Author's note:

This is not about the mission from the main storyline. It's totally made up by me, so you can enjoy a spoiler-free story ;) 

"Lhori, can you come with me, please?" Lucifer came up to her after class.

"Where?" she asked surprised. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I don't think so," he replied waiting while she was gathering her things. "Diavolo ask me to get you and meet him in the council room after classes."

"Oh, I see... Any idea what is it about?" she asked while they left the classroom and went down the hall.

"Why don't we just wait and see?" he asked with a smirk. "Humans are so impatient..."

"Well, we don't have thousands of years to just wait and see, do we?" she retorted. But as they reached the council room Lucifer opened the door and gestured her inside.

Diavolo and Barbatos were already waiting for them. The face of Demon Lord brightened visibly at their sight.

"Lucifer, Lhori! Good, you made it! Sit, please. Barbatos will serve you tea."

"Ehm... thank you..." Lhori said cautiously. His enthusiasm usually meant he was planning some mischief again. She looked and Lucifer but he only shrugged, signaling he had no idea what was this all about either, and sat in the chair next to her.

"First, Lhori, please accept my deepest apologies for this whole lover incident that happened," Diavolo said his face miserable. "It was my idea, and I could never predict it will bring you so much trouble."

"That's ok, don't worry about it. I've already forgotten," she replied with a pleasant smile plastered to her face.

"Such a shame though you had to end it so quickly. I have to say, you two seemed very happy during this short week of 'pretending'. Don't you agree Barbatos?"

"Oh, yes, master Diavolo," the steward said while serving them their tea. "I don't think I've ever seen Lucifer smiling as much as in that particular week."

"Tell me, Lhori, did you at least, enjoyed yourself while playing the role of Lucifer's lover?" asked Diavolo innocently. She felt her cheeks burning and tried to find the right words, but Lucifer saved her the trouble.

"Diavolo, can we please quit this embarrassing small talk and get back to the topic. I believe you summon us here for some reason, am I correct?" his voice was stern, but Lhori noticed, that his cheeks were a bit red too.

"Of course, Lucifer, of course," Diavolo raised his hands innocently. "We have heard that a very dangerous incident is about to happen and it needs to be handled right away. I've just got a report from the third circle of Hell that Banon escaped again."

"How is that possible?" growled Lucifer, his hands forming fists. Diavolo shrugged.

"It doesn't matter now. The parties responsible for that had already been prosecuted. What's important now is to catch him before he stirs troubles again."

"Do we know where he is?"

"Yes, indeed. We know he used a portal to the human world. What's more, my informants confirmed, what he's planning. That's where you are coming in."

"Ok, tell me where he is, and I will extract him."

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy. He mastered the camouflage techniques and can't be easily tracked down. But fortunately for us, one of his former comrades spilled the beans and told us about his plan." He looked at Lhori. "That's why I also ask you to come here today, Lhori. It seems that our runaway demon is currently hiding in your neighborhood. I was told that there will be a great gathering tomorrow evening at Reading University... I believe it is your alma mater?"

"It is," she replied surprised.

"We were told, that Banon will be there, trying to sell demonic poison to partygoers to stir trouble for Devildom."

"What is he? A... drug dealer?" asked Lhori in disbelieve.

"You can call him that," explained Lucifer. "He's one of the minor demons, but an annoying one. He loves wreaking havoc in the human world. His substances make humans extremely sick, and could be a danger for their life."

"Right. I need you to apprehend him, Lucifer. Before he messes our relations with the human world again. And I believe Lhori would be an invaluable help with getting around the university without scaring him off. Can I count on you, Lhori?" asked Diavolo looking at her expectantly.

"Sure," she nodded.

"I'm glad you are willing to help," he said clearly contented. "Also, I was thinking. Since you are such great assistance for us, I thought I'll do something for you. If you leave today, you may visit your family before the mission tomorrow. What do you say?"

"My... family?" Lhori asked shocked. "But I thought I was not allowed any family visits during this year?"

"As I said, you are a really special case, Lhori," Diavolo said with a wide, fond smile. "I shouldn't engage you in any Devildom business either, but here we are. So? Are we going to discuss semantics, or you run and grab your backpack and go?"

"Ok, let's go, then!" Lhori said. She couldn't hide her excitement. Diavolo laughed.

"Good luck with your assignment. And enjoy your family visit, Lhori." They were almost at the door when Diavolo added: "And Lucifer? Please make sure Lhori comes back with you, ok? I'm still planning to enjoy her lovely presence for the next three months."

"Don't worry Diavolo, I won't let her out of my sight," Lucifer replied with a smirk.

***

"How much time do you need?" Lucifer asked her when they got back to the House of Lamentation.

"Half an hour? Just need to grab a change of clothes."

"Ok, let's meet at the entrance then," he replied and walked off to his room. Lhori stopped with a hand on her door.

"Lucifer?" He stopped and looked at her. "You have to lose a tie. And the shirt has to go too."

"I'm sorry?" He asked confused.

"You're too elegant. You look like... you know... gentlemen."

"And how should I look like?" he asked raising his brow.

"Like a student. Jeans, a t-shirt. Hoodie, or jacket. There's no way I smuggle you to student party in your normal attire." His face contorted and he sighed heavily.

"Ok, I try to find something ordinary for you."

"Thank you!" she shouted after him, but he only waved his hand.

***

"So, that's where you live?" asked Lucifer, when they enter a small street with little family houses. He was dressed casually, in black jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. He looked really weird, so different from his normal immaculate style. But Lhori found, that she quite like this new, relaxed version of him. He was keeping his hands in his pockets looking around in curiosity.

"Yes, it's the building with blue doors, over there," she explained trying to contain her excitement. Lucifer stopped and looked at her.

"Ok, you can go, I'll come back for you tomorrow in the morning, all right?" She looked at him surprised.

"Do you have something else to do for today?" she asked surprised.

"Well, noo..." he replied, his expression troubled. "But this is your time off with your family. I'm just giving you privacy."

"Privacy?" she said flabbergasted. "Do you have anywhere to go? Anywhere to sleep?" she inquired.

"No, but I'm a demon, remember?" he said annoyed. "I don't have to sleep, I can just walk around, and scout the area, and..."

"...or you can go with me?" she interrupted him.

"With you?" he asked surprised. "You want me to go with you... to meet your family?"

"Yeah, that's what I said," she replied not certain what else should she say. "Unless you really don't want to..."

"No... I do want to meet your family," he said quietly. "I'm just surprised you want to introduce me. You know, since I'm a demon and all..."

"Don't be silly," she snorted and took him by the arm. "You welcomed me to your family, didn't you? I think it's only fair that my family will do the same for you, while you stay here in the human world."

"Ok, then," he nodded. "Thank you, Lhori."

They were on the front porch in a few steps. Lhori took a deep breath and press the doorbell.

They waited a few moments and then the door was open by a short fair-haired woman, with a face full of happy wrinkles. When she saw Lhori her eyes lightened up in seconds.

"Lhori!" she exclaimed and closed the girl with a tight hug. "Oh my God, what are you doing here? I thought you weren't allowed a visit this year! I'm so happy to see you! Why didn't you call? I would prepare... I..."

"Mum! Calm down!" Lhori pried off tight embrace with an effort. The woman's face was in tears. "Hey, why on earth are you crying? I was gone just for a few months!"

"But I missed you so much!" woman kissed her forehead and hugged her again. Then her eyes found Lucifer who was standing awkwardly a few steps away giving them space. "Oh, you brought a friend with you?" she asked surprised, let her daughter free, and wiped tears from her face. "Forgive me my excitement, young man. You made me a great surprise bringing her here."

"Mum, this is Lucifer. He's my friend from school. Lucifer, this is my mum."

"Name is Fiona, delighted to meet you!" she said shaking his hand. "Come on, please don't stand on the porch, come inside!" She shooshed them inside. "Wow, he's so handsome! Is he your boyfriend?" she asked Lhori in not so quiet whisper.

"No, mum!" Lhori protested, feeling her cheeks go red. "Told you, he's my friend!" Lucifer was obviously hearing everything, but when she looked at him, he only smiled.

Before they reached the living room there were more happy greetings when Lhori's dad and little sister realized who paid them a visit. Finally, after all emotions died down, Lhori and Lucifer were seated on the couch while Fiona and Greg went to the kitchen to prepare a quick meal. Rose, a little sister, was sitting on Lhori's lap hugging plush Cerberus her sister produced from her backpack.

"Why do you have to study abroad?" she asked.

"It's only for a year, Rosie, I told you already."

"Yes, but why? Is there no place here where you can study?"

"There is, but it's not the same. I learn different things over there. Plus, I bring you this adorable puppy, didn't I?"

"I guess..." She hugged the toy and looked over to Lucifer, who was observing them with a small smile. "Are you Lhori's boyfriend?"

"No, I'm not her boyfriend," he replied with a smirk.

"Why are you here then?"

"Rose! Shut it, will you!" Lhori hissed at her. "I told you, Lucifer is my friend and he was kind enough to bring me here, so I can visit you, ok? Stop pestering him!"

The little girl managed to keep her mouth shut for the whole minute.

"Do you like her?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes, I do like your sister very much," Lucifer said looking at Lhori with a hint of a smile.

"Do you think she's pretty?"

"Yes, she's very beautiful. Almost as beautiful as her little sister." To that remark, the little girl beamed.

"Lhori, I like him much more than Derrick. You can make him your boyfriend now."

"Ok, that's enough you little rascal," Lhori hissed and gently removed her from her lap. "Why don't you go to the kitchen and check if there is any dessert left, hm?"

"Pfff, I'll go, but don't count on me bringing anything for you. I may bring something for your not-boyfriend though, as he's nice to me," she said and marched to the kitchen.

"OMG, I'm so sorry, Lucifer," Lhori said covering her face with her hands. "Rosie can be a real pain in the ass, you know."

"Well, I know a thing or two about annoying siblings," he gently took her hands from her face so she can look at him. "Thank you for letting me meet your family. They are all lovely."

"I'm glad you're here," she squeezed his hand gently.

"Muuuuum! They are holding hands now!" they heard an excited voice from the hall.

"Shut up Rosie!" Lhori shouted moving away from Lucifer. He only laughed.

***

They spent all evening in a happy atmosphere. They talked during dinner, Lhori's parent's filled her up on what was happening while she was gone, then they play some lively boardgames until Rosie fell asleep on the couch. They finally decided it's time to go and get some sleep.

"I am so sorry, Lucifer," Fiona was saying while they were putting a mattress on the floor in Lhori's bedroom. "We don't have a guest room, it's a small house."

"Don't worry about it," Lucifer replied with a charming smile, taking blankets from her. "I'll be perfectly fine on the floor."

"Are you sure? We can always switch and give you two our bedroom..."

"Mum!" Lhori protested, face scarlet. "Stop that right now!"

"Ok, ok, I'm going, I'm going."

Lhori closed the door with a heavy sigh.

"Riiiight. That was awkward, sorry. I think they got too excited seeing me back."

"Can't blame them," he replied looking at her with a smirk.

"Ok, enough with a staring. You can use the bathroom first, it's the first door on the right. I'll make our beds, ok?"

"Sure, it's your house."

When she got back from the bathroom Lucifer was already lying on his mattress, in a white undershirt, hands under his head looking at the ceiling, deep in thought. Her room was small, so he was lying right under her bed and she had to walk over him to get there.

"Ugh, sorry..." she landed heavily on her bed. "You sure you don't want to take a bed? You're a guest you know."

"No, I'm good on the floor. I'm pretty sure I won't fit in your bed, it's pretty small," he added with a smirk.

"Oi, shut it, mister almost ruler of Devildom," she hissed. They were silent for a moment and then she spoke up again. "I'm sorry. I know this place is small and crowded and not up to your standards..."

"Hey," he interrupted her. "I don't mind it. Not at all. I actually quite like it. It feels... like a good home."

She lied on her side, propped her head on the elbow, and gave him a small smile.

"Thank you. I'll turn off the lamp ok? We should get some sleep now."

They lied in silence for a while, then Lucifer spoke quietly.

"Lhori, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead," she replied looking at him in the dark. It wasn't complete darkness, the street lamps were on, so she could see he was looking at her.

"You were adopted, correct?"

"Yes."

"I knew it because it was in your file. But I never... knew if I can ask you about it. It seems such an intimate question... And yet being here, in your home now, I was wondering... if maybe you'd like to share your story?" She sighed.

"It's not a happy story, Lucifer," she said.

"I can imagine. But at least it had a happy end."

"Yes, I was extremely lucky." She fell silent for a while and he was not pressuring her. "I never knew my real parents. I was just left at the door of the orphanage. And that's basically all I knew for the first few years of my life. I was very unlucky. I was weak and got sick easily. No one wanted me. So, I was stuck there, while all the other children were finding their homes and families. I was transferred several times to different institutions. And then there were countless foster families. Some of them were rough, some were really cruel, some just neglecting...There were so many nights that I wish to just... stop existing. I saw no point in enduring my life. I was just a kid, with no one to turn to for help... and it was... heart-breaking..." her voice started shaking a bit. She felt in the dark, that his hand found hers and squeeze it gently. "And then, when I thought it couldn't be any worse, I was sent here. I was twelve at the time. It was supposed to be only for half a year, as I was a difficult case. But they... they loved me," she felt tears at her cheeks and sniffled a bit. "They applied for adoption and was accepted. And then my life started for real."

"It's amazing," Lucifer mumbled in thought, his thumb gently caressing her hand.

"What is?"

"You," he said quietly. "You endured so much, and yet... You are the most amazing human I've ever known."

"You don't know many humans, I get it," she snorted wiping her face with her sleeve.

"Well, you know, I've been on this world for a while now, so I've known more than my share," he replied with a laugh.

Suddenly they heard a quiet wood creek from the hall. Lhori sat on the bed and looked at the door.

"Rosie?" she asked. The door opened and a little girl with a plush Cerberus under her arm got into the room, looking at them shyly.

"Lhori... I had a nightmare... can I sleep with you?" she asked in a sleepy voice.

"Hop on, little pumpkin." The little girl did just that, trotting carelessly over Lucifer. She hugged Lhori tight and fallen right back to sleep.

"Are you two all right up there?" Lucifer asked quietly.

"Yep. I'm used to sleeping with this little monster," Lhori replied whispering, kissing her sister on top of her head. "Good night, Lucifer."

"Good night, Lhori."

She fell asleep very fast, she was exhausted emotionally. But few hours before dawn Rose started to wriggling in bed so forcefully, Lhori was moving further and further to the edge, and suddenly the bed was no longer there, and she fell.

"Ugh, what in nine hells..." Lucifer moaned.

"Ouch!" Lhori grunted trying to get her bearings, hopelessly attempting to untangle herself from the blanket and got off Lucifer. "I'm sorry! Ugh, I can't get this off..."

"Oh, stop wriggling already!" he hissed and helped her get out of the blanket.

"Ugh, just look at her," she whispered when they both managed to sit. Her little sister was sprawled on the whole bed. "She just pushed me right off! Unbelievable!"

"Just leave her," Lucifer sighed and lied back down on the mattress. "Come on, you can sleep here, there's enough room for both of us."

"Ehm... are you sure?"

"Just stop talking and get back to sleep," he murmured. She reluctantly lied next to him on her side, facing him, mirroring his position. His eyes were closed and his breath even. It looked like he already got back to sleep. She was very tempted to brush the hair from his brow, but she stopped herself and closed her eyes.

She was woken up by a giggle. She slowly opened her eyes, not sure where she was. She felt warm and cozy. She took a breath and felt a familiar smell of sandalwood. Giggling grew louder. She blinked several times and realized, she was lying next to Lucifer, in his tight embrace, his arm around her waist pressing her close to him, her hand on his chest, face nuzzling his neck. She sat abruptly. He murmured something and started to wake up too. She looked at Rose who was sitting on her bed giggling, her DDD device held in front of her face.

"Rose!" she hissed. "What are you doing? Give me back my phone!"

"Oh, he is totally your boyfriend!" she exclaimed cheerfully giving her back her DDD. There was a photo there of course, of them sleeping together, close as any lovers.

"OMG Rosie!" she moaned. "Get out of my room now!"

"I'm gonna tell mum!" the girl said in a sing-song voice running for the door.

"Don't you dare, little rodent! Or I'll never let you sleep in my bed again!"

"Well, good morning to you too, Lhori," Lucifer said stretching his toned arms. She suddenly felt her cheeks go red and turn her gaze away.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked getting up.

"Like a baby. You?"

"Unexpectedly well,"  she admitted trying not to smile too wide.

***

After breakfast, they still have some time before heading to university, so they were helping with the dishes.

Greg came into the kitchen and grunted.

"Lucifer, my lad, can I ask you a favor?" he asked.

"Sure, what is it?" Lucifer asked politely.

"I'm building a treehouse for Rosie, but my back is killing me lately. Would you mind giving me a hand with a few heavier boards?"

"Dad!" Lhori protested. "He's our guest, not a laborer!"

"Don't worry, Lhori," Lucifer said with a smile handing her kitchen towel. "I don't mind little labor. We still have a few hours before we need to leave, right?"

"Yes, but Lucifer..." she tried again.

"I said it's fine," he repeated and squeezed her arm gently, before leaving the kitchen with her father.

"Unbelievable!" she hissed and got back to the dishes.

"Don't be angry with your father," said Fiona taking a kitchen towel and started wiping dishes. "He doesn't have any help with all the manual work, and he is not getting any younger."

"Fine," she sighed and looked through the window, where men were busy with construction work already. "I just... don't want him to feel awkward."

"He'll be alright," said her mother with a cheerful voice. "He's a very fine young man, your Lucifer."

"He's not mine, mum" Lhori said annoyed, scrubbing the pan a bit too forcefully. "We're just friends, I told you already."

"Really? Just friends? You look rather close for... just friends."

"Well, we are just close friends, ok? Let it go, mum."

"Lhori... I know you had a very bad experience with boys so far..."

"Mum, please, do we have to..." she tried to stop her mother from ranting, but the woman ignored her.

"...but you are young. You must give love a chance, sometimes. You two seem really good together. What do you have to lose? Believe me, you don't want to regret something that could have been."

"Mum, please, spare me the lecture," Lhori moaned finishing with the dishes. She turned her back to the window and crossed her arms. "It's not simple, ok? There are... some things that..." she struggled for words. How could she even start to explain things? It was pointless. "It's complicated, mum."

"It always is, darling. You never let tough situations scare you away, did you?" She came and hug her daughter tightly. "I just want you to be happy, darling. And when you're with him, you are glowing. I don't remember the last time I saw you so happy and carefree."

"Thank you, mum," Lhori replied embracing her too. She looked at the window just in time to see her father putting a hand on Lucifer's shoulder. They were both smiling. She gently escaped her mother's arms and narrowed her eyes. "Mum, is dad giving Lucifer... the talk?"

"I have no idea," Fiona said innocently. "Maybe..."

"OMG, Mum! You guys planned it, didn't you?! Unbelievable!"

To be continued