Kathrine Ann couldn't help but chuckle as Lucifer walked out of the tent. She waited a minute to ensure he wouldn't pop back in because he 'forgot something' before stripping off her dress and carefully folding it. She placed it back in her bag and turned to the bundle to see what Lucifer had chosen for her. Grey shorts, a striped shirt, socks, and sneakers. She sighed in relief, looking at the clothes, Lucifer was so hard to predict, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he had her dress in short shorts and a tight-fitting tank, but thankfully this set seemed to be modest and comfortable. She buttoned the perfectly fitted shorts, pulled on her shirt, and tied her shoes. Taking her hair in one hand, she pulled it up and twisted it into a messy bun but left a few strands loose around her face. She looked around the tent for a mirror but didn't find one. She wanted to look herself over, but what did it matter? It didn't! She wasn't trying to impress anyone. Giving herself a confirming nod, she walked out of the tent.

As she stepped out into the open air, she noticed Lucifer crouched over a backpack. She made her way toward him, and as she got closer, he must have noticed because he turned to look at her. His eyes went wide as they looked her over from head to toe, and inside, she smiled. She wasn't the naive little girl he thought she was, she knew he wanted her, and the truth was her body was starting to want him too, maybe a bit of her mind and heart as well. But only time will tell.

"Ready?" She asked as she bent over to touch her toes. He didn't reply, "Luce, are we ready?" She chuckled, straightening up.

"Um, yeah, I think so. Snacks and water." He said, holding up the bag but not meeting her eyes.

"Okay, show me the way, Jr." She smirked, walking towards him.

"Right, come on then." He mumbled, shouldering the bag and walking towards the trees.

"So, I assume you know these woods well?" She asked as he led her into the trees with confident steps.

"I do. I played in these woods as a kid and used them as an escape as a young adult." He replied a few steps ahead of her, "This tree here I named Gorgrog." He admitted, patting the bark of a huge tree.

"Gorgrog?" She laughed.

"Mmhm, don't remember naming it, but, "He sidestepped behind it, and she quickly followed, "here, I carved his name into him along with my signature L." Sure enough, she saw the name Gorgrog carved into the bark and -L below it.

"Are you sure it was you? I mean, you aren't the only person in Hell with a first name starting with L?" She asked, running her fingers over the tree's scarred flesh.

"Yes, as a kid, I signed everything I claimed as mine with just L. I'm one of the few creatures in Hell without a surname, and few people have access to the castle's woods." He informed, "Also, I vaguely remember this tree. I used to love climbing it but fell out of it many times too. Good ole, Gorgrog." He chuckled.

"Seems like a good tree." She smiled as they returned to the path, "You said your dad has a pull to nature. It seems like you do too." She commented.

"I guess I do. Or maybe I like solitude. I've always enjoyed being alone. No one around to act properly for or force conversation. Even with those I like, I always felt I needed some time with myself." He shrugged as they walked, him a step or two in front of her.

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"I get that. Sometimes I just wanted to be alone too, peaceful solitude." She replied, looking around and not paying attention. Suddenly, she walked right into Lucifer's back.

"Shh," He whispered as he reached back, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward. She was directly in front of him now. "Look," He pointed with his free hand, the other still holding hers. She followed his point and saw a small little creature with brown fur. It was a rabbit, or at least what she would call a rabbit.

"Aww, it's so cute." She smiled.

"You think? Just wait." He replied as he pulled her closer to him in an almost protective way, "Look there." He said, pointing a few feet away from where she saw another creature that looked a bit like a small deer grazing, unaware of the rabbit thing, not that it mattered. It was quadruple the size, at least.

"Wait for what?" But before Luce could answer, the little brown thing bounded forward with fantastic speed and jumped onto the deer thing. The whole situation was so surreal as the little creature latched on to the neck of the bigger one, and within a moment, it fell limp on the ground, "What the fuck?" Was all she could say.

"Raklaim. The small 'cute' thing. They may be small, but their teeth are crazy sharp. I've suffered a few bites from those assholes. Don't let go, either. Once they sink their serrated fangs, it is you or them. They won't let go until they kill you or you kill them." Lucifer explained.

"And they're protected?" She asked, wide-eyed and shocked, as she watched the cute creature rip pieces of flesh from its dead victim.

"Yes, they aren't overly aggressive, only hunting to eat. Also, they help keep the population balance. The Framn it just took down is a nuisance species. They eat the roots of trees. They have hooked hooves that allow them to dig. Once they find the root, they eat it severing the root and compromising the stability of the tree and eventually causing it to rip out of the ground and fall." He explained.

"You've been bitten by one of those things?" She asked though she heard and understood the rest of the explanation. That was the main thing she latched onto.

"Oh yes," He said, pulling up his shirt and pointing to a particularly jagged scar on the waist, "Speaking of scars," He began as he continued to walk, and she quickly followed, "Where did yours come from?"

"Oh, the scars?" She mumbled, and her chest tightened.

"Ahh, obviously painful." He said, "You don't have to explain,"

"No, it's fine. Which scars are you asking about?" She questioned, looking down to the ground as they walked.

"Whichever you're willing to tell." He replied, and she ran her hand over her lower abdomen. Neither she wanted to tell, but this man was her husband now. She had to trust him, right? Or at least see if she could.

With a deep sigh, she was ready to answer, "Do you know what a cesarean section is?" She asked.

"Yes, they cut the child out vs. the mother birthing it." He replied, stopping and turning to face her.

"I was seven months pregnant, and there were some complications. They had to perform an emergency cesarean section," She explained, but her words dried up. She couldn't say the rest.

"You lost the child?" Lucifer asked, closing the gap between them.

"Yea," She whispered as her eyes filled with tears, "Sorry, I just need a moment." She mumbled, quickly turning away from him and wiping her eyes on the back of her hands. Taking a few steps to create a distance between them, she sniffled a bit, trying to calm herself,

"Damn it!" She mumbled, "Get it together, Kat," She chastised herself.

"Kat, hum?" She heard his voice purr right behind her, "I think I still prefer Baby Girl."

"I said I needed a moment." She sniffled hastily, wiping her swollen eyes.

"Yes, and I gave you one," He answered, grabbing her shoulders and turning her to him, "I'm sorry, I didn't even consider the depth those scars could reach. The last thing I wanted was to make you cry." He apologized as he gently wiped the rest of the tears away with his thumb, "Come on, we've got a hike to finish. I'll let you choose the next subject." He smiled genuinely.

"Can I think about it?" She asked, looking into his eyes, and he nodded, "Okay, besides, you're supposed to be pointing out plants, remember?" She reminded, pushing the pain back down and forcing a smile.

"Right, but you'll need this." He replied, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a familiar little pad.

"My notebook! How did you know?" She asked, quickly snatching it and flipping through the pages.

"Vassal told me a while back. I grabbed it out of the shed while waiting for you." He explained.

"Thank you!" She smiled eagerly, "Let's go."