Lucifer hesitated. "I do not love you. It was a ploy to get you to collect the Virtues, in particular Justice, for me." He stood, motionless and devoid of emotion, for a heartbeat, before exiting, shutting the inner office door behind him smoothly.

I watched him go, my heart on the floor. My stomach soured, and the blood drained from my face. I became lightheaded, and my vision narrowed. I took a step and stumbled.

"Mom!" Deirdre called.

"Olivia!" Azza cried with her.

He rushed to catch me as I went to my knees. I struggled to keep the wine I'd had with Justice down. I managed, but just.

I grabbed onto his shirt to try to stay somewhat upright. "Why?" I implored.

"He's lying, Olivia," he insisted. "I don't know why, but he is."

I wanted to go numb, to distance myself from the emotions, but I couldn't. My daughter was with me again, and I needed to be in the here and now for her.

He helped me stand. "Take us home, Azza."

He scooped me up before looking at Deirdre. "I'm Azza, and I will be helping your mom, okay?"

Deirdre nodded. "Are we going home now?"

"Yeah. Come on. She kept your room for you."

He ushered Deirdre through the portal he created first, and he carried me through. It closed behind us as we stepped into the living room.

I had to know. I snapped... and nothing happened. Unable to stem the tide any longer, I started to cry, tears spilling over. I blinked them away, steeling myself. I tapped on Azza's chest. "Put me down, Azza."

"Can you stand?"

"Yeah, just put me down."

He did as I asked, and I stood on weak but functional legs. George came bounding out of the bedroom, and Deirdre gasped. "A cat! Mom! You got me a cat?"

I smiled weakly. I hadn't, really, but it seemed fitting George would belong to her, not me. "I sure did," I sniffled and plastered a smile on my face. "Her name is George."

She sat on the floor, and George immediately rubbed on her and purred loudly. Deirdre beamed until she looked up at me. Her grin faded then. "Did—Did the Devil get me out of Heaven? I mean, I was in Heaven, right?"

I sat with her and glanced at Azza, who went to bustle around the kitchen. "Yeah. You died and went to Heaven. I worked a deal with the Devil to get you back."

She gasped. "Mom! You dealt with the Devil? Are you crazy? I can't believe you!" After a few moments of disbelief, she asked, "Am I going to have cancer again?" Her voice was small and quiet. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. We sat in silence for a while, listening to Geroge purr.

My heart ached. I knelt next to her and hugged her. I had to be honest. "I don't know. I'm not sure of very many things right now."

A tear slipped down her face. "I don't want to be here if I get cancer again, mom."

I kissed the top of her head. "Why don't we just wait and see?"

Azza returned from the kitchen. "I have tea and toast for you, Olivia. But I didn't know what Deirdre would want."

She contemplated a minute before brightening again. "Strawberry preserves!" She never could stay sad for long. It was a trait even from her early years.

I bit my lip at the mention of Lucifer's favorite and cleared my throat. "Well, you can't have just preserves. How about adding peanut butter to make a sandwich?"

She nodded, "I'll go make one. You two talk."

I couldn't help but chuckle; she was a perceptive kid. I reached up, and Azza grabbed my hand, helping me up off the floor.

"I don't know what's going on, Olivia. I—I thought he loved you... loved us."

I cupped his face. "I did too. He was very convincing." A few rivulets slipped past my rapid blinking.

He hugged me, and I let him for a moment before drawing back, wiping my face. "Well, it's done and over. I have my soul and my daughter. That was the deal. You can go."

He gaped at me. "You're sending me away?"

"There's no need to pretend anymore, Azza. I know you are loyal to him. You can give him a report or whatever it is you do now." I moved to step around him, but he caught me and stopped me.

"I'm loyal until he proves to be an ass, Olivia. He's being an ass. He'd not have gone through all this if he didn't love you."

"No?" I scowled, snapping my head to him. "You don't think so? He had a test, Azza. An extremely high stakes test. I think he'd have done anything to make a deal with Him." I poked his chest for accent. "Sovereignty before Authority, remember?"

Azza sighed. "You're sending me away? Are you banning me?"

"Yes, I'm sending you away." I thought carefully and realized I might need help to get life situated over the next month or two. "But I'm not banning you."

He exhaled. "Thank you. He might be stupid as Hell, but," he said, tugging me to him, "I'm not. I love you."

I smiled weakly and pulled away, leaving him standing in front of the Wall of Deirdre.

"Will I have to go back to school?" Deirdre asked as I tucked her in. It seemed like something she was too old for, but I didn't get my child back from Heaven every day.

"You want to stay home and be homeschooled for a while? We could look at online programs. It could be fun."

She beamed, "Really? Could I take some art classes, too?"

I grinned, "You bet. You're outstanding, you know. I saved all of your art and supplies too."

She leaned forward and hugged me before settling back again. Her smile faded, and she picked at some fuzz on her comforter. "Mom? Who was the man today? The one who said he didn't love you?"

I swallowed. This would be a tough conversation, and I knew she wouldn't let it go until we talked about it. "He was Lucifer."

"You're in love with the Devil?" she asked with wide eyes. "Mom! You can't!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her expression. "You're right. I shouldn't have let it happen. I guess he tricked me, and I fell for it."

She crossed her arms. "Who's the other one?"

"His name is Azza, and he's a Fallen Angel too."

"I heard him say he loved you. Were you seeing both of them?"

I sighed. I didn't know if she'd understand, but I saw no reason to lie. "Yes. We were all dating each other. Lucifer and Azza stayed here with me."

She nodded. "Okay. So, the Devil doesn't love you, but one of his guys does. Are you going to keep seeing Azza?"

I tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "I'm not sure."

George jumped up on the bed with us and patiently waited as Deirdre snuggled down. "Well," she said, yawning, "I'm just a kid and can't tell you what to do, but if he makes you happy, you should date him."

I snorted. She'd always been a precocious child; sometimes, she seemed much older, especially when giving advice.

"What if he's lying too? Playing some kind of game?" I asked her.

She looked at me, sleepy, "Yeah, but what if he's not?"

She closed her eyes, and I patted her leg before turning out the light. George hopped down and followed me out, hurrying through the door as I closed it. She went with me to the bedroom where I found an empty bed. I sighed as I sat on the edge and contemplated if I wanted to call Azza to come and sleep with me.

Before I could decide, my phone dinged.

~

Azza: Can I come to you?

Me: I don't know.

Azza: He's not talking to me, either.

Me: What? Why?

Azza: I don't know.

Me: Come.

~

He strode through the bedroom door before I had put my phone down and collapsed to his knees in front of me. I automatically made room for him so he could embrace me, and I wrapped my arms around him too. He felt so good. Like home.

I couldn't deny it. "I love you. Azza."

His tense body relaxed, and he sobbed. I pulled him tighter and felt him shudder, trying to gain some composure before he drew back.

He was scowling. "I went to see him and find out what in Hell he thinks he's doing. He loves you, Olivia. I know he does."

"I—I don't think he does, Azza. It doesn't matter what he says, Azza, only what he does. And, well, he's not here, is he?"

He leaned into my touch as he took a deep breath. "When I went to see him, he was in his office, reading paperwork. He rarely reads paperwork, Olivia. When he looked up and saw me, he stopped and stared at me. Then, he had me kneel. He's never commanded me to bend a knee, ever, but he did today. Then, he gave me an order, and that's all he said to me. He just turned his back on me to return to the paperwork. So, I left."

I stared at my hands in my lap as my heart sank. I was afraid to ask him, but I craved to know. "What order did he give, Azza?"

He lifted my head to catch my eye. His hazel eyes, more green than brown now, held me in their gaze. "Serve her."

I blinked. "Serve her?" I asked after several seconds. "What does it mean?"

"I am to serve you. In what capacity, I'm not sure, but, if you'll have me, I intend to follow through and obey."

I peered into his eyes for a long time, lost in them, in the pleading of them.

He reached out and buried a hand in my hair, pulling me into a kiss. I didn't feel any of his power on or in me; he was making sure I'd consent.

I was reluctant at first, but the dam of emotions broke in me, and I wanted him, needed him, so I kissed him as if he was the last angel in creation. He broke the kiss, and we rested our foreheads on each other.

I remembered Deirdre's words: If he makes you happy, you should date him. "Yes," I answered his unasked question. "Serve me."

He collapsed from his knees to sit on the floor and lay his head in my lap, arms wrapped around my waist. "Thank you, Olivia. I will do my best. Whatever you need, I will do everything in my power to fulfill it."

I ran my fingers through his curls. "Stay with me tonight, Azza?"

He rose and pulled me into another kiss. I melted, craving the touch and the intimacy. "Let me make love to you, Olivia? Not fuck you, but love you?"

"Yes," I whispered.

The lights when out, and the candles lit. Our clothes dissolved, leaving us naked, and I wanted nothing more than to feel his flesh against mine.

"Give me a bath, Azza?"