Lukas yips turn into full fledged barks when i come down the stairs, his fully grown matured body jump up and down, as I giggled brushing my hair using my new hair brush while he tries to get me to pay attention to him. His golden, smooth, fur coat shone bright under the sunny illuminated house atmosphere. I pat my jeans, in response to him wanting to stand on both legs to lick me, and he bounded his slim limbs up resting his paws on my hands licking me.

" You are growing so much, Yes you are. Can't believe you are one now. Where did all of the time go, hey?" I said scratching behind his ears. He did a subtle arf, whacking his tail on an island chair, I crouch down to Lukas height. " It's so quiet around without the kids. Isn't it? Some days I wish they didn't need to leave."

It will take some getting use to having no kids around. Honestly, if I could turn back time to have them back here I'd do it in a heartbeat. It sounds honestly like I have an attachment, for the future versions of my kids I got to know in a short period of time, but it just meant every day is a step closer to seeing them again once I can figure out what They meant by 'Seeing me soon'. Amelia's words rang out in my mind.

A little ways out of the window, to my house, I take note of a UPS driver in uniform bringing a medium sized package to my door step. Three exact knocks were made, on the front door, for me to answer and Luka stuck close by me as I made my way to the door answering using my hand to wave at him. " I have a delivery, for a miss Elisabetta decker, I just need for you to sign this form. It's a form of acknowledgment, to say you are responsible for the delivery, and that it was delivered with a safe arrival." Stated the driver, handing a ballpoint pen, pointing at each of the signature lines he needed filled out. " Have a good day, Ma'am."

" Thank you."

I nodded, keeping one of my feet up to ensure Luka's didn't escape, carrying the rather sturdy and heftier in weight brown box. The door bell, I installed for the reason which is to keep my aunt Chloe state of mind out of any worry she has about me living alone even if I didn't need it, chimed sending a message to my mobile phone to say someone is outside. I answered it, to my surprise it's Rebecca, and I invite her in.

" Rebecca. What are you.. doing here? Is there something wrong? Why are you at my house? I don't think I remember ever telling you, where I live. I am pretty sure that is one of those things I kept private for so various reasons." My arms are folded, not trying to come across as defensive— just more of a curiosity as how it is she found my address.

" Who told you?"

" I might, or might not, have caught a glimpse of your address on one of the Lieutenants case files on you."

Rebecca disclosed, sheepish, and I blinked. What was she doing with Marcus? I didn't want her around the lieutenant despite how we had our differences.

" Lieutenant wish to speak to me, concerning about you. How It is know you and that is the reason I came here. Something is off about that guy. I caught him asking around the station, about what you are interested in, and when he asked me I lied and said we don't really know each other that well."

I sighed, thankful Rebecca came here and told me, dropping my original stance of defence. It was too early in the morning for a fight, i want to my daily intake of caffeine before that would happen but not until I open the package that is behind me.

" Thank you, Rebecca, for coming to me with this. I will deal with the lieutenant, myself, when I see and open this to know what it is I was sent. This arrived two minutes ago."

I moved out of the way so Rebecca could see it. She confusedly stood next to me, while I grab a kitchen knife, and I smoothly create a cut on a piece of duct tape.

' This is one major breach of my safety protocol.' I unboxed the contents, on the inside, bringing the ambiguous item out of the package. 'What is this?' I thought, dusting an old ancient enshrined brown latex journal I couldn't pinpoint the age it is— it appeared as old as the bible itself if not even older if that is truely possible, a note slipped out. Rebecca did a tilt of her head in awe and wonder, muttering 'Woah.' I swiftly grabbed the note mid air. My mouth moved reading the cursive writing of it.

' Thought you might appreciate the arts, and historical literature, of journaling. I heard it's one of your favourite past times to write your feelings, or so I am gratefully informed of by an anonymous source, in one of your various books you have in your possession. Consider it an early birthday present from me.

With regards, P.'

Rebecca gently gasped, extracting vintage aged fountain pens out of a wood carved box inside the package, she mustered a 'Woah' inspecting the price-less antique Artefacts.

" Whoever this P guy is, he's loaded. These must have costed a million dollars or more! You have got someone as your secret admirer, Betty."

No thinking is needed on who sent this. Marcus. Who else has a 'P' in the start of their last name, if it isn't Pierce. My first reaction is to put the journal, not matter if I found the gesture thoughtful, back.

" What is wrong, Bets? Do you not like the book?" Asked Rebecca as she followed me to the front door. " Correction, don't you like the journal? You've got a woman on a mission look in your eyes."

" I know who sent this And I am definitely not happy with him, right now."

~•~

Dumping the brown package on Marcus's desk I popped my hip out, glaring heatedly at him in response to his questionable raise of his brow, digging my nails tight in the material of my new floral blouse I bought on the weekend. He hung the phone call, he was busy making, up. " I know this is from you, Marcus." I scoffed. " Look. I know we said there didn't need to be professionalism in this." I flexed my finger in a back forth manner. " relationship, we have, but this is crossing that line of reasoning we have."

" Didn't you like the journal, I got for you, Decker?" He asks, sitting on his desks situating his broader body on the edge where I am now facing him at the level of his striking blue eyes. " I made the assumption you were coming in here to thank me for it."

Hums Marcus, he stood up to his full height of a huge six foot two staring down at me. I stuck out my finger, stabbing it on his torso that I reached in comparison to his staggering length of height, no caring if I am citied for it.

" You're the lieutenant, Marcus. Sending me shit, like a journal, to my house will give an impression of I'm being intimate with.. you and that isn't the thing I want people to see me as. Someone that is screwing.. the lieutenant.. it's inappropriate full top. Don't do it again."

Before I could March myself out, of Marcus's office workspace, my wrist is grabbed by him. I fought the instinct to fight him off listening as a sigh exited his mouth. " Let me make it up to you, decker. Listen to me, please." I decided if I wanted to get out of here sooner than I need to hear him out. I waited on him to talk and he still had my wrist enclosed by his hand. " I will stop the gifts, if you let me take you out for the night. You know? A nice dinner at a restaurant and cliche walk on the beach. The type of thing you see in, is it, Enchanted?" He shrugged. " If you don't want a second date, we don't have to do it again. It's up to you, decker."

I hesitated. That is against professional rules, to date within the department. Especially with a lieutenant. Not when my instincts are telling me to say no, but I push those aside. Maybe it's me being too precise with my instincts and it'll not go as bad as I think it will.

" Okay, fine." I sighed. " Sure, yes, I will go on a date with you. Marcus." He sounded satisfied, he made a noise between an airy laugh and a snort of the sorts, as he starts to smile innocently letting go of my wrist. I hope this won't lead to regret about the decision I made, going on this date. " Now. Can I go back to my job, lieutenant? Please."

" You're dismissed, Decker. When the day ends i will take us to this new food establishment, at Boulevard, I've been wanting to try. You don't gotta wear nothing too fancy, what you're in is actually nice so don't change out of it, okay?"

" Sounds good, Marcus."

I exited Marcus's office walking out into the lay way of the second floor, leaning on the railings, breathing out. Saying yes to the date made my heart race and a sinking feel of like I am doing an act of betrayal sunk in almost immediately. 'Why can't I get rid of this internal conflict I'm having?' I rubbed my chest where my heart is.

' It's like I am betraying someone and my soul can feel it when I said yes.' I find my uncle Dan talking to Lucifer, aunt Chloe is typing away at her desktop computer, he wore a bright orange Hawaiian shirt and I smiled remembering he's using his flying points to go on a much needed vacation to Hawaii. 'I'm glad uncle Dan's going on that holiday.'

Lucifer became aware of me joining him and he physically jumped up from his spot on the desk. " Ellie, Darling. Detective douche and I were just talking about your upcoming day of birth. Daniel was feeling guilty he book on the same week, as your birthday, but I assured the poor man he didn't need to feel guilty as I have some ideas on how to celebrate your birthday." He did a fist pump of his hand, on uncle Dan's arm, and my uncle rolled his eyes as I hugged him. " Don't bother trying to get me to tell you the surprise! Cause I like surprises. Although I am quite the easiest of devils to convince."

" Well, I will say my see you later's now. I will see you guys in a couple weeks! Love you, honey. I will call you every night before you go off your sleep, and on the actual day of your birthday too." Uncle Dan says, leaving a kiss on my forehead where he usually routinely did do it on, waving 'see you later'. I'd miss him, it was rare uncle Dan would go on a vacation but he needed to do it. I turned to Lucifer, needing to tell him I am going on a date with Marcus.

" Luc, I need to talk. Can we talk in private?"

I snuck a small peck on my aunt Chloe's cheek, her cheeks twisting in an upward direction as she smiled at the little action, and I walked in one of the free interrogation chambers while a confused Lucifer followed me into the room. I faced him, my lips moved on their own accord, touching the back of my neck. " Marcus, he.. he asked me out on a date. I said yes." He became silent, unreadable, and I avoid his eyes. There is a reason I played with the idea of me telling Lucifer and that is his unpredictable reaction.

" You said yes, to a date, with him? Well that's Marvellous darling! I am happy for you." Said Lucifer, his tone betraying how his face stared down into mine. " When is this scandalous and mystery date of yours going to happen? Do we need to talk about the use of protection, on the first date, or was that for the third one? Ah."

I did a dismissive laugh. " I'm not you, Luc." I blushed at the picture that flashed in my mind. " Id... never sleep, with him, let alone on a first date. And that is usually reserved for the third base, and date, yes Luc." I pushed his body out of a light-hearted joking way, as the persistent sparks that ignited each time we touched came alive, Lucifer cleared his throat. " Your mother is currently tracking, air quotes are used cause really she is stalking, Mazikeen. Shall we see if maze is getting herself back into any trouble?"

Maze is on a bounty hunting job, in Canada, as she wished to challenge herself with her own self discovery as a person. And that lead her in the hunt of an evading man who's on the run. I told her she needed to be careful, considering he's outran the entire American government I can remember, and she said to quote herself. ' The one thing you need to worry about is the fact you are too stubborn to change your taste of fashion. That frock is atrocious, Liz.' I think it is pretty and I won't be changing out of it.

" Sure, Luc. We need to go back to work, for real, this time. By the way, I heard you gloating to uncle Dan about how you literally burned up money and threw it in the air. Don't do that."

" What? Can't a man brag about the glory of his own money?"

JASMINE SPEAKS;

This is a short filer chapter of the sorts but at the same time it's like a short insight of like the love triangle that's beginning to form between Ellie, Marcus, Lucifer.

Also, as you may see, it's in a way Rebecca and Ellie started to get along. They aren't really in a sense friends, yet, but it's slowly happening.

What did you think of the chapter? Ellie with Lucifer, Marcus, and her family?