Duke had already died once. He was deeply aware he could do so again. Even if they all tried hard to get through whatever came next.

But that didn't mean he had to speak it into existence. So still. He wasn't going to argue with her. He just kissed her hair and held onto her and thought about everything he knew now about just what Lucifer had first come to Los Angeles to get away from.

Lucifer loved being on Earth, at least for right now, and had the kind of longevity that "at least for right now" could easily encompass several human lifetimes. If he didn't want to take over the role of God and have to go up to Heaven, then Duke was going to defend that choice for him as long as possible.

(His mental image of Heaven might have turned into another high, lonely seat, just made of pure crystal instead of ash and rock.)