HELLSPAWN

Chapter 24- Useless Paperwork

Lucifer reminisces about a difficult time.

Chloe receives frustrating news.

It was this time last year that Michael tried to abduct Chloe from LUX. Although she was far less pregnant now, than she had been at that time. Lucifer closed his eyes, feeling an uncomfortable pang in his heart thinking about his late brother. Even after all the pain he had caused his family, he was still upset about the manner of his passing. Guilty. He murdered his own brother in cold blood. Of course, he had threatened his children, and Chloe on several occasions. Why couldn't he have just stayed put in Hell? Why had it come to that? His eyes snapped open, and he made a strangled choking sound.

"Lucifer, are you okay?" Chloe's voice made him smile.

He turned to his side, propping his head up on his elbow. "Good morning, Detective," he said before pecking her lips.

"Morning. What were you thinking about?"

He scoffed, trying to seem amused. "Michael of all things,"

Chloe's smile faltered, seeing through Lucifer's mask immediately. "That was not your fault," she said softly.

A bitter scoff this time. He sat up, pulling his robe on as he stood. "Regardless, I was the one who killed him. There's nothing I can do about it," he said stubbornly.

"Lucifer-"

"Detective, please," he said flatly.

She sighed. "Alright," she said sitting up. "Can you grab the twins? I'll be right there."

His sour mood was replaced immediately. "Of course, darling."

"I have to grab Trix after work, can we take separate cars today?" She was grabbing her towel.

"Of course, I'll drop the hellspawn at my brothers and meet you at work," he grinned. He then headed out the door and down the hall, leaving her alone to shower.

"My, my, what on earth have you two gotten into? Do we have to get a bloody video monitor now? How are you even out of your cribs?" He looked around the room in confusion. The bannisters on the crips had been slid down and the two sat on the floor, both with their wings out. Both boys turned their heads to their confused looking dad, pulling their wings in, with hardly any resistance. "Well that's getting easier... but you can't fly yet, can't walk yet," he mused.

"Da!" Cactus squealed happily.

"Du!" Max exclaimed.

Lucifer snapped from his thoughts, striding to them. "Close enough," he chuckled. "What on earth are we going to do about this?" He lifted Max up and placed him down on the changing table with a sigh. "You know, this is easier than I thought it was going to be. Also terribly exhausting, but," he made a face as he discarded the dirty diaper. "Rewarding."

Once both babies were changed, he brought them into the kitchen, placing them in their highchairs.

"How were they this morning?" Chloe asked, padding into the kitchen.

"Delightful, actually," he said. He turned to her, frowning. He wasn't sure if he should tell her what he had walked into not even ten minutes ago. He wasn't even sure it was that big of a deal. They had been fine, probably hadn't even been up for a few minutes.

He hesitated for a touch too long, Chloe crossed her arms. "What is it?"

"I- well they weren't exactly in their cribs when I went in there," he admitted.

"What?"

"They... The latches had been opened and they were sitting on the floor," he confessed. He paused for a moment before deciding to add, "with their wings out."