Lucifer's Little Wife was stunned and silent as her eyes followed his father's back till he was out of sight.

"What the shit was all that?" She finally mumbled.

"My father." Lucifer replied, "He's not known for his tactfulness, not even when I was a child."

"I have no idea how to feel about what he just told me." Kathrine Ann admitted to him.

"No, you sure don't. You're just a big jumble of feelings. Quite annoying, actually," Lucifer said, staring down at her. Her conflicting emotions filled the air around him like a woman putting on too much perfume, causing his head to hurt.

Her bright green eyes glared at him, "Seem's infidelity isn't the only trait he passed on to his son."

"Only to half of him. Louie's the more diplomatic one."

Kathrine Ann rolled her eyes, which then fell on his cheek, and all those emotions vanished and turned into one of concern. Before he could figure out what focused his wife on this particular feeling, she reached up to wipe the forgotten blood drop off. This time he didn't swat at her as her soft touch tried to remove the blood, but all she managed to do was smear the already congealing fluid. To his shock, she licked her thumb before going after the smear again.

"Gross!" He spat as she rubbed his cheek.

"Gross? Really? You've literally enjoyed tasting my blood, but this is gross?" She laughed, shaking her head, "Hold still, I'm almost done."

"You're not my mother, and I don't need you treating me like a child." He grumbled as he finished wiping away that smudge.

"No, I'm not, and you best thank your grandfather about that." She retorted, "If I were her, I would have totally finished what I stated by this point."

"Whatever," Lucifer grumbled with a glare, "I'm off. If I don't see you again, uh, bye, I guess." He told her awkwardly and turned to leave for the back entrance.

"Wait!" she squeaked, scurrying to catch up with him. "Where are you going?"

"I told you, I want to go to the hot spring." He answered, "And this whole ordeal has wasted a lot of time."

"You want to go alone?" She asked, and he felt her disappointment hit him like a wave with an aftershock of sadness.

Lucifer stopped walking. He hadn't thought about it. He could leave her behind, sad and hurt. Not like he would have to deal with the repercussions. Lucifer could feel the effects of the last little bit of the poison fading. Though not a hundred percent, Louie would be strong enough to return soon. Truthfully, he would be strong enough now if it wasn't for the golden bands around his wrist. Lucifer had felt his presence since the cafe, and the growing pressure in his head meant Louie was getting stronger and would soon start fighting for control. This could easily be the last time he was with his wife, and he was unhappy about that. He didn't want to admit it, especially not to her, but he couldn't deny the feeling. However, it would be a huge 'fuck you' to his other half to give her back to him, sad and a bit broken. With an audible sigh, he looked her over,

'This damned woman.' He said to himself, "Come if you want. I don't care." He stated and started walking again, with her trailing slightly behind.

~~~

Lucifer stood by the edge of the hot spring he had loved so much as a kid. It looked and sounded just as it did in his memory. The only difference was him. He was grown now and filled with so much more than the carefree days when he and Louie took turns jumping from the small cliff. Oh, and her. Kathrine Ann stood next to him, staring over the large pool of water,

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Are you going to swim?" She asked.

"Yeah." He replied but didn't move, and another minute passed in silence.

"Right, well, I'm going in," she declared, and Lucifer watched as she sauntered, fully clothed, into the water.

Louie was pushing now, trying to break through the mental barrier Lucifer had put up, it wouldn't be long till his time in Hell was over, and he was sad. He wasn't angry or furious like he usually felt. He was just sad. He didn't want to be locked away again for thousands of years and only let out when his strength and vicious nature were needed. He wanted to feel the breeze and the warmth of the suns, see things through his own eyes, and run his fingers over his Little Wife's skin.

Kathrine Ann was about waist deep now, the dark blue dress skirt trailing behind her, floating on top of the water, not wanting to submit to sinking yet. Her hands were stretched out to either side as her fingertips lightly grazed the surface creating tiny ripples in the water. Lucifer had wanted to hate her just as much as he hated everyone else, he tried to force himself to, but somehow he couldn't. That damned little angel made him like her, made him want her in a way he had never wanted anyone. It was impossible to hurt her. Maybe it's because she didn't hate him or fear him. She was patient and caring towards him, but most importantly, she had faith in him. Trust. That was the big one, as nobody trusted him. Not his father, so-called friends, or even Louie. Especially not Louie, and maybe he didn't deserve trust after his wrongdoing. Nonetheless, despite the warning of those around her, she trusted him without second thought or reservation. He hated the fact he would miss her, that she would always be just out of his reach.

Lucifer sighed and walked the water's edge till he got to the little path that led up the small cliff. Once at the top, he looked down at the glistening water below where his precious Little Wife swam. She looked back up at him, smiling, eagerly awaiting his next move. Lucifer turned his back to the water and dove off backward, gracefully arching his back as he cut through the air, and just before his body pierced through the surface of the warm water he caught a glimpse of Kathrine Ann's radiant smile. He flipped underwater so he was facing the surface but allowed himself to continue to sink into the warm abyss.

'And here I thought I had a flair for the dramatics.' Louie said, breaking through the last layer of his mind.

'I figured ending it where it began would be fitting.' Lucifer replied.

'How poetic. Anyway, times up. Take off the bracelets.'

'Just a little longer?' Lucifer asked.

'No, take them off. It'll be easier for both of us.'

'I was supposed to have the whole day, ' he reminded himself, stopping his descent but not swimming to the surface.

'You had all of last night. You know you can't hold me back much longer. It'll be less painful if you let go.'

'Give me a few minutes, and I'll take the bracelets off now,' Lucifer bargained, 'Just long enough to tell her bye. I think it's what she would want.'

There was silence for a moment, 'You've changed.' Louie accused.

'No, I haven't.' Lucifer denied, 'I'm the same pissed-off, grudge-holding asshole I've always been, just not with her. You were right. She is different. She cares about me. I shouldn't leave without saying a proper goodbye.'

'Fine, but make it quick.' Louie agreed and faded back, giving Lucifer the control he asked for.

Keeping his word, Lucifer unlatched the golden bracelets and allowed them to slip off his wrists and sink to the lake bed as he swam toward the light. When he surfaced, he took in a deep breath of fresh air as Kathrine Ann swam up to him,

"That was incredible." She grinned, "I don't think I've ever seen a backward dive executed so perfectly."

"Louie was always scared to dive backward." He revealed, "Didn't like not seeing what lay below him. I loved the thrill and uncertainty of not knowing when I would hit the water."

"Two sides of a coin." She replied, treading water in front of him.

"Right, well, my times up." He stated bluntly.

Her smile disappeared, "Oh."

Lucifer raised a brow, "Thought you would be overjoyed to have your Luce back."

"I am," she assured, "I just don't want you to leave."

"Such a greedy Little Wife." He accused with a small smirk.

"I'll see you again soon," Kathrine Ann said, causing him to roll his eyes.

"Goodbye, Kathrine Ann."

"Are you sure?" She playfully replied, "You've already told me bye twice before, yet here we are."

"I am, and I meant what I said the first time. You've been fun." He told her sincerely.

As he planned to release control, Kathrine Ann unexpectedly launched herself onto him before he could. Out of instinct, he caught her around the waist, and they plunged under the water. As they sank, their lips met in a passionate kiss. Lucifer was taken aback at first, but he quickly regained his composure and kissed her back. He wanted to savor the moment for as long as he could before giving up and finally relinquishing his hold.