It was well into the night when Lucifer's red-rimmed portal opened at the foot of the bed, and its crimson light bathed us. Azza stirred behind me, and I opened my eyes in time to see Lucifer step through before it closed, sending the room back into darkness, except for my favorite nightlight.

"I am sorry," was all he had to offer as he stood, shoulders slumped and looking haggard. A trip to Heaven invariably drained him.

I glanced at Azza, who nodded before we held out our arms out to him. "We're not mad. We were just concerned. Uzza couldn't find you. Did you go to Heaven?"

He nodded as he crawled between us, clothes and all. At least he had the sense to slip out of his shoes. He lay facing me, as always, Azza at his back in bed as in life.

I ran my hand down his cheek. "Want to talk about it?" I murmured.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Do I have to? Right now? I am exhausted."

"Of course not," Azza answered, hugging him close. "But, you can't sleep in your clothes."

I would rather have undressed him slowly and made love to him, but he simply snapped away his garments, and I could tell he wasn't in the mood; he was exhausted. I glanced at Azza again. If Lucifer was this tired, it meant he likely argued with Him... and probably didn't win.

I kissed him quickly and rolled over so he could spoon me. It was our favorite sleeping position; Azza spooned Lucifer as Lucifer spooned me. He nuzzled into my hair and grew still, dozing almost immediately and breathing the rhythmic breath of sleep soon after.

Azza gently squeezed my hip, his test to see if I was awake. "What do you think happened, Azza?" I whispered.

"My guess is he asked for an extension or permission to intervene. And, of course, was denied, probably more from spite than for any other reason."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe He hates Lucifer that much."

Azza's touch moved up my side, raising the hairs as it did. He didn't intend to follow through, but I enjoyed the thrill of his touch nonetheless. "He doesn't hate Lucifer, Olivia, He hates that Lucifer wants freedom."

I scowled. "He's petty."

"Yes. And vain. And wants to be the most important. But, at least He is honest about it."

"Truth," I nodded. "It says it right in the Old Testament."

Resting his hand on my hip gently and arm draped over our love in the middle once again, Azza suggested, "Let's sleep. Perhaps he will tell us what happened in the morning."

Lucifer was still sleeping soundly when Azza and I rose; we left him to rest. Deirdre left for Melissa's with Uzza, which meant the two of us were on our own. Azza helped me rearrange the pictures on the 'Wall of Deirdre,' a collection of photographs featuring my daughter from infancy to her current age. It was getting pretty extensive, but I wasn't ready to admit I'd have to pare it down soon if I didn't want to turn the apartment into some creepy shrine. She complained enough about it as it was.

We worked for about an hour when we heard Lucifer do his morning routine and then pad down the hall in bare feet. "Is there coffee?" he mumbled, still tired.

"Yes," I replied, "we saved some of the good stuff in the carafe for you."

He kissed my cheek and hugged Azza before shuffling into the kitchen. "Do either of you want a cup?"

"Yes, please," I requested as Azza echoed me.

We wandered into the kitchen, where he was leaning back against the counter, arms folded across his chest, waiting for the toast to pop up. He didn't look like he'd regained any energy while sleeping.

Azza stood toe-to-toe with him and wrapped his arms around our love. Lucifer sighed and returned the gesture, leaning his forehead against Azza's for a moment before they opened their arms for me. I held my tongue as long as I could, but eventually, the combination of curiosity and concern had me asking about his trip.

"Tell us what happened in Heaven, Lucifer," I encouraged.

He closed his eyes and swallowed. "Nothing happened as is the norm. I asked for something, and He refused me. Life goes on as if nothing happened."

I scowled. "Surely He had to know you would ask for an extension or to help."

"He did. In fact, He was quite ready for me and used the opportunity to make a point to all assembled. Again."

I caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry He torments you, Lucifer."

He leaned into my touch. "No need for you to be sorry, love. I did not expect my request to be accepted. I felt I needed to ask, however."

"What did you ask for?" Azza wanted to know as the toast ejected from the toaster. Lucifer ignored it.

"I requested a temporary person fill the office after the six-month period until Lazarus can find a more permanent candidate."

"That seems completely reasonable, Lucifer," I said. "Why did He say no?"

"I would suppose it was because of who I suggested be Death in the interim."

"Who did you suggest, Lucifer?" Azza demanded. "I can't think of anyone in Heaven who is capable of holding the office whom He would refuse."

"I did not suggest someone from Heaven. I argued the office had been inhabited by a creature of Heaven long enough. So," he ran a hand down his face before looking at Azza, "I suggested you."

Azza froze. I don't think he even breathed for several heartbeats. "You—you would do me such an honor?" he whispered.

"I would."

Azza scoffed. "I can see why He said no. I think He dislikes me almost as much as you."

"True. But, I pointed out you had dealt with humans for centuries as a Watcher. You would do your duty as Death and do it well. He agreed that was true."

"If He agreed it was true," I began, sharing my puzzlement, "why did He say no?"

Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose. "He said no because I asked it. He admitted if someone else had asked it first, even Death himself, He would have considered it."

I blinked. "So He said no, just to spite you."

"Yes."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake! What the hell?"

Lucifer's shoulders sank. I could tell talking about it drained him. Anything to do with Heaven did.

Azza took his face in his hands and kissed him gently. Lucifer returned the kiss but without enthusiasm.

"I am sorry, Azza. I am weary."

"Can we help, Lucifer?" Azza asked to give our Fallen Angel our particular kind of energy, fueled by Azza's power, which would help revive him.

Lucifer paused, considering before he nodded quickly. It was typical of him to accept what we gave him, but it was hard for him to ask for it.

I tucked myself between the two of them and leaned back into Lucifer's arms. Azza wrapped his arms around me from the front creating an Olivia sandwich to support me. I looked up into Azza's questioning Hazel eyes and said, "Yes."

I was always surprised at how fast Azza could work when he needed to. His power flooded me, and I reached my point quickly, as only he could bring me. When I crashed over into pleasure, I called out to Lucifer. Lucifer sapped away the energy the orgasm had created as if he were drinking me down.

"Again, Azza? Please?" I requested, voice not quite a plea. He leaned down to kiss me, and Lucifer's hands moved between us, unbuttoning my jeans and plunging into them to explore the wetness Azza called forth.

I cried out, weak in the knees, as I reached back over my shoulder to gasp Lucifer's neck and hold him to me as he kissed mine. Azza wasted no time building me again, and Lucifer clutched me to him as he helped me ride out the orgasm when I breathed his name.

I could feel Lucifer's hardness and the teasing agony it brought as he ran himself through the fluids between my legs. I didn't know who had undressed me; had Lucifer snapped my clothes away, or had Azza dissolved them? I didn't much care.

"Do it again, Azza," Lucifer demanded, his voice full of need.

"Yes," was all I could manage. I was almost to the point where I wouldn't be able to speak. I'd be at their complete mercy then; such was our arrangement.

"Hold her," Azza said as he knelt in front of me. Lucifer held me tight as Azza picked a leg up off the floor and draped it over his shoulder to spread me open and taste me. I was left balanced on tip-toe on one foot with just enough poise not to topple but not enough to stand without them to support me.

If asked, I would have sworn Azza pushed power into me through his mouth. Perhaps he did. Regardless of where or how, I was soon begging to be driven over the edge again. But, he held me there, waiting.

"Now, Azza," Lucifer growled in my ear.

This time, he lazily withdrew his skills from me, which didn't kick me over with a sudden shock. Instead, it was a long spiral of orgasms, with me slowly falling into the deep pool of desire created by the two of them. The energy drained from me as Lucifer took it in, groaning in satisfaction.

"Sit? Please?" I requested, spent.

Azza gently set my foot back on the floor, and Lucifer let me slowly slide from his arms into Azza's. With a snap, a warm, fluffy robe wrapped around me. Azza helped me sit on the floor and lean against the cabinets, my eyes half-closed and a happy smile on my face.

With me out of the way, Azza had full access to Lucifer. Azza looked at him, asking for permission, which Lucifer gave with a slight nod of his head. Azza closed his eyes and took Lucifer's length into his mouth, deepthroating him in a way I couldn't seem to match.

Lucifer threw his head back, moaning and slack-jawed. His hands gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles white, as Azza worked him in long slow strokes. He looked back down at the Fallen Angel on the floor and wrapped a hand into Azza's curls.

Azza responded by slowing to a stop so Lucifer could take over and give him his second favorite thing next to sex with me in the water: a deep, rough face-fucking.

I leaned back, arms wrapped around my knees and the robe tucked around me, enjoying watching them. The rapture on Azza's face counterbalanced the fierceness of Lucifer's. The wet noises of the fuck slapped through the room and, as Lucifer got closer, the edges of Azza's power grew. He would feed Lucifer nearly everything he had left when Lucifer came for him.

The fact Azza could swallow him down and not gag fascinated me. I had not learned the skill. When Lucifer plunged a final time into him, pouring down Azza's throat, Azza buried his face against Lucifer as much as Lucifer forced him there. Power flow from the Fallen Angel on his knees to his Sovereign standing above him. Lucifer stiffened as he came, and his body flushed with power, holding Azza to him, forcing a tap-out, which was part of the game they both loved.

Azza ran his hands up Lucifer's legs slowly, and I sighed when he tapped gently on his hip. Lucifer smiled, eyes still half-closed in contentment. He pulled from Azza, allowing the Fallen Angel his first deep breath in minutes. Azza teetered to one side and sat down heavily on the floor from his kneeling position, more spent than Lucifer.

Lucifer reached to run a hand through Azza's curls. "Are you alright, Azza?"

Azza, his lips swollen and red, grinned and nodded. "I just need to recharge a bit," he mumbled. He reached for me, and I half crawled to him, hugging him from behind as he sighed, satisfied.

Lucifer quickly fixed us water and grabbed cheese sticks and granola bars to feed us fluids, protein, and carbs, in that order. When we could stand, Azza and I, somewhat drunkenly, made our way to the bed for a nap. Lucifer kissed us, much more lively than he had been half an hour ago.

"I must go out for several hours. I have some deals to make."

"Okay, love." I smiled. "We'll text when we're awake."

We watched as he portaled to his office, then the two of us snuggled together for sleep.