Everyone in the living room watched the light show and spectacle with wide-open eyes. They could hear Alexander's warm voice:
"Hello, little troublemaker. You're lighting up your mother's belly like a Christmas tree..."
There was silence for a few seconds, and then the others suddenly realized that the boy seemed to be having some kind of conversation with the baby.
"Yes, I can feel it. You don't want to wait any longer, and you want to meet your family. I don't blame you."
.......
"Hahaha... Yes, they are a bit strange, but what do you want? This is a bit of a strange family."
.......
"Yes, he is a bit weird, but he will grow on you. Trust me, he is the most daff devil I ever heard of. Rest assured, little one, everyone is impatient to meet you and hold you."
.......
"Yes, even Auntie Maze and Uncle Lu."
.......
"No, they are gone and will not come back for you. They cannot harm you or your Mom; I forbid it. You two are absolutely safe!"
...….
"Is that so? Well, I'm sure your niece is trembling with excitement to finally see and meet her nephew. And yes she is special so be a good boy or I will have to open a can of whoopass on your little Nephilim butt. Now, do your mother a favor and take it easy, and before you know it, you will be in her arms, safe and sound. You have not even been born yet, and you already have the two best bodyguards in the world. The best Torturer of Hell and the former King of Hell, and on top of that the best niece you could ever wish for, who will try to spoil you rotten, hihihi!"
.......
The golden light slowly faded, and Linda's stomach and Alexander's hands returned to normal. The therapist looked at him with wide eyes and asked:
"You can communicate with the baby?"
Alexander nodded enthusiastically and said:
"More or less. Not so much in words, Doc. It's a bit hard to describe, but it's more like emotions."
"Is everything okay with him?"
"Oh absolutely, but he has a mind of his own and has decided that today is the day. Sorry, Doc, but he just doesn't want to wait any longer. He told me that since Bee knows you are pregnant and she has decided to be his big fun niece, she has told him all about his family and all the things she wants to do with him once he is there. He can't wait to meet her. Based on what Bee told him, he seems to think that Lucifer is a bit weird. Cannot argue with that fact."
The Devil seemed to huff at those words. Trixie, meanwhile, was blushing. Partly from excitement at the baby's impending arrival and partly because her little secret had apparently been revealed. She asked quietly:
"But how? I never spoke to him out loud. It was just all in my head. It was just a wish to be a big niece because I have no siblings and wanted some so badly."
Alexander shrugged and said:
"You'll have to get used to it, Bee. Celestials, you know. Think of it like praying. When you pray, you don't always pray out loud. Same with the baby. You have no siblings, and since you know that Doc Linda is pregnant and you see her as a kind of aunt, you see yourself as the baby's older fun niece. This desire of yours and his celestial nature anchored the bond between the two of you. Every time you thought of him and told whole stories in your head about this crazy family unit and how you would play with him and spoil him, well, that translated into a kind of praying, and he got it all. No wonder he can't wait to meet his already favorite niece."
At these words, Trixie almost started to radiate light herself. Linda had grown a little pale:
"Oh God, the baby's coming... My baby's about to be born. Oh God, what now?"
Alexander laughed:
Well, to be honest, Grandpa has nothing to do with it. You and Amenadiel are solely responsible for this miracle in your womb. Fortunately, you have the support of both heaven and hell, Doc Linda. However, I don't think it would be a good idea to give birth in a hospital, because the next thing you know, he'll turn you into a Christmas tree again. The doctor and the nurses would be quite surprised."
He turned to Lucifer:
'We hadn't gotten to that point, diablo mio, but I've kind of annexed that beach house of yours. You do not seem to use it anymore, and I have need of a place to call home. Don't worry, the financial arrangements and paperwork can be done later at your leisure. I don't want to put you on the spot, even now that you know I'm your son and therefore want to buy the house from you at the going market price. I suggest we move the circus there, more privacy and all that."
He took Linda's hand:
'Doc, just in case the baby would make its appearance at some point, do you already have a bag ready somewhere with the things that you were going to take to the hospital?"
The poor little blonde could only nod:
"Very well, Ella and Chloe, if you would be so kind as to go and collect these from Doc Linda and perhaps some other goodies to make her feel more comfortable at the beach house? Then come to the house; Ella knows the way. Lucifer can take Doc Linda, Bee, and me there, and Maze can follow on her bike."
He turned to the angel present and asked:
"Rae Rae, would you please flash upstairs and ask our healer to oversee the birth of his nephew?"
The angel nodded ridiculously eagerly, unfolded her wings, and disappeared from the penthouse without a word.
In the underground car park, Ella walked over to the Aston Martin, ignoring Lucifer and his reaction, and urged Chloe to hurry. The Devil was clearly absent-minded, for although he saw the little Latina get into the red sports car that cost a fortune, he made no objection. With great strides of his long legs, he walked towards his beloved and trusted Corvette. Only when Alexander whistled on his fingers did he stop and turn round with a jerk:
'What... what is it? Is the baby coming… now?
Linda and Trixie could only laugh at the horrified look on his face, and Alexander was equally amused:
'No Lucifer, but you're moving too fast; poor Doc can't keep up with your pace. But I am more concerned about the functionality of your car. Do you have any idea how you are going to fit two children and Doc Linda, who herself is the size of a minivan, into it?"
The minivan comment earned him a gentle pat on the back of the head from the heavily pregnant woman, while Trixie had to chuckle aloud at the description. Lucifer looked from Linda's pregnant belly to the two children to his Corvette and back again. His eyebrows went up high enough until they seemed to become a single living, moving caterpillar. Alexander shook his head in amusement at the Devil's indecision and unworldliness:
'I suggest we use that fat Mercedes of yours for this ride. Much more pleasant for the doctor and Bee in the back seat.'
Moments later, the specially tuned Mercedes 600 SEL left the car park immediately, followed by Mazikeen on her motorcycle, who had resolved not to let her best friend and the baby out of her sight for a moment. The Demon had also resolved to do other things with the first idiot who threatened to delay, or God better make Linda's journey unpleasant in LA's hellish traffic. Barely ten minutes later, Alexander said in frustration:
'Damn, Lucifer, drive normally! At this rate, the baby will graduate from college before you reach the beach house!'
The Devil countered extremely nervously and clearly frightened:
'Linda...Baby...Must be careful... No risk with the baby... Must stay safe!'
Alexander growled:
'For the love of Uncle J! One would almost think you are the father on the way to the hospital with the mother in the back seat pfff...'
These words made Lucifer turn red, his eyes just about bulging out of their sockets, and Trixie threw another splash of petrol on the fire from the back seat:
'Alex is right, Lucifer! I just saw a snail catch up with us; he wasn't happy because he raised his middle finger at you...'
The two youngsters seemed to have found a soulmate in each other when it came to teasing Lucifer, and their innocent banter about the Devil was infectious as Linda giggled. Lucifer muttered something unintelligible under his breath and put on a bit of extra speed, not very much as he stayed well on the right side of the speed limit. Had the detective witnessed this, she would have sincerely wondered if he was all right. A few miles down the road, Alexander suddenly shot straight into the passenger seat and said:
"Oh poop... Rae Rae! I'm going to kill her!
The devil looked at him and asked:
'What's going on?"
"Nothing to worry about, but I have to leave and take some precautions in the house. Believe me, really nothing to worry about, just... you... some family who are a bit too enthusiastic."
He closed his eyes, and they heard him say:
"Mazikeen, whatever happens when you arrive at the beach house, there is no, I repeat, NO danger! So please keep your weapons stowed and everyone in one piece. There are visitors, and they are just a little excited and full of excitement that the newest addition to the family is making his appearance."
With that, Alexander disappeared from the passenger seat and headed for the beach house.
Ella jumped enthusiastically behind the wheel of the Aston Martin without thinking. She had enjoyed the car so much earlier in the day that the thought of her own small car had not occurred to her. Cautiously, Chloe took a seat next to her in the luxurious interior of the supercar. No sooner had she closed the door than the little Latina disappeared from the garage, her tires screeching. The detective grabbed the armrests with all her might as it seemed Ella was on a mission. The little Latina was weaving in and out of traffic, not even bothering to use her indicators, determined to set some kind of world record to reach Linda's house and then the beach house. Chloe had felt a twinge of jealousy when she had seen Ella get into the sports car. So when the traffic cleared and there was no need for a high-speed slalom, she asked, not so kindly:
"Since when does Lucifer let you drive one of his sports cars?"
Ella giggled:
"Well, technically, he didn't really give permission. It was Alexander who decided to go shopping in this beast."
The detective said in horror:
'Ella, do you know how inappropriate it is to take one of his cars without Lucifer's knowledge just because a child wants to go for a ride in a sports car? Joyriding is a crime, you know?"
The Latina realized all too well that what Alexander and she had done was inappropriate but they had not hurt anyone with it just had some fun. Somehow she knew, nay felt that Lucifer would not mind her having fun with one of his exclusive cars. On the contrary, it would give Lucifer pleasure to know that she was having fun. She had always had that feeling with Lucifer that he was happy when she the little Ella Lopez had fun, when he could please her or make her laugh. However, it was that particular tone from Chloe, the tone she also used so often to reprimand Lucifer or tell him to behave more maturely that was getting on her nerves now. Until now, she had always held back. She had always kept in the background when the detective snapped at Lucifer yet again. Because she thought it would turn into something between the two. That something romantic was blossoming there. However, something had changed in the dynamic between Lucifer and Chloe, something she had clearly noticed during the conversation in the penthouse. It was a feeling she got when she saw Lucifer cast glances toward Chloe and the look in his eyes was no longer that of a lovesick puppy. Why that dynamic had changed she did not know but that the change was substantial she felt deep inside. This was not something that seemed to be transitory. Why she did it she did not know but somewhere deep inside she was glad when she got it off her chest:
'Who are you to say whether it's okay or not if I drive one of Lucifer's cars? I thought your name was Miss Chloe Decker and not Mrs. Morningstar. If Lucifer has a problem with me driving one of his dozen cars then he's old enough, he's fucking literally older that the universe, to say so himself. Until then and to please Alexander I am going to enjoy this beast. Or have you at some time been appointed by God himself to make sure the Devil falls neatly into line? In that case, I have a word or two to exchange with The Big Guy himself! And speaking of crimes. I am committing a crime by driving this car, but if you decide in a drunken stupor to use a drill to see what he has in his safe, is that not a crime? Tell me, detective, what is the penalty for joyriding without causing the slightest damage? And what is the penalty for entering someone's home uninvited in a drunken stupor, trying to break into a safe and causing damage to that home, not to mention making a few irreparable scratches on the remains of a priceless ancient Assyrian wall? Is that not breaking and entering?"
Chloe turned pale at Ella's harsh words. The Latina had just reminded her that she had been treating Lucifer unfairly for some time. Not to mention the fact that the Devil was not too fond of her at the moment because of her idiotic behavior and her willingness to help a zealot of a priest kill him and send him back to Hell, a place he clearly hated. And that got her thinking about the devil's father and the devil's son. The idea that God might be angry with her made her skin crawl. The boy, however, was a different story. He seemed like a happy, normal thirteen-year-old kid, obviously up for having fun and full of mischief. But she had been able to look deep into those beautiful bright green eyes when he was angry, and that ice-cold stare frightened her. She was sure his threat would play a part in the dreams she was certain would come. She tasted a little bile in her mouth as she thought that sooner or later Maze would find out about her treachery. The woman had been prone to violence even when Decker was convinced she was human. She didn't know what Maze would or could do to her now that she knew Lucifer's dangerous bodyguard was a real demon. Especially now that Alexander had given her her freedom, now that Lucifer's word was no longer law for her. The rest of the drive to Linda's house and then to the beach house, with a stop at Ella's own flat, was spent in tense silence. Both women were lost in their own thoughts, which could not have been further apart.
Alexander disappeared from the passenger seat of the luxury Mercedes and appeared in the garden of the beach house to find himself surrounded by about two dozen over-excited Angels. He felt a headache coming on, as this was absolutely the last thing he had considered. He looked wearily at the Angel of Death and asked sarcastically:
"I thought I asked for Raphael to be brought here. Is the rest perhaps an army of nurses to bring a single Nephilim into the world?"
Angel shrugged with a broad, mocking smile:
'Let's just say things got a bit out of hand. Gabriel was with Raffa and Michael when I arrived. Raffa wanted to bring Jophiel, and that's when things got a bit out of control. You can't blame them, Alex. When Gabe sent the message to Jo, the story spread like wildfire through Heaven, and the palace started to fill up. They all asked Michael if they could come and meet you and be there when the new Nephilim would be born. In the end, Mi threw us all out of the palace and told us to get the fuck out and leave him alone. Not knowing if he had given permission or not, they all just came along."
Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose and said wearily:
'Oh, I don't blame them, girl, but I'm not sure I blame you or not!"
The collection of angels stared at him, wide-eyed and expectant. It was the first time they had seen their brother Lucifer's son. It was a motley collection; every possible color of wing could be seen, as well as every possible shape. It was clear that humans, and the different races among them, had been created by God to mirror the diversity of the angels. One thing they all seemed to have in common, however, was the hope for something better that shone in their eyes as they looked at Alexander. Alexander shook his head and said:
"OK, let's get a few things straight first, yeah."
The angels present noticed that from one second to the next he effortlessly transformed from a boy to a figure of authority, effortlessly becoming the center of attention.
"I don't know how you imagined it, but the birth of a child, Nephilim or not, is a private matter, not a group event. Only the mother, Raffa, Jophiel, and someone chosen by the mother-to-be will be in the room. The rest of you, like me and Lucifer, will calmly await the birth without stirring things up. Your brother has not seen you for thousands of years and is convinced that you all hate him. Do me and him a favor and don't ambush him all at once. Give him time and space and approach him individually or in pairs. If he gives you a curt response, don't take it personally—hell is not an amusement park; he's been there for thousands of years, and it has left its mark. Have some understanding and patience, and in time all will be well. There is a demon on the way. Mazikeen, she has been his right hand all along, and she is damn loyal. She has been warned not to harm you. I would appreciate it and consider it a personal service to me if you would at least treat her cordially if you cannot bring yourself to be kind to her. There are also a few humans on the way. One Chloe Decker, who Lucifer has a personal relationship with and works with. Her daughter, Beatrice Espinoza, who will no doubt drive you mad with the thousands of questions she probably has, and finally, Ella Lopez, a close personal friend of Rae Rae. She is kind of, like,...bubbly. To tell the truth, she could be Rae Rae's twin; I think that paints the whole picture. Now that everyone knows what is about to happen, may I ask you to temporarily stow your wings so that you do not tear down half my house or push people over because they are not used to you needing space to move?"
The angels present did as they were asked, and Alexander concentrated on the spacious garden. His eyes lit up golden again, and he made some changes. Part of the garden was transformed into a lounge area with a variety of comfortable seats and sofas; tables were scattered here and there with a wide variety of drinks and snacks, and a hidden sound system was playing soft music from Buddabar.
"Guys, the birth process can be quite long, so I would say try to relax. I promise I want to get to know each and every one of you personally, so I will definitely come around and have a chat with you all."
This last sentence brought a broad smile to the faces of the assembled angels. He looked at an Angel who looked not much older than twenty with a mess of reddish curls on his head, a broad smile, and soft blue eyes that radiated an almost childish delight:
"You must be Gabriel. Rae Rae told me a lot about you. When Doc Linda is here and things have settled down a bit, I would like to have a chat with you before I go round and meet your siblings."
Suddenly Rae Rae said, startled:
"I have to go; Lu is panicking. Apparently the doctor's water has broken, and he has no idea what to do."
Alexander burst out laughing at the image of Doc Linda in the back seat of Lucifer's luxury Mercedes and the Devil behind the wheel on the verge of a nervous breakdown. All he could say was:
"GO!"