We need each other.

3:48am

Chloe woke up to a rattling at her bedside table. It wasn't as familiar as the sound she woke to most mornings; the ringing of her alarm clock. This sound seemed to go on for what felt like an eternity, and although Chloe knew she should probably roll over to find out where the hideous noise was coming from, her eyelids felt heavy and immediately shut as she attempted to open them.

It felt earlier than usual. Much too early to be getting up and ready for work. But as the vibrations from her bedside table began to die down, and she slowly felt herself waking up, she realised what the noise was. Her phone had been ringing repeatedly for the past 2 minutes.
Usually Chloe would have ignored the irritating interruption to her slumber, but she suddenly remembered that her daughter had stayed over at a friend's house that night, and that perhaps the call was an urgent matter regarding Trixie.

As she tossed and turned, scrambling out of her sheets, she lifted both hands to her slightly swollen face, rubbing her eyes in a frustrated manner as she turned her head to look at the clock that sat beside her bed.

'3:48am'

A very puzzled Chloe ran her hands through her hair before she reached for her (still buzzing) cell phone, fumbling around for a moment in the pitch-black. But much to her surprise, the call wasn't from her daughter, informing her mother that she 'couldn't sleep' like she had done so many other times in the past. Nor had it been the precinct regarding and urgent matter that needed her assistance right away.
It was her partner. Lucifer Morningstar. The 'crime-solving devil' that she was secretly so fond of. And whilst Chloe was confused as to why her phone was ringing for about the fourth time in a row, the word 'Lucifer' at the top of the bright screen that lit up her dark room, she felt the sudden urge to answer in fear of the fact that the call could go to voicemail any minute.

As she accepted the call speedily, she heard that familiar, comforting voice on the other end of the phone, except it wasn't the lively tone she was so used to hearing. And even though her partner had only uttered one word, she knew it was the sound of someone who was hurt and broken.

"Chloe" he said urgently, but it had a softness to it. As if her partner was trying his best not to worry her.
Butterflies formed in her stomach as she heard her name linger on the lips of the devil she cared for so deeply. He only ever called her by her real name in serious situations.

"Lucifer..." Chloe mumbled, voice still groggy as she furrowed her brows in confusion. "... what's wrong? I'm so sorry I missed your calls, I was asleep. Are you okay? It's so early in the morning an-"

Lucifer cut her off as soon as he could after hearing the worry in her voice.
"Chloe. Don't worry, it's okay. I'm okay. And I'm so sorry to wake you dear-"

"No, no no, it's okay" Chloe said gently.
And it really was.
To be honest, she loved hearing his voice, especially when he was trying to reassure her.
Ever since Charlotte's sudden death, the both of them had been doing all they could to just be there for one another, to bring each other comfort in what felt like a place of utter darkness.

Then there was a second of silence between them, that almost felt like confirmation of Chloe's words. That it was okay that he was calling her this early in the morning. That it was okay for him to call her whenever he wanted, and vice versa.
Lucifer persisted.

"Well. I just- I don't know. Thinking about it now, it sounds pretty stupid. I just sort of had a dream that something really bad happened. To you. And I woke up and I couldn't get it out of my head. Though of course, I'm aware of the fact it didn't really happen, I just needed to know if you were okay."

Chloe took a deep breath, taking in every word Lucifer had just said as he paused.
She wanted to hear it all again. To know for sure if what he had just said was really real. To know that he felt just as vulnerable and broken as her at the moment.
But he continued.

"It's so strange but, ever since we lost Charlotte, I keep having these moments where I panic about the fact that I might lose everyone else that I care about. That I might lose you, Chloe. And I just- I'm sorry. It is stupid."

Chloe hadn't realised it until now, but tears were streaming down her face, leading to a puddle forming on her cotton sheets. She wiped them away and sniffled a little, hoping Lucifer hadn't heard.
She realised after a few seconds that she still hadn't said anything. That a silence still lingered between them that she was suddenly so desperate to break.

"It's not stupid, Lucifer..." Chloe said through a slight smile as she sniffled once again, this time not caring if Lucifer had heard.

She wanted him to know that the way he was feeling was okay, and that she felt the exact same way too. That every single thing he had just said was perfect, but she couldn't find the words, so she just said the first thing that came to her head.

"You feel like you can't afford to lose anyone else."

The silence still lingered on the other end of the line; Chloe knew she had hit a nerve.
She reassured him.

"I feel the exact same way Lucifer. I don't want to have to even think about the fact that what happened to Charlotte could so easily happen again. I can't lose anyone else. Especially you."

Lucifer then let out a small sigh, but it was broken. Almost as if he was close to crying too. She couldn't tell for sure, but she knew at least that he had felt some relief that Chloe felt the exact same way that he did.

She didn't say anything. Neither did Lucifer. They both just let one another's words sink in for a moment, and although they both knew they were hurting, grieving, they were just glad to be able to have one another in that moment.

Chloe imagined being held tight in his arms right now, allowing her tears to fall onto the soft fabric of his silk pyjamas. Him gripping her with all he had, with no intention of letting go. She indulged in her comforting thoughts, and had a sudden thought. She shut her eyes in anticipation as she spoke;

"Come over" she whispered.

"What?" Lucifer said just as quietly, shocked at her unexpected invitation.

"Yeah. Why not? I feel like we need each other right now, you know?"
She was hesitant as she spoke. Had she said too much?

He sat breathless, not expecting Chloe to be so open with him. And although he didn't want to trouble her, he also so desperately wanted to be in her company.

"Okay, if you're sure?" he responded, trying to remind her that she didn't have to do anything out of pity, but something told him that maybe she wanted this too.

She had been holding her breath without realising as she'd waited for his response, hoping he'd take her up on her offer.

"I am. I want to see you." she said through a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. It was almost as if she had read his mind.

"What about your offspring, detective? As irritating as the little urchin can be I would hate to wake her too" he joked.

Chloe giggled, her expression softening when she heard the concern for her daughter in Lucifer's voice. How could anyone so kind-hearted truly believe they were 'the devil'?

"Not to worry, Trixie's staying at a friends for the night."

"Ah, I see" Lucifer replied quietly. "So just us?"

There was another moment of silence between the two, as Lucifer suddenly realised how his response had sounded. It was a genuine question, and it was certainly not his intention to come across as 'flirtatious' or 'charming', which he hoped she'd realise.

And she did.

"Just us" she agreed, still smiling.