CHARLOTTE'S P.O.V

The one thing I've come to learn about my old lovers creations is their increasingly obvious need for a connection. If it be love, or what the humans call friends, and the category Ellie has fallen in is the first. She is without a single doubt, vomit inducing, in love with Lucifer.

He too is, how the humans call it head over heels, in love with her but he's always been slow with seeing the obvious in front of him.

She needed to vanish. Despite how much I've actually come to terms she would never join in my ventures and going back home, with both of my sons, I needed her to join me but she's too stubborn for her own good. She failed to see she doesn't belong amongst the creations I have seen kill and betray for their own willed sake.

If I could get her to see just how much of a foolish idea, she is making, it is to stay here i could get her to think again on my offer.

Ellie is walking out of a food establishment, I have heard the humans call it a restaurant, she wore a figure flattering white and flowery dress. And those contraptions called heels. She truely did define the way of being an Angel, it had intrigued me how my son amenadiel was a willing man of his word to save her and went as far as transforming her into an Angel.

It has come with a certain level of great reluctance, to follow through with what I want to do, with the switch from the explosive in hand. It wouldn't kill her but send a message. I sensed the presence of one of my sons, behind me, and hear amenadiel's stern words enter an empty space of just the my breathing.

" Mother you can't kill Elisabetta. You know that won't happen with me around."

He has always been a great warrior, a good boy, going by the rules i knew my husband drilled in his mind.

" Well, of course I couldn't kill her, Son. This'll just send a message. All she will get is a minor scratch and nothing else. All I gotta do is press this button and boom! She will see how much danger she is in being down here."

I explained, knowing if I simply put in a visual description I could get my son to listen. Though I am really, and thoroughly, interested in how his face was increasingly darkening. It was like I'm staring at my husband after he had banished me from heaven to hell.

" Mom, you know I cannot allow you to do this to Ellie. Give me the detonator." He reaffirmed his words, placing his palm out. " I have a duty to protect Ellie. And that means from you too."

Fascinating. He still lives by his oath even after he betrayed her for that mongrel of a man, he helped save from going to hell. I can see his guilt was weighing heavy on his mind, I tilted my head. " You insist on still being there, as her guardian, even though she is an Angel? Do you not see the trenchancy of your oath?." I hummed while pointing the detonator towards Ellie.

" she is the reason, why both of my sons refuse to go back home. If this doesn't deter.."

I unsheathed the blade, which belongs to my daughter Azarel, Uriel snuck here to earth and showed Amenadiel. " I won't hesitate to rid of her, permanently." His eyes were widening at the presence of the blade.

" Which I don't want to go through with, because she is frustratingly likeable. Even though I want her gone, it will pain me to have to resort to this, Son."

" Are you really willing to break the one rule, that forsakes angels or even you the goddess of creation, you are forbidden to hurt another!? I know you, mother. You wouldn't dare."

He is testing my patience. Once he is closer, as he threateningly striding up to me, I grabbed his neck and levied him with one of my hands. He croaked out his words.

" Since when can.."

I've tried to warn him and Lucifer, but I tired of the constant undermining of both my sons.

" I tried to warn you. Apparently, paltry human flesh can't contain my divinity."

I told him, and just when I go to place him down I listen as he tried to gasp out 'Ellie.' I couldn't have him foil my plan, not now. Not when I had the bomb, it was placed under her automobile. " Look! The car is leaving. I should really activate it, now."

Once I placed amenadiel's body down, and my mind is clearer than before getting ready to go ahead with dead switch but amenadiel jumped in front of me. Which was entirely frustrating.

" Mom! Don't do it. You know better than anyone else, if you kill Ellie, it will hurt him too indefinitely and you know he won't rest until he finds out who did it. You know and have seen the mate bond between those two. Which they share." He expresses, using a sharper and quipped whisper shout afraid to draw attention to us.

" He will hate you forever and he will kill you."

That is ridiculous. He wouldn't kill his mother, would he? I'm his Mum. The one he has known since the beginning of time. I created him. He would choose some troubled girl over his own family? I don't think so.

" Come on. One little girl, like Ellie, can't mean more to him, than us his family. Can she?"

I see Ellie going out of eye sight, clearly wiping away tears in her eyes. She had a distant shadowy stare on her face, as she got in the vehicle. It's like she was crying after something had hurt her. The muscle in my chest cavity, I think humans call a Heart, squeezed seeing it. " What is special about Ellie?" I murmured, it had crossed my mind to redirect this plan that I devised but I was in too deep. " Why?"

" I don't know. But, Mom, the bottom line is, if you want Lucy to go home with us, then we need to make sure that it's his decision to leave behind Ellie. Not you. Not me. We both know it, that he won't leave Ellie but that isn't what I am trying to say. It has to be him."

On my husband's name, why does my son have to be right all the time? and have his father's way of talking himself out of trouble.

I groaned, mindlessly throwing the detonator up and amenadiel used his agility to catch the damn thing. He's right. Lucifer would not ever dream of leaving his precious little mate. I got to get more creative than a simple explosion. It just got more complicated.

' I can't help but feel remorse for almost being the cause of her 'death'. Even if she didn't die. Why am I feeling empathetic towards her?'

~•~

ELLIE'S P.O.V

I should have known to keep my expectations low, when it came to Lucifer. Him bailing out, on our date he asked me to go on with him, is the stab to my heart I didn't expect. Though I do thank him for one thing, at least now I can say I was stood up for the first time.

In the last year, of us knowing each one another, he was a man of his word and we had that one moment where we were dancing in Lux, after the Latin king take down, where it felt like we were on a date but I didn't see it in that way. It was two friends celebrating a win. Which I tell myself was such. I hate how much it was effecting me. 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.' I think, opening my front door to see Lucifer coming rushing in and a troubled look of conflict. I didn't greet him, keeping my head down to avoid looking at him.

Aidan, Amelia and Ana all halted what they are doing. Ana had a cute angry glare on her face, her little arms angrily forced together and both crossed. " I owe you an explanation, Darling. I can explain. Go along, children. Off you go, me and your mother won't be long. Let the adults have some time to discuss grown up issues." I glance at how disappointed Aidan appeared, it didn't cross my mind that this is most likely a bitter memory I will tell them in the future and Amelia had her eyes disapprovingly boring at her dad. " Well, off you trot, children. Go on."

" You made mommy sad, Daddy. You hurt her! Mommy always tells us to say sorry, if we say or do naughty things, so you should say sorry to her." Ana, pausing her play time with one of my barbie dolls and play house, exclaimed. " it makes me feel really sad when I see mommy is crying. You made her cry, daddy!" She added.

" It's okay, Ana banana. Go with your brother, and sister, to your sister's room. I will be okay. Daddy and I just need to have a chat."

I stated, my voice a slight croak from crying. It should have not made me feel this way but it did. Both Aidan and Amelia got up, moving at the same pace, with Aid taking Ana from the floor. I was able to close the front door, I didn't want the neighbours to poke their noses where It didn't belong. With all of the kids out of the space, I turn to Lucifer. Wiping my face once I felt a tear slide down.

" You left me at the restaurant, Lucifer. I got.. I got so many pitiful looks from everyone, and it wasn't even the fact I was there alone that was the problem." I chuckled, dryly. " You could've just told me the idea of going on an actual date scared you. It's not like in the past we've been on one, I don't even think you did consider it. I know I certainly didn't." That was a complete lie. I convinced myself it wasn't a date but the thought was there and I liked the sound of it.

" Darling, it wasn't that. You got to believe me, there was no other .."

" Don't. Just, don't. Lucifer. This was all on me and me alone. I'm the one who made the most stupid mistake of thinking.. I'd actually meant something to you."

I hurt myself with my own words. However I didn't backtrack on the fact that I felt silly thinking he would change, for me. There is a knock on my front door. In the time it took for me to answer it, Lucifer made a move to grab my wrist gently pleading with me using his eyes. " I'm sorry for bailing on you, darling.."

I sighed, defeatedly thinking of ways to get out of this situation, opening the door and there is my grandmother Penelope who looked radiant in her usual choice of attire.

" Grandma, hey. I was gonna meet you out the front." Lucifer was grinning, deviously, as my grandma embraced me tightly. " You already know this is Lucifer."

" Of course! Lucifer, you are so thoughtful. You are the sweetest to come support my beautiful granddaughter, and my family, on a day such as today." Grandma Penelope cooed, leaving a kiss on both Lucifers cheeks and encases her arms around my shoulder.

" You know, I was just saying to my beautiful Liz-Liz here the other day, that I was thinking of our first ever meeting and when that horrible horrible man I can't bear to name had taken her, how you were like a bat out of hell on wanting to find her. It was admirable. I had never before seen such anger in one man, you know, Lily-pad sweetie."

" Grandma. Grandma, please. Stop, stop." I say out of sheer embarrassment, grandma had said before she approved Lucifer of being the right man for her granddaughter. It was quite the problem to be honest with her. " I don't.. I don't think Lucifer has a clue of what today is. And besides, I don't think he has time for this." I explained to her, straightening out my formal grey loose fit dress I was wearing for court.

" I will have you know, Darling, it's unwise of you to wager what lovely and low extremities you have on me. Because I know what, in fact, today is." He corrected, I wished to knock the pompous attitude he had out of his tone. " It's a very difficult day because today..." and there it is. " Today is.."

" Today is the first day of the trial, Lucifer. For my granddads killer, I wouldn't have expected you to remember that though. Can we just go, grandma. Please?" I mumble, grandma waited on me to pick up my phone leaving the keys to my car as she would be driving today to court. " I am already nervous enough, as it is."

' As if this day could get worse.'

~•~

I've never been before a court room, amongst a jury panel, and put on trial as a witness. This is a case long before my time I was alive. I was at least one, no I was exactly the age of one, when my grandpa died was shot. I was pacing after I got off the phone with Ella, she was the first to have told me the key witness of this case Boris head was delivered to the precinct. This was all but really bad. He is the connection to the bad guys involved.

Dad found me, a mess, out in the hallway of the courthouse. " Hey, lily-pad. Your aunt just told me about the incident at the station. That changes things." Dad frowned, guiding me to sit down on the bench.

" You realise this could mean Perry has a chance, even if it's slim, of an early release. on the grounds of the witness being deceased and lack of evidence. How do you feel?" He asked, a hand on mine for comfort and I was grateful to have him here. I shakily breathed out. There are moments like these, where I want to hide away from the world and revert back to a safe distance from the place of discomfort which is awaiting me a few feet away. I needed to be the strong girl my aunt and uncle raised me as.

" If it means today I will be staring down, the face of evil, that killed grandpa then I will do it for him. I want to see Perry be locked away." I tell dad, straightening up my grey blazer I had worn over my dress. Dad got up, putting out a hand for me to take which I did. " Let's put this monster away for good."

What haltered me from walking, in the court room where the case is about to proceed, was a familiar face coming up the grand stand stairs I had too walked up. Charlotte. She smirked at me, specifically, doing an expression of disrupt anger that boiled underneath her eyes. " I will be seeing you in court, Elisabetta."

Why would she be on this case for? How did she.. unless.. she found a way to know about this through a source. At the firm. Dad would glance at me, with each second we moved into the court room, wanting to know what that was about but I was focused on the fact Charlotte shook hands with Perry. 'She is representing.. she is representing him. What the actual hell?'

I sat in the chair available next to my grandma. Nervously I plucked at the skin, around each of the cuticles of my nails. Dad sat behind where I am seated. " Lucifer, it appears Charlotte has chosen to defend Perry." I stated, matter-of- factly, I knew Charlotte could feel my glare on her. " I am worried she is definitely up to more trouble, she has given us in the last few days."

" Don't worry, Darling. She won't cause any strife while in the courtroom. At least, I hope she won't." Lucifer said lowly, knowing she could hear us well. " you need not to stress."

" All rise." The Security guard, Oliver I read his name tag thanks to my eyesight, announces to the court. ' Here we go.' I arose and my aunt, I had seen walk in apologising for being late for the hearing, stood beside me.

" Court is now in session. The honourable judge Estrada presiding."

Judge Estrada, an older woman with wrinkled skin showing her normal human aging looks, sat on her place at the high bench. Overlooking us as I sat back down. " Given the sudden death of the states number-one witness, I take and assume it's the defense's decision to move for a dismissal for today's trial?" Estrada says.

" A motion for a dismissal? Why would I want that, your honour?" Charlotte questioned, it's clear the goddess had yet to fully understand the transgressions that it took to be a lawyer. I feel the urge to laugh, out loud, at her stupidity thinking she could show up today in court and intimidate me.

" My apologies. I'm a little out of practice. Um.. oh I see. You're saying, that with Boris dead, that the state doesn't have.. the state doesn't have enough evidence to proceed? So if I don't move for dismissal, then he'll make a complete fool of himself?"

'This is funny.'

I think, remaining silent as the whole courtroom mumbled in an aligned tone of confusion. " Your honour, our case was and still is unshakable. The state has plenty or if not more than enough evidence that will prove sixteen years ago, the defendant, Perry smith, murdered officer John decker." The defending lawyer, Aunt Chloe and grandma hired who is working on the case, divulged.

" And that he is the one that paid for that crime. When fields wanted out of their deal, Perry also killed him. Your honour, will all due respect, granting a dismissal would be ludicrous. This man has done a heinous crime. He has hurt officer john, and his family legacy. It would be an incredibly bad decision to do."

Grandma Penelope held my hand, for support. This was harder on her, due to the fact he was her husband. The man she had made vows of life with. I wouldn't be here if they didn't meet. " Boris Sokoloff's death, while undoubtedly a tragic happening, changes nothing." My aunt, though she is silent, also had a hand on mine.

" the defense agrees. This death doesn't change a thing. With or without Mr. Sokoloff's testimony, my client should never have been charged with these crimes."

Charlotte argued, responding to his claims while aiming a stare at judge Estrada. She is playing dirty here, I don't trust her. She's definitely up to nothing good. Dad shuffled in his seat, touching my shoulder wordlessly and gently squeezed. " Seeing as both parties are at an agreement, this trial will proceed." Estrada, going to pound her gavel on the board, is stop by our representing lawyer.

" Actually, your honour, the state would like to request a continuance. In light of the death of our key witness, our office needs time to, uh, re examine its strategy."

He said, in response and I furrowed my brows. Something isn't sitting well with this case.

I shouldn't show my nerves but, here I am nervously looking around at the jurors.

Each one of them had a story to tell that was different than the others. I imagine this is just another day for them.

" I am confused, your honour. Didn't we just hear the prosecution say their was unshakeable?" Charlotte faked an interested tone, glancing at our lawyer.

" We did. Request denied, proceeding will be continued after lunch." Estrada announced to the court, hammering down her Gavel, which I looked around and scanned the entire space of the court room. Murmurs of the witnesses are now in full volume, to a point I can hear their exchanged whispers.

' This can't be happening. Can it?'

I stand up, moving out to the hall where I ran a hand over my face and down to my chin, biting my nails. I shouldn't be this nervous.

I stayed pacing for a good hour, passer-by employees and lawyers occasionally asked if I was okay which I nod at.

" It seems like that Mum is up to her due diligence, of making my life harder, again. I'm sorry this happened, out of the days, Darling. I know she's a shark but I am even startled with this low blow from her."

The sound of Lucifers voice, even though after he had blown me off from our date, sent a big wave of relief and I startled him by tugging an arm of his towards me. I wanted to know he is actually here in this place.

" I just want all of this to end, Luc. But I am terrified Perry isn't going to answer for his crimes."

I admitted, to Lucifer, hugging his torso and he rubbed one of his hands on my spine. That was soothing to feel.

" I have a plan to get you, and the family, out of this Quid pro Ho and I don't think you will agree with me on it. So you will have to trust me on this, darling. Ah yes! And here he is."

Lucifer stated, grinning down at me as the same lawyer representing the family came out of the judges chambers.

" Mr. Morningstar, we are ready for you, when you are." He called out, a professional smile on his face which suggested that there is nothing I want to know coming out of all this.

Lucifer, in hand of mine, tugged me down the hall where he followed him. " Let's put all of this behind us, once and for all. Trust me, I've got this, Ellie." I decided I shouldn't be quick to leap into an assumption, trusting Lucifer on his word and our hands stayed confined as we walked into the court room once again.

He let go of my hand, sauntering up to the witness stand of the bench. 'He is testifying?'

I spotted my dad, aunt and grandma all seated in their same spots behind the tables of the court. I met Lucifers eyes, wondering what is going through his head while doing this. His eyes shifted to the guard, a hand over the bible which I found ironic. " I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me, Dad." Here we go. I put my leg over my right one, subconsciously fiddling with the necklace he had bought me for our outing, and watch as the lawyer got out of his chair.

" Mr. Morningstar, you were there when Boris was arrested, right? Working with detective Espinoza?"

" that is correct." Lucifer confirms, leaning in to the microphone built into the stand. 'Please don't say it. Please don't say it.' I repeated. The phrase also left my mouth quietly. " Except, I call him Detective douche. But that is another story." There it is, I covered my eyes as Jurors were heard chuckling.

" So, would you please describe to us what had happened?" He was asked, our lawyer approached Lucifer, addressing the arrest that took place before the trial.

" Yes, I'd love to, actually, may I have the floor? Thank you." Lucifer requested, and was granted the chance to speak directly to us. But I see he is staring right at me. No one else. He got out of the witness stand, throwing a subtle wink, going up to the Jury box. " Hello, may I borrow your scarf, please?" He charmed one of the Jury women, who had a pretty Afro, with a smile that could convince anyone to listen.

" Excuse me, your honour, is this appropriate to our case?" Charlotte pointed out, frustrated. I smirked under my hand. She was getting all nervous too. That is good.

" Well, you wanted the full story, don't you? I mean the devils in the details." Lucifer quoted her words while fixing up the scarf.

" Right. Myself and detective douche, sorry I meant to say detective Espinoza, were asked by the LAPD to perform a sting operation. Not the singer." A collective of laughs went around and I cracked a smile too.

" So we had to go under the cover of two completely comfortable in their sexuality men at Boris''s bathhouse."

The courthouse was erupting with the laughter of each juror, witness, and even judge Estrada had peaked over her bench to get a nosey peak at the possibility of seeing Lucifer undress.

It's a miracle how Lucifer could change the mood of this court hearing, from a dark murder that rocked my family to light hearted and full of giggles I participated in.

While reenacting the scene of his sting operation, Lucifer would be glancing at me until all the way to the end of his retelling. Smiling getting bigger and more confident.

" And I handed the investigation over to leading officer decker, and the detective who is sat beside her. Thank you."

He faked a bow, going to sit back down on the witness stand. An applaud erupted from each of the attending witnesses, they loved him and I wasn't surprised by that. ' I wouldn't expect anything else from him, to be honest.'

" Thank you for, uh, the vivid reenactment Mr. Morningstar. It's almost as if Boris himself just testified." Said our lawyer, I hadn't learnt his name and continuing to call him the title is a little dismissive with how much he is helping, chuckling.

" Except a more handsome version." Estrada, flirty, pointed out with her eye on Lucifer and I rolled my eyes at how typical it is he could not go to anywhere without being a magnet for all the humans.

" Oh, stop it, Judy." Lucifer teased, dismissing her advances puffing out his suit.

" Actually, I would like to add one more thing.."

He added and that caught charlottes attention, as she did stand to attention I wanted to fly at her and get her out of this courtroom. That would create a great deal of problems too.

" I think we've heard enough, Your honour."

" Shh! Please continue... Mr. Morningstar."

Judge Estrada shushed her, which I think was a funny setback on the plan Charlotte must've made and she was silenced.

" Continue please."

" Yes, I'd just like to say, for the record, the LAPD, well officer and detective decker but most improbably the most important thing in this case I can most definitely say, in terms of what is happening here, I am proud of Ellie.. I mean, officer decker. She acted impeccably on this case."

Lucifers face mellowed down to one of seriousness. He faces me, lightly smiling, as his words blurred across the courtroom space.

" This whole court room, Nay, the city can rest assured that someone as honest, kind, and strong, along with being the most insanely trustworthy person as her is out there protecting them from harm. I should know, I have seen her out there in action. Not in bed, I wouldn't know that one, obviously. I jest with you."

I smiled, it was a slight bit watery as I held on to my grandmas hand tight. She was glancing between Lucifer and myself, I could hear those thoughts bubbling in her mind and she didn't need to say them out loud for me to hear. That alone made me want to hide the blush but it is so hard to when I have eyes on me.

" Thank you. Miss Richards, your witness."

Lucifer is staring down Charlotte. She looked, unwavering, straight back at Lucifer with not one single discouraged expression and turned to me for a brief second than back at Lucifer.

" I have no questions at this point."

She is playing the long game with this case.

JASMINE SPEAKS;

This chapter took me so long to write, I need to do a part two. I originally was going to do one long chapter, but I decided against it as I want to add in parts of my own.

What did you think of the whole scene of Ellie and Lucifer being the court room? Charlottes little point of view and her insight to Ellie?

It was a last second moment, I decided on, that I wanted to add in.

The whole idea came to me, while watching some Charlotte scenes on YT.