It starts simple—Charlie ropes you and Lucifer into helping at a community event where the hotel’s hosting families. You don’t think much of it… until you catch Lucifer holding a baby.

At first he’s smug about it, balancing the little demon infant in his arms like it’s nothing. He’s grinning, flashing his fangs, making the baby laugh with little sparks of magic.

But then—when the baby grabs at his face, or curls their tiny hand around one of his fingers—Lucifer goes still. His grin softens into something almost reverent. You’ve never seen him look like that before.

“Look at this, darling,” he says, his voice oddly gentle. “Can you imagine? A little one with my charm… and your smile?”