Chloe dropped her pen on to her desk. After a few hours, she finally finished her paperwork. And as always, her thoughts drifted back to her partner. Should she have pushed their conversation to be had sooner than their planned Game Night? They had been putting it off for quite a long time already. Was using the guise of a Game Night even a good idea? She knew how he acted the last time when he had tried to recreate their "greatest hits."
Her gaze turned to the bopping, raven-haired head in the forensics lab. She had been finding herself taking the scientist's advice more often lately. And Ella had been hanging out with Lucifer more frequently, just as friends, she knew, but maybe she could get a clearer insight into her partner's mind through her friend.
Mind made up, Chloe got up from her desk and headed straight for the lab.
"Hey, Ella, do you have a second?" Chloe knocked on the open door frame to the lab.
"Yeah, of course," Ella waved her in, "What's on your mind, Chloe?"
"I just thought you should know that I'm gonna be coming along to your next hangout with Lucifer," Chloe stepped closer to Ella.
"It's about damn time, girl," Ella grinned, "We've been missing you… All work and no play makes the Detective a dull girl."
"Yeah, in fact, I suggested to Lucifer that we make it into a Game Night and have it at my place instead. Is that good with you?" Chloe asked.
"As long as we don't play Clue," Ella replied, "I love that game, but I think playing it with two detectives is a real unfair advantage."
Chloe laughed, "Deal."
"I was actually hoping to get your advice on something too," Chloe hedged.
"Shoot," Ella gave Chloe her full attention.
Chloe bit her lip and gently and slowly patted the edge of the table in nervousness, not knowing quite how to phrase her question. Ella just let her take her time.
"You might not know, but before everything went down with Pierce… Lucifer and I were sort of entertaining the idea of… giving us a shot," Chloe said.
"As in making all my Deckerstar wishes come true?" Ella grinned.
"After Lucifer was cleared of all charges for Pierce's death and after IA swept everything under the rug, I kinda got caught up in work and didn't know how to broach the subject again," Chloe admitted, "Plus, Lucifer has a history of running when things get really real between us and then you and Dan started hanging out with him outside of work more often and I didn't want to intrude… and…" Chloe began to ramble.
"Decker, Decker," Ella calmed Chloe down by placing her hands on her shoulders, "Breathe... what are you trying to ask?"
"Do you think I have a shot with Lucifer?" Chloe finally let out.
"Definitely," Ella smiled, "That dude is so far gone for you, it's unreal."
"Really?" Chloe wouldn't go that far.
"Don't believe me, just ask him," Ella countered with a smirk.
"Thanks, Ella," Chloe squeezed Ella's arm in thanks before she left the lab once again.
"Those two are gonna be the death of me," Ella said to herself with an amused shake of her head. She took out her phone and texted Dan.
Ella 5:30pm: Chloe's coming to our next Celestial Insider Hangout.
It's gonna be at her place and it's gonna be a Game Night instead.
Dan 5:31pm: Cool. Chloe told me she wanted to. I'm glad she decided to come.
Ella 5:31pm: With any luck, I'll have to get another t-shirt made to welcome Chloe into the club. :)
Dan 5:32pm: Aw, man, you made shirts?
Ella 5:33pm: Don't fret, Espinoza… I know your size. ;)
Oh, by the way. I got a hit on those prints. I'll fill you in later.
Dan 5:34pm: Great. Thanks. Keep your priorities straight, Lopez.
Ella 5:35pm: *saluting emoji*
Dan 6:00pm: What color are the shirts?
Ella 6:01pm: *laughing emoji*
~*~
Trixie Decker-Espinoza entered her mom's apartment to an unusual scene. Well, unusual in that she had never really seen her mom so frazzled before. Chloe was frantically running around the kitchen, jumping from cooking something on the stove to cleaning the counters and sorting through different clothes lying out on the couch.
"Mom?" Trixie raised an eyebrow as she slowly closed the door behind her, "Is everything okay?"
"Monkey, you're home. Did you have a good time at Jamie's house?" Chloe paused her stirring of whatever concoction was in the pot on the stove to look over at her daughter.
"It was cool," Trixie replied slowly, still very confused at the scene in front of her, "What are you doing?"
"Oh," Chloe seemed to realize that she was trying to do ten things at once, "I'm making some dinner and dessert… and I needed to clean up a bit. I haven't had a lot of time lately. Even with Maze out on a bounty and there isn't as much to clean up, I thought it would be a good idea to just get everything done at once."
"What about your clothes all over the couch?" Trixie stepped closer to her mom and pointed over to all the strewn outfits.
"I was trying to pick an outfit to wear for tonight," Chloe replied slowly like she had been caught in something.
"Are you having a date?" a slow smile formed on Trixie's lips as she had a good idea as to just who her mom's date might be and an answer for her mom's nervousness.
"Not a date, no," Chloe denied and lowered the heat on the stove. She seemed a lot more composed and calmer with her daughter present.
"It's a Game Night."
"Game Night? We haven't had one in awhile… not since Lucifer came over and we played Monopoly," Trixie stepped closer to the couch.
"Yeah, I thought it'd be nice if we had one again," Chloe replied, "It was fun."
"And is Lucifer coming to the Game Night?" Trixie asked, though based on the grin on her face, she already knew the answer.
"Yes," Chloe said, "And Daddy and Ella are going to join us this time too. We have some time to kill while we wait for a warrant to come in… it's actually taking a little extra time than I thought."
Trixie nodded and looked back to the couch, her eyes scanning over the options her mom had laid out. She picked up a red blouse with a frill cut on the short sleeves, a v-cut but not cut too low and some black dress pants. It was casual and not too dressy, "I think you should wear this outfit."
She held it out to her mom.
Chloe came up to her daughter and gently took the chosen outfit from her.
"I think Lucifer will really like this one," Trixie smirked.
Chloe subtly shook her head. There really was no fooling her little monkey. Both of her parents were detectives, after all. She definitely had been getting more and more observant as she grew older. Look out, world. She looked at her daughter proudly. She really was growing into quite the young woman.
"Trix…" Chloe started and took a deep breath, "What would you think if Lucifer and I were to start dating?"
"I'd think it was about damn time," Trixie lit up as she bounced a little on her heels in excitement.
"Language, young lady," Chloe teasingly chastised.
"Sorry, Mommy," Trixie still couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
"Go get washed up for dinner before everybody gets here," Chloe started to usher her out of the room.
"Okay… but if you want Daddy and Miss Ella to take me out for ice cream or something instead, just let me know," Trixie half turned back and looked up at her mom with a big smirk on her face.
"Go," Chloe laughed and pushed into the small of her daughter's back, effectively tickling Trixie as she let out of a squeal of laughter. Chloe fondly shook her head at her daughter's retreating, giggling form. If Trixie was truly fine (if not a little eager) with her starting a relationship with her partner, then what was really stopping her?
~*~
"Hey," Dan knocked on the door frame of the lab before walking in, "I was just about ready to head out to Chlo's. You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll just be a second," Ella replied distractedly. Her attention was on everything but Dan. She was shuffling through all of the bagged evidence. It was clear that she was looking for something.
"Everything okay?" Dan asked.
"I can't find it," Ella continued to sift through everything and even dropped her head to look under the table, her leg going straight up as she bent over in some sort of weird, faux ballerina move.
"What are you looking for?" Dan came further into the lab.
"One of the pieces of evidence from Ivan's secret room you found," Ella's voice now came from under one of the tables. She was crawling on her hands and knees. Nope… spotless floor – as always.
"Well, when did you see it last?" Dan squatted down on his haunches as his eyes scanned the floor, trying to help, though he didn't know what it was she was looking for.
"Yesterday when I was cataloguing everything and when I found a match to those prints for the investigation," Ella replied and stood back up. Dan stood back up too, albeit a little slower.
"What do you think is missing?" Dan asked.
"A weird looking coin thing," Ella replied.
"A coin?"
"Yeah, a double-sided coin with weird markings on both sides," Ella explained, "I think it's like a talisman or totem or something."
"I'm sure it's here somewhere," Dan assured her, "It's a coin, right? So, it's small. Maybe it just got caught in one of the other bags of evidence."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Ella rubbed the back of her neck with a sigh.
"Come on," Dan gestured out the door, "You ready for what's probably gonna be the oddest Game Night we've ever been to?"
"Hell yeah," Ella returned with a renewed pep in her step. She gestured for Dan to lead the way, "You mind if we stop at my place for a second first though? I told Chloe I'd bring some of my games to the party."
"Sure," Dan replied as he held the door open for her.
~*~
Lucifer slowly let out a deep breath as he looked back and forth at the choices before him. This decision was crucial.
Moscow Midnight or Blue Lagoon?
He stood at the end of his bed as he looked between the two shirts lying on his bed. He was clad in only his trousers and shoes, his hands rested on his hips by his belt as he once again looked between his two choices. In a snap decision, he grabbed Moscow Midnight and slid it on before he turned to his mirror and slowly buttoned his shirt up.
Tonight was just like any other. He would be spending the evening in the company of his partner. Sure, said partner wanted to have a conversation about their relationship after the "Game Night" portion of the evening concluded, but he could handle it. Truth be told, he and the Detective really should've had this conversation long ago – circumstances just kept getting in the way… a poisoning here, a miracle revelation there, and of course there was that immortal lieutenant getting between them.
Those were obstacles that were no longer an issue. There wasn't really anything standing in their way anymore. He turned away from his mirror to grab his suit jacket and swung it on and adjusted it. Tonight, he would have his Devil talk with Chloe and unlike the last time in Ella's lab, everything would work out between them. Doctor Linda would be proud.
With one last look into his mirror and one final adjustment of his suit, Lucifer Morningstar gave himself a determined and satisfied nod before swiveling on his heel to head into his elevator and to his Detective.
As the doors to the elevator shut, Lucifer closed his eyes and took one more deep steadying breath. With his eyes closed, he didn't notice his face flicker quickly into his Devil Face in the reflective surface of the doors for a split second before settling back into his normal appearance.
~*~
On the other side of town, Father William Kinley flipped a small, dark grey coin in to the air before catching it – a sinister smirk crawled across his lips.
~*~
Lucifer slowly made his way up to Chloe's apartment door. Tonight, after all the games were done, his relationship with the Detective would change forever. Lucifer could only hope for the better. He gulped and raised a fist to knock, but before he could, the door flung open.
"Lucifer! You're here!" Trixie beamed up at him.
"Urchin," Lucifer greeted her before stepping into the apartment. Trixie closed the door behind him.
"Where's your mother?"
"She's finishing getting changed," Trixie bit back her grin as she followed Lucifer further into the apartment.
"I see you've already got a few things set up," Lucifer gestured to the Monopoly board sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch.
Trixie shrugged, "That's only if anybody wants to play Monopoly. Honestly, I think we should play something else. Mommy said that Miss Ella was going to be bringing a few other games by we could play instead. They might be more fun."
"Speaking of, I see your father and Miss Lopez haven't arrived yet," Lucifer stated the obvious as he looked around the apartment.
"No, you're the first to get here," Trixie confirmed.
"I take it you will be partaking in the Game Night tonight as well?" Lucifer asked.
Trixie shrugged, "Yeah. It'll be fun."
There was a beat of silence in the awkward small talk between Devil and Urchin until Trixie broke it.
"Are you and my mom gonna start dating?"
"Only if it's what your mother wants," Lucifer replied truthfully. At Trixie's smile to his response, Lucifer was curious, "Why? Did the Detective hint to you that dating me was something she desired?"
Trixie stayed frustratingly silent with a grin plastered to her face.
Before Lucifer could prod further, Chloe came into the living room, coming up behind the Devil.
"Lucifer, you made it," he heard her voice from behind him.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Lucifer replied with a soft smile as he slowly turned around to face his Detective. She looked beautiful. Her hair was down in soft waves. She wore a red blouse with a frill cut on the short sleeves. The shirt had a v-cut but not cut too low and she also wore black dress pants with black flats on her feet. Her choice of attire complimented his suit perfectly – his Moscow Midnight ensemble. It seemed they were more attuned to one another than he thought.
While Lucifer and Chloe continued to make heart eyes at each other, another knock came at the front door. Not one to break the moment, Trixie ran to answer it.
"Hi, Daddy!" Trixie greeted her dad at the door.
"Hey, Monkey. I didn't know you were gonna be here tonight," Dan came inside with Ella, "I thought you were at your friend's house."
"I came back early," Trixie told him and turned to greet her other guest, "Hi, Miss Ella."
"Hey, Trixie," Ella wiggled her fingers in a half wave from under the boxes of games she carried in her arms.
"Something smells good," Dan looked toward the kitchen as he and Ella entered.
"Yeah, Mommy made pasta," Trixie said.
"I hope that's okay with everybody," Chloe spoke up from the living room, "Glad you guys could make it."
"It's about time we all hung out… Trixie included," Ella said as Dan took a few boxes from Ella's arms to lighten her load and they all walked further into the living room where Lucifer stood.
"Where should I set all the games?" Ella shifted the boxes in her arms.
"Over there is fine, Ella," Chloe gestured next to the coffee table. Ella set everything down and Dan set the remaining games on top of Ella's pile.
As Ella stood back up, she looked to all her friends.
"So… Girls versus boys?"
~*~
"Batman! Uh… a fat Batman?" Dan shouted guesses and trailed off.
"Time's up!" Trixie hit the stop button on the timer.
"Fat Batman?" Lucifer parroted incredulously, "This is clearly a cat."
"Where are the whiskers and tail then?" Dan returned, gesturing at his drawing.
"Artistic license," Lucifer argued with a sniff.
"Sorry. Dan didn't guess correctly, you guys don't get the points," Ella said as she motioned for Lucifer to sit back down.
"I don't understand why we settled on Pictionary to be the tie-breaker," Lucifer mumbled as he sat back down on the couch next to Dan. Trixie sat up on her knees by the coffee table, her empty plate sat atop it next to everyone else's. They had a few games under their belt after they finished eating dinner. After a vote, they decided to play on teams of girls versus boys but since Trixie was present, it was unevenly matched – they needed a judge/referee and Trixie was happy to volunteer.
"Mainly because I thought your drawing skills would be better and we'd win," Dan replied out of the side of his mouth.
"I beg your pardon! My skills are perfectly fine!" Lucifer was offended and didn't bother to whisper, "It's your interpretation skills that leave something to be desired."
"Okay, guys, enough," Ella quieted them down as she took her space at the drawing board and uncapped her marker, "Nobody likes a sore loser."
"Well, I motion for us to play a different game to be the tie-breaker as my team has a disadvantage… namely Daniel," Lucifer raised a hand and blatantly pointed at his game partner.
"Come on, man," Dan rolled his eyes.
"Lucifer's right," Chloe stood up and took the marker from Ella's hand, "The guys are at a disadvantage."
"Hey!"
"Thank you."
Dan and Lucifer responded in unison.
"They are guys… Besides, if we're gonna beat their butts, it should be fair and square," Chloe finished with a cocky smirk on her lips as she wrapped one arm around Ella's shoulders and both girls faced the boys sitting on the couch – matching smirks adorned on their faces.
"Oh, game bloody on, Detective!" Lucifer stood up as a challenging grin spread across his lips.
"Fine, what game do you guys want to play to break our tie instead? Charades?" Ella suggested.
"Anything that refrains from Dan trying to guess what I'm trying to convey would be preferable, Miss Lopez," Lucifer shook his head. Dan rolled his eyes.
"Why don't we take a break and we clean up a little before we have dessert?" Dan suggested as he picked up a few plates off of the coffee table.
"You're just delaying your inevitable defeat," Ella called to Dan as he headed into the kitchen. Dan sent her a sarcastic smirk in response over his shoulder with the plates still in hand.
"Actually, it is starting to get a little late," Chloe looked at her watch. It was even past Trixie's bedtime.
"I hate to admit it, but I am getting a little sleepy," Trixie replied from her seat on the floor in front of the couch. She held back a yawn and swayed a little.
"Maybe you should get ready for bed, Monkey," Chloe knelt down by Trixie.
CRASH!
All heads turned to the sound of plates crashing on to the floor in the kitchen. Dan swayed as he caught himself on the counter. He put a hand to his head.
"You okay, Dan?" Ella hurried over to him with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine… just got a little… dizzy," Dan replied as Ella put a worried hand on his back.
Lucifer rushed over to Ella and Dan, also concerned; but before he could get close to them, Dan and Ella both collapsed to the floor.
"Trixie!" Chloe's voice grabbed Lucifer's attention. His head whipped around in the Detective's direction. Chloe was still knelt down by Trixie. But the girl was passed out cold on the floor. Chloe was desperately trying to get her daughter to open her eyes.
"Detective?!" Lucifer hurried over to Chloe and Trixie. As he neared them, Chloe stumbled forward from her knelt position. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she dropped to the floor right next to her daughter.
Lucifer frantically looked around at all his friends spread out passed out on the floor. What the hell was happening?! He even was starting to feel a little light-headed. Then he saw it – by the patio entrance. He stalked over to the doors and pulled on a hose fed through the blinds. It must've been leaking a knockout gas into the apartment. How did none of them notice? He stepped out on to the patio and anxiously searched the blurry area but didn't see anyone or anything of import. There was a black blur that disappeared into the bushes. But that wasn't important, right?
Lucifer stumbled back into the apartment, feeling much more disoriented after grabbing the hose. He must've got an extra dose of whatever anesthetic gas was being filtered into the apartment. He caught himself on the couch near Chloe and Trixie but to no avail.
"Chloe?" her name left Lucifer's lips in a worried whisper before all he could see was the pitch black of unconsciousness.