Lucifer stood in his bedroom, phone propped up against his mirror as Sunday appeared on the screen. She was lying on her bed, curls spilling over her pillow, her face glowing in the soft light of her room. Despite the casual setup, her presence made him feel like he needed to be on his A-game.

He held up two cologne bottles for her to see. "Aight, which one? I'm not tryna mess this up."

Sunday squinted at the screen, her lips pursed in thought. "Which one is the one you always wear?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Dior," he replied, holding up the sleek black bottle.

Her face lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Wear that one, baby," she said, the pet name slipping out effortlessly. She didn't even seem to notice what she'd said, but Lucifer sure did. His heart stuttered for a second, and a slow, smug grin spread across his face.

"Oooh, she tryna get wifed up," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough that the words stayed between him and the universe.

"What'd you say?" Sunday asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Nothing," he said quickly, spraying the cologne on his neck and wrists. "I'm just sayin', you actin' real sweet today."

"Don't flatter yourself, Kensington," she shot back, but the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her. She changed the subject, brushing her curls back. "Now hurry up, I wanna see your face IRL. You take forever."

"Chill, princess," he teased, stepping back to give her a better view of his outfit. "How's this look?"

He was dressed in a dark blue polo shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and black tailored pants that fit him perfectly. His locs were freshly retwisted, the neat taper on the sides framing his face, and his tattoos peeked out from under his sleeves. He looked effortlessly put-together, but he was still waiting for her approval.

Sunday's jaw dropped, and she stared at the screen for a long moment before speaking. "Okay, wow," she said, fanning herself dramatically. "You look... yeah. My family's gonna love you."

Lucifer smirked, adjusting his watch. "Good to know. I gotta impress the future in-laws, right?"

She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Z. Now get over here before I change my mind about inviting you."

He took a quick detour to go get some flowers, The drive back to Sunday's house was quiet, the low hum of his car's engine filling the space as he replayed their earlier conversation in his head. Her calling him "baby" had been unexpected, but he couldn't stop thinking about it. He wasn't the type to get flustered, but something about the way she said it had him feeling a type of way.

When he pulled up in front of her house, Sunday was already waiting on the porch, bundled up in a light cardigan despite the chilly evening air. She bounced on the balls of her feet when she saw him, her curls bouncing with her. As he stepped out of the car, her eyes raked over him, and he could see the approval written all over her face.

"You clean up nice," she said as he approached, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yeah? You don't look too bad yourself," he replied, taking in her outfit. She was wearing a soft lavender dress that hugged her petite frame under the cardigan, the color complementing her fair skin and bringing out the golden flecks in her brown eyes. "Flowers for me?" She took the flowers, they were peonies.

"Duh who else would i spend my energy gettin' flowers for?"

She giggled and looped her arm through his, pulling him toward the front door. "Thank you."

"Alright, Z. Time to meet the rest of the crew. Try not to scare them, okay?"

He chuckled, his deep baritone rumbling in his chest. "No promises."

Inside, the house was warm and inviting, the smell of roasted chicken and spices filling the air. Sunday's mom was in the kitchen with Demitra, humming to herself as she put the finishing touches on dinner. Eliana, Sunday's youngest sister, was setting the table, her boyfriend Noah standing nearby, trying to look useful.

"Mom, Eliana, this is Zion," Sunday said, stepping aside so he could step forward, He noticed she'd introduced him by his middle name, the name Lucifer seemed a bit unsettling. "Z, this is my mom, and that's Eliana. And the guy standing there like a lost puppy is Noah."

"Hey," Noah said with a sheepish grin, giving a small wave.

Lucifer nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze steady but not unfriendly. "Nice to meet y'all," he said, his deep voice filling the room. "You already know my dad and Mia."

He respectfully greeted everyone with a handshake.

Patrisha wiped her hands on a dish towel and approached, her smile warm and genuine. "Zion, it's so nice to finally meet you," she said, extending her hand. "Sunday's told us a lot about you."

"All good things, I hope," he replied, shaking her hand.

"Mostly," Eliana piped up, grinning mischievously. "She talks about you a lot."

"Alright, that's enough out of you," Sunday said, shooting her sister a warning look.

Lucifer chuckled, clearly amused by their dynamic. "It's cool. I'm glad she talks about me. Means I'm doin' somethin' right."

Sunday's mom gestured toward the dining table. "Well, dinner's ready. Let's all sit down and eat before it gets cold."

The meal was a lively affair, filled with laughter and teasing as Sunday's family welcomed Lucifer into their home. He was polite but relaxed, answering their questions about his life and studies with a mix of honesty and humor that quickly won them over.

"So, Lucifer," Sunday's mom began, her tone curious. "What made you and Sunday start spending so much time together?"

Lucifer glanced at Sunday, who was busy twirling her fork in her pasta to avoid making eye contact. He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Honestly? She just kinda forced her way into my life. Wouldn't leave me alone."

"Hey!" Sunday protested, finally looking up. "That is not true."

"It kinda is," he said, his voice teasing. "But I ain't mad about it. She keeps things interesting."

Sunday's mom chuckled, clearly entertained by their banter. "Well, I'm glad you two found each other. It's nice to see her so happy."

Sunday blushed, focusing on her plate as Lucifer reached under the table to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

After dinner, Sunday and Lucifer retreated to her bedroom while the rest of the family stayed in the kitchen to clean up. She curled up on the couch, her legs tucked under her as he sat beside her, his arm resting casually along the back of the sofa.

"You survived," she said, her voice soft.

"Barely," he replied, smirking. "Your sisters are somethin' else."

"They're just nosy," Sunday said, laughing. "But they like you. I can tell."

"Good," he said, his tone serious. "'Cause I ain't goin' nowhere."

Her laughter faded as his words sank in, and she looked up at him, her brown eyes searching his face. "You mean that?"

"Yeah, I do," he said, his voice low but firm. "You're it for me, Sunday. I'm all in."

She didn't respond right away, but the way she leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder, said everything he needed to hear.

note; next chapter is on thursday lovelies