whatever that thing is you do," Chloe rolled her eyes harder than normal. She sighed aloud as he tried to move closer in his seat to her, but thankfully, the middle console remained firmly in his way. They were heading to Trixie's school only four hours after breakfast thanks to another phone call from an irritable Dan. It seemed that she had gotten into an altercation of some sort, and with Dan clocked in at the station and Chloe "conveniently" calling out for the day, she was left to pick their daughter up. And Lucifer? He had simply refused to not come along for the ride; it hadn't even mattered that they were going to be among children, though now acted as if it had been her idea from the start.

Chloe Decker was trying. Today, she told herself, was going to be as normal and human and not...out of place as possible. It didn't matter who cooked breakfast, or where she had spent the better half of her morning. Now was time for her to be a mom, Lucifer hovering or no. Acting strangely or no. Waking up in his bed meant nothing. Nothing had really happened per say. And Trixie wasn't the type of girl to get in trouble, mostly. Chloe needed to focus on that right now. Trixie was sweet and cared about the people around her, but she could be quite naive, what with still being so young. Maybe that was why there had been a fight. The detective mumbled something under her breath, turning the corner, a block from the school.

"I'm sorry, didn't quite catch that."

"It was nothing, Lucifer," she shook her head with a sigh, before finally coming in sight of the school and pulling in. She felt tired still, despite her determination to be everything she wasn't feeling today. Hopefully, this wouldn't take too long. Placing the car in park, she gripped the steering wheel tightly and stared at the plain brick building in front of their parking space. Her mind snapped back to her daughter. Trixie also knew it was wrong to fight with anybody, and generally kept her hands to herself. She hoped it wasn't that other little girl she'd heard about, maybe bullying her daughter. Nobody bullied her daughter. She felt her mouth turn down into a deeper, contemplative frown. Something warm slid across her knuckles, and her grip weakened. Her eyes tore away from the building to the dark-haired man's hand resting atop of hers. Chloe blinked several times before her brain caught back up to speed. Oh.

"Lucifer...?"

"Are you alright? Truly?" He cut her off before she could say anything, the fabric of his buttoned shirt whispering against the leather and plastic adorning her car's middle console. Her lips parted to say something, but no sound came out. Her resolve faltered, but only for the barest of seconds. He had opted to lean completely over the middle of the car, console pushed up into the lower half of his abdomen. She blinked at him, unable to bring forth the words she needed. The heat of his hand seeped into her skin, giving her goosebumps up the length of her forearm.

"Uh, well," it frustrated her that he could get her to fumble like this over a simple sentence. And how? Get over yourself, Decker!

"Yeah. Just wondering if this incident has anything to do with a classmate of Trixie's. I'm worried this is because she might have been bullied. Why didn't I see it, though? She just smiles and tells me everything is alright when I ask."

Chloe shook her hand free from Lucifer's, and brought her thumb up to her mouth, nibbling anxiously on the very tip of her fingernail. She couldn't help it, she was a nail biter when she was nervous. Her eyes sought out the chocolate brown gaze beside her. Like any good parent, the flood gates had opened and there was more questions and doubts in herself and her ability to be a good mother to her daughter than she could keep track of. Those warm, dark-rimmed eyes beside her shut them down almost immediately.

"I'm sure the little miscreant can handle herself, Chloe. You're overthinking it."

A chuckle bubbled up from her lips and she dropped her hand to the car's shifter, drumming her fingers against it. Lucifer was probably right. It was so funny when he spoke about Trixie, as if he had never actually dealt with a child before - both fascinated and comically horrified as he spoke to and about her. The anxiety ebbed a little. The feeling of his hand against hers, though, remained, like an invisible imprint upon her flesh.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. Trixie's a good girl, she'd have told me."

A/N: I am SO SORRY for the wait! I've been pretty busy, and my computer is busted, so I haven't really been able to write anything out. Thank you for all the reviews and favorites. If it wasn't for you guys, I probably wouldn't have returned for longer. You're all the best. :'D