' How did I end up in a place like this?'

I all but thought, taking a good look at the dozens or if not hundreds of women and men all dressed in bikini's and different assort of swimming togs. Some of these people were in their plain old birthday suits, breast out and other human parts I could see for the eyes could stretch.

This is Silicon Valley.

There would be always some kind of competition, of who is the more prettier girl or the most attractive guy surrounded by fake friends who would turn on you the second they become the first to even taste a little fame.

I've seen my far share of reality television, a few episodes one of my grandmothers show 'the life of Penelope decker' growing up that was cancelled when I was five, because of low ratings and scores from the general public. The one thing I wanted to do was jump inside of the pool, the temperature was in low seventies.

However California being in the desert wasn't an ideal place to get comfortable. No matter how cool it got, there is always a factor of how it'll be hot. I fanned my face. " I should've got a pair of clothes, to change out of these, cause I am starting to get a little hot." I told Lucifer, he offered me his vodka on the rocks which I did want to decline but accepted the drink. I take a gulp and wipe my mouth. 'That is refreshing.'

" So, darling. What are your thoughts on how I look? I had this laying around and gave it some attention, plus this will help us blend in. Its isn't common for me to have the opportunity to break out the old linen."

Lucifer wore an old off-white linen suit and had to admit he looked pretty handsome. He's handsome every day, I just think he looks really good in a white suit.

" Speaking of style, I've got to get one of these for Lux."

He motioned to the inflatable water-slide and I titled my head, confused. Did I miss the pool at Lux? I didn't think there is one?

" I wouldn't mind seeing you enjoying yourself on the slide. Wearing a bikini, not to objectify you darling, I just have a big feeling you would look good in one. Then again I don't want the male of the species to see you in one, Cause I would have to serve out punishments for the stares."

'Of course he wants me to wear a bikini.' I roll my eyes, but the motion was covered my sun glasses I have covering my eyes. I don't know if this would be considered a childish move, but I wanted to have some fun. I take my hair out of it's tight, combed together, bun and shake it all over to give it volume.

" Who are you and what have you done to Ellie?"

Lucifer, gazing back at me above his designer ray-ban glasses, and he watches me convert my grey cotton shirt into a made-shift crop top. I slipped off my jacket, to put it on my waist band, before striking a pose.

" We need to blend in, don't we? Well I'm you. Actually a more or less inappropriate version, who doesn't have a British accent. And know's more about blending in than standing out. plus we aren't going to catch our perp, if we are not blending in." I use a fake accent, with some of my words, lifting the vodka on ice back up and Lucifer bursted into a fit of laughter. " Hello, I am the devil, Lucifer bloody Morningstar." He grinned as I swayed my hips, pretending that I am walking like he did. I could feel him follow.

A few selective girls batted their eyes at Lucifer as he walked behind me, I however didn't see him peak in their direction. A good amount of men, with their shirts unbuttoned and had the courage to openly show their 'six packs', would send flirty smiles towards me when I did pass by. I threw my head, over my shoulder, when I sense there are eyes on my behind. Lucifer was staring at my ass. " My eyes are up here, Luc."

" You are having fun being me, aren't you?" He said, there being a hint of an undertone I can't quite understand. It sounded strained.

He had pulled me to a stop, using his body to shield us from any wandering stares. I smiled, teasingly. I was having fun distracting him, even though we were here on business. I brought the drink to my lips, a droplet leaked on my lips, and he stared at the particle of alcohol. I wiped it off, using one finger, and I licked the partially bitter tasting drink.

" Yes, I am. I am having fun. If we are gonna be honest, here, while this is all entertaining and I like it. This is more your scene. You see there's a little piece of information, you don't know."

I pointed at me then to Lucifer, he glances at the moving body part. Still speechless.

" I like to be inside, at home, snuggled up on my bed and to read a good book. Play board games, with trix or Ana, or get take out from my favourite food place."

Much as I didn't want to admit it, I did think of how different Lucifer and I are. Would we be a good couple? Would I be holding him back? It was a ridiculous question, of course we would. We have kids in the future.

But what if.. the past can be changed?

And the future is alternated? I am thinking way too literal.

" I don't belong here. I am an outcast. I am someone who thinks of it as being a completely different, unreal, version of me."

I say, I inhaled sharply after Lucifer is now standing a few inches from where I stood. We are practically chest to chest as he gazes at me. Face flushed with blood, he gripped both of my hips which prevented any motion and an intense feeling swept through my chest.

" Ellie. You don't have to change yourself, to impress anyone. Not even for me. You don't let anyone ever control you and you as a person. I want you to feel safe, to be yourself. Do you? Do you feel safe and comfortable around me?"

'Is he kidding me?' I slightly smiled. ' He is the only man, expect for my uncle and father, that I would trust with my life. Hell, i even gave my life for him.' I brushed my hand on his growing spiky beard. " You have my undivided trust, in everything, Lucifer."

He suddenly turned sour, looking behind me and I turn to see what had him pressed to notice a dirty blonde haired guy cockily striding up to us. " Oh bloody hell."

" Are you a math equation? Cause you are a QT girl." He terribly flirted, coming up with a joke on the spot. " did that work? Get it, cause there is a QT m.." I shook my head, having to laugh, I had to give credit where it was due. He got an A for effort.

" Heard you were looking for andy, he is down there at the terrace. Thought I give you a heads up, dude is whack. But his girl's a real babe. So that is a plus."

Andy Kleinberg. I can't help but scoff at how his name sounded, like it was meant to be like an insult when said. I muttered a thank you, to the horrible at flirting guy, and went down the inclined hill to Andy. He had a beautiful young woman, in a flamingo bikini having a glass of wine, next to him.

" Andy Kleinberg." I said, he did a double take off my outfit and I had forgot I still had my shirt rolled up. " You're needed for questioning about a case we have."

" You're blocking my view. though I am very much not complaining." Andy said, a gross grin on his plumper face. His girlfriend had an exasperated smile on her lips, it's not towards me but Andy. Like his behaviour isn't new. She silently looked at me as if to apologise for him. " You here for some fun, babe? I'm all for new way to spice up the sex life, if you know what I mean."

Deciding to play along, I showed my badge and flirtatiously smile at him. " Oh, I know where we can have our fun, baby. How about a nice, comfy, jail cell that has your name attached to it if you like." He got serious real fast once he spotted my badge. Lucifer is glaring at Andy, I even spotted a vein which looked ready to pop pulsing in his forehead while it twitched from annoyance. " The only view you'll have the cell block walls. If you don't answer my questions."

" What? Is this a joke? Wait, is this one of George's pranks? To get me back for that stripper? Hey, are you a stripper? Cause I got hundred dollar bills waiting for you, beautiful."

'This idiot needs to shut up. Before Lucifer kills him and I'm responsible for cleaning up an another murder scene.'

I think, my sensitive ears flick up when I listen to a soft, warning, low pitched sound of a growl coming out of the throat of Lucifer.

" You need to stop speaking. Right now." He warned, his jaw tensing while I put my hand on his arm which calmed him.

" Jana Lawrence was found murdered this morning."

" she was my stewardess on my flight yesterday. So?"

He asked, shrugging off my claim. I crossed my arms and he watched the motion with a smile, that i could tell straight away was one that of a dirty imagination looking at my boobs.

" You sent her a threatening text. You said Ditch the loser from Lux, did you not?"

I said, with each minute that passed I wanted to be anywhere but here.

" .. those texts look threatening to me from where I stand."

" Yeah. She said she was hooking up with some DJ named Lucifer."

' Dj.. Lucifer.'

Shoving my hand over my lips, I retained the need to smile at the sound Lucifer made when he heard that. " DJ? Do you hear this, darling? How dare you."

He scoffed when thinking about Andy's words, which i would've thought as funny if it wasn't a serious case. He wanted to do more than just strangle him from the way he is staring at the man.

" Look. I sent that text to like twenty five other girls, last night. It's called a booty call, you ever heard of one?" Those poor girls. Needing to be part of this. It's Gross. " how about I make you lucky number twenty six, sweet cheeks?"

" I will have you know, human equivalent to a hair in the cheek of a man's arse, it's quite disrespectful to refer to women as numbers. Besides, This girl, she is spoken for. Look, is there anyone that can prove you're not having sex?" Lucifer said, his voice gradually changed to one of a louder tone, while I feel a softer but less rougher hand glide on my back. Sensually.

" Oh, I had sex. Meet Sharon. She can attest to that and my whereabouts. All night long."

Sharon smiled at me, suggestively, while also looking at Lucifer the same way. " Hi, Lucifer. Who is your pretty friend, you got here?" She asks, softly staring at me and him. " Maybe we can have some fun later on. You, me, her. How does that sound?" oh, she thinks... I've noticed, since my transition into an Angel, i attract the kind of people who wouldnt dare look at me as a human. Women, men. You name it. I blush.

" Now excuse me. I'd like to go somewhere you two are Not."

Andy had gotten up and walked off away from Lucifer and I. Leaving behind the two girls, in the corner of my eye I see Lucifer trying to get Sharon to stop touching him all the while he's moving towards me. " Charming." He scoffed. Charming is putting it lightly to what Andy is.

" Definitely a character, he is for sure."

~•~

'Another murder. Another step back from the killer being found out. Just when I think there is a break in the case, something happens. I can't believe I'm saying this but interviewing people, Lucifer has slept with in the last eight week, sounds like the highlight of this day.'

The station is full of different women, who are in their own league of beauty, and ages. From young to older, and some were even eyeing me as I strode through the lines of ladies counting how many there were. 'I can understand him. These girls are gorgeous.'

I've lost my train of thinking, simply going past with a clip board of numbers to announce for interrogation. In my line of sight a card with a phone number is placed on the information paper. 'Oh my..'

The woman, she wore a body tight red leather dress, winked at me. This is all new to me. The only attention I've ever gotten is from Lucifer, and few of those other men in the past. " I got to go and give this to aunt Chloe." I mumbled, flashing a polite smile at her, then walked off.

All the girls, who I learned a few names of, were complimenting Lucifer for how he treated their nights together. Calling their times as the best nights of their lives. Every single one. It's either 'they experienced things they didn't know they did like' to ' He made me see god.'

Which is funny to think about, god seeing how Lucifer acts with these gorgeous girls. How he would experiment using unethical objects, that genuinely shocked me when I did hear how he used a butternut squash and a flute. ' Okay, I don't want to even think about how it works. I know I won't like the answer.' 

You think I'd be jealous. No— I'm intrigued. I leaned in, while I processed what I am hearing.

" Okay, I have a question. Did you and Lucifer ever.. you know, do anything special? Like did you have dinner? Did he get you one of burger? Or a nice looking necklace?"

I played around with my pen, while I asked the question. " or anything like it?" I added on, she laughed at my question, as if I had said that is ridiculous, while I subconsciously rubbed my neck.

" What? No. Look, it was a rad night. And morning, and afternoon, but that's all. I mean I certainly wouldn't hurt anyone over him."

" There is no reason to hurt anyone. I mean.. he was just a meaningless one night stand."

" It was just about sex."

" it's just sex."

" It's just sex."

" There's no emotional connection."

'Wow. Thats.. I feel sorry for Lucifer. Thats..'

To listen to all of these ladies admit there were no attachments, they had formed, and are just simply using him as a way to get their desires fed, fulfilled, is saddening to hear. Even if he'd been intimate with each man or woman in the station, I feel my heart aching for him.

When I think I am done interviewing, in walks the one thing I dreaded to see. Charlotte. She has new purpose in the way she waltzed in, and she sat in the opposing chair. " Calm down Ellie. I'm not here for.. trouble." She said, the look in her eyes unsettled me. " I wanted to tell you, that I had a visit from two of your friends. I think I know who I'm referring to. They are.. let's say worried about the time they have left."

Aidan and Amelia. What does that mean? Why is she speaking cryptically? Time? I watched Charlotte, as she read my face.

" You wouldn't know the surprise I felt when I had two of my.. grandkids come walking into Lucifers home. I didn't want it to be true, cause could I believe a girl like you be the mother of those children." I rolled my jaw, cracking the dense bones of my hands, showing restraint to not fight the goddess.

" Speaking Lucifer, I will admit. You earned some respect from me. How you stood on that podium, saying all of.. those things."

I wanted to say a sarcastic compliment but bite my tongue. " Why?"

" Why? Why wouldnt I? It's not like I am the woman who chose to try and make Lucifer out to be this big Liar. No mother does such a bad thing to their son, goddess." I said, under the disguise of me whispering incase uncle Dan is listening in on the whole interview.

" You don't hurt your kids. What you did was real telling."

" I only did that cause I wanted Lucifer to see you were unworthy of him. No matter if I do see how much your mate bond is growing. The whole point of me doing this, is because I think he deserves a less cowardly, weak, girl that was just a mere human before being who you are, now. Lucifer.. he is different when he is with.. when he is with you. He's less Lucifer and less of my light bringer."

' I don't know where this is going but I much prefer if this conversation ended.' I quietened down my thoughts, even if she can't hear them my face would betray me.

" Then again. Who is a mother to stop their child from happiness? I am glad he met you. Much as you infuriate me, you are... good for him."

I downcast my eyes to the metallic interior of the reflective glass.

" To get personal, Ellie. Have you slept with him?"

" W.. What? N.. No. why would you ask.."

" See. Different. A good ... different."

' God, if you are listening and I know you are, please help me.' I softly bang my head against the metal surface. She chuckled.

~•~

I returned back home, replaying mine and the goddess's interaction about Amelia and Aidan having not enough time. I hoped they would be able to answer me. I didn't expect to see a sad, crying, Ana come running to me hugging my leg. " Hey, hey. What's wrong, Ana banana?" I got down to her level, as she clung to me while I see Dad with the kids. Amelia arose from her spot while Aidan had a solemn pouted frown.

" I don't want to leave you, Mommy."

Leave me? What...

Aidan, watery, smiles and I let Anastasia bring me over to where she sat on the couch. " What is going, sweet boy? Sweet girl? What does she mean by leaving?"

My mouth goes dry when I see Amelia grab my hand, sitting beside me, I had a crushed gaze in my eyes listening as she uttered the words 'we have to leave, Mommy.'

" You know how you questioned why we were here, in the first place, and there wasn't a real reasonable excuse as to why we came here? We figured it out, Mom." Aidan proclaimed, like a realisation came to him in all of this time we've spent together. How? How would he leave? I wouldnt get to see them, again, for years. It's selfish but I want them to stay.

" Poppa Nate, he is all informed about what went down."

" No, No.. no cause.. why would you leave like now? Can't you guys stay, for a little longer? I mean, I'm only getting to know you. As you."

Dad crouched infront of me, as he put both of his hands in mine. ' I just got my kids. Now I'll need to say goodbye.' I shook my head, softly.

" Lily-pad, it's time for them to go."

Before it's even setting in that Aidan, Ana, and Amelia are standing up congregating into a small circle to give me one last saddened stare.

There, behind them, a protruding wave of pure white energy materialised out of the houses wall. It is now I start to see an engulfing, persisting, light glow consume my kids arms. 'No.' I reached out for Ana's hand, her little brown eyes were welling.

" Don't worry, Mom."

Amelia faintly smiles, she too was trying her best to not show she is wanting to cry.

" You will get to see us, again, real soon. You just have to wait and trust when it happens."

She promised, the light crawling up her arm, and before I could say anything to her she disappeared. She's gone. My kids, they aren't here... anymore. They're gone. That's not fair. I looked at the place where Amelia, Anastasia and Aidan stood tears free falling at this point.

" No. No. daddy, bring them back. Bring them.. back. They are my kids!"

I know they were not dead, however the heartbreak I felt, knowing it was the last I would see them after spending a year and a half getting to know, is real. My dad held my head, tightly as a source of comfort, with me bawling my eyes out.

' What am I going to tell Lucifer?'

JASMINE SPEAKS;

Ana, Amy and Aidan are gone. I wonder what the reason behind them finally leaving was and what they meant by 'Now we know.'

If you've an idea of why they left, write your theories down in the comment section. What it is you thought about this chapter.

How did you like Ellie and Lucifer in this part?

Lucifer's little dialogue about not changing her own self?

And Charlotte coming into the station, having a little talk with Ellie?