Chapter Text
“Hello, Dad.”
The white-haired god turned at the sound of Lucifer’s voice, a look of joy coming over his face. It rattled Lucifer to see his father so... happy. As the fallen angel closed the door quietly behind him, his father rushed around his desk and ran up to him, falling to his knees and grabbing him around the waist. Before his son could even move, Yahweh started sobbing madly against him. Lucifer was appalled.
“Dad! Dad! Stop it, Dad!” he cried as he tried to get out of his father’s tight grip. This was even more horrifying than Yahweh hiding behind tables and chairs!
“I’m sorry, Samael! I’m so sorry!” the god wailed loudly. “Forgive me, son! Please forgive me!”
“Dad, please! This is completely unbecoming of you! Please stop groveling and get up!”
But his father just continued to weep. With a dramatic sigh, a rolling of his eyes, and an exasperated, “Bloody hell!” Lucifer stopped trying to unwrap his father from around him and just stood there. Ten minutes later, the storm passed as Yahweh’s sobs finally turned to sniffles.
“Are you done now?” the fallen angel asked impatiently.
Yahweh nodded against him.
“Bloody hell, Dad, I thought they said you were better,” he snapped as the god sniffed loudly and tried to stop his nose from running. “And don’t you dare wipe your nose on me. Use your own bloody sleeve. Or a tissue -- if you have one in this place. Now, come on --” Lucifer tried to haul his father to his feet. “Up you get.”
As the god stood, he glanced into his son’s face and, seeing the frustration there, started crying again. Big tears rolled down his eyes as he bit his quivering lower lip.
“Oh, bollocks,” Lucifer muttered as his father grabbed him in a bear hug and wept. Helpless to do anything else, he finally started patting the god awkwardly on the back, much like he did with Trixie when she cried. “There, there,” he said as he rolled his eyes.
After another ten minutes of crying, Lucifer had had enough.
“Bloody...! Right. Come on, Dad, let’s sit you down, yeah? Your chair is right over there.”
After sitting his father down behind his desk, Lucifer took a seat opposite him. Crossing his legs and resting his laced fingers on his knee, he studied Yahweh. The god looked nothing like the harsh, unbending father of his youth. He now looked... old. Tired. And... softer. Kinder, if that was even possible.
“So....” Lucifer began awkwardly. “You wanted to see me, Dad?”
The god ran a sleeve over his eyes, trying to stop the flow of tears. “I wondered... how you were doing.”
That caught him off-guard. As far back as he could remember, his father had never asked about his health. Why was he asking now? His voice was tight with repressed anger as he said, “I’m fine.”
“Oh.”
Father and son sat across from each other a long time, each one looking everywhere but at the other, before Lucifer finally broke the silence. “Can I ask you a question?”
Yahweh nodded.
“Why?”
The god blinked. “Why what?”
“Why... did you save me?” Lucifer asked. “I mean, bloody hell, Dad, you didn’t have to step in front of Barachiel’s sword... and yet you did. Why?”
“You’re my son, and you were in danger. Why wouldn’t I?” Yahweh countered.
That made no sense to Lucifer. His father had never done a selfless thing in his entire existence. He laughed sardonically as contempt came to the fore. “Forgive me, Father, but as far as I know, you would never do something that didn’t somehow benefit you. So tell me why once more -- the truth, this time, if you please.”
The god’s eyes suddenly teared up again. “That is the truth, son. You... you don’t believe me, do you?”
“You manipulated me, lied to everyone about me, turned me into the Devil -- all for your own bloody benefit, Dad. Tell me why I should believe you!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” The god covered his face in his hands and bawled like a baby.
“Oh, bloody -- not again!” Lucifer groaned. How did one stop a parent from crying? What was he supposed to do? What would Chloe do?
“Dad,” he said as he leaned forward against the desk and tried to get his father’s attention. “Dad, please stop crying. I abhor tears. Dad!”
After a good five minutes, the crying subsided; Lucifer gave a relieved sigh. Sniffing loudly, Yahweh wiped his runny nose on the sleeve of his robe. “I had hoped... that I could somehow make things up to you,” he said in a wobbly voice.
“After all that you’ve done to me, a simple sorry isn’t going to cut it,” Lucifer said quietly.
“I know,” his father said. “I know, but... I am sorry!”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, the fallen angel said, “Look, Dad, I appreciate that you saved my life, but you wronged me. You sent me to Hell. You treated me like trash. I can’t just... forget all of that.”
“I know, son. I know... but... can you... give me another chance?”
A bitter look crossed Lucifer’s face. “I don’t know why I should. You never did.”
“I know,” Yahweh said as more fat tears rolled down his face. “I know... but please. It will be different this time. I’m different.” Desperately, the god reached out across the desk and clutched his son’s hand. “Look, I’ll abdicate. I’ll give you the throne. Just please... find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“I don’t want your throne. I never wanted your bloody throne!” Lucifer snapped angrily. “Don’t you even know who I am? I’m all about free will, Dad. I don’t want to rule other people and oppress their free will. We should all be able to do as we please!”
“But... but if everyone did as they pleased, there would be chaos! Anarchy!” his father cried, horrified.
“Then there will be chaos! But at least it would be because we freely choose it!” snapped the fallen angel.
Yahweh just stared at him fearfully. “Is that how you ran Hell?”
Lucifer opened his mouth, then shut it again. Truth be told, that was not how he ran Hell, for anarchy among demons was truly a frightening thing to behold. Hell was run with an iron fist; he was the demons’ lord and master, to be obeyed.
“No,” he said quietly. “Bloody hell, that’s not how Hell was run.”
“Then how can we run Heaven like that? Heaven and Hell -- they are not so different.”
“I... I see your point.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was getting a headache. “Dad, do you truly want to abdicate?”
The god nodded. “I must atone for my sins.”
That surprised Lucifer. He never thought he’d ever hear his father admit he had done anything wrong. Things had changed.
“Very well,” the fallen angel muttered. “I’ll let the Council know. We’ll find an interim ruler -- a regent to take over, until you change your mind, or until we find a suitable replacement.” As his father nodded, he continued, “I... I can’t say I forgive you, Dad. There’s been too much water under the bridge.”
Yahweh looked crushed. “I understand.”
Upon seeing his father’s expression, Lucifer rolled his eyes. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “But....”
“But?” The god looked up, the hope on his face a pitiful sight.
He heaved a sigh. “Maybe we can... try to move forward, a little at a time. Baby steps, as it were.”
Yahweh nodded enthusiastically. “I can do baby steps.”
“Very well.” As Lucifer made to get to his feet, the god stood as well, his hands in a nervous grip in front of his chest.
“Can I... Can I come visit you sometimes? To see my granddaughter?”
The fallen angel stared in surprise. “Beatrice?”
“Yes... and your unborn child. My other grandchild. Please...?”
For a long moment he studied his father, before nodding reluctantly. “Right. Sure. But just short visits, mind you! The last thing I need is a bloody parent living with me in my flat, mucking up my jam.”
A big grin lit the god’s face, which had Lucifer staring once again. He had never seen his father so... honestly joyful. It was an odd sight. “Right,” the fallen angel said, giving his father an odd look and hoping he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life.
“Thank you, Samael -- thank you!”
“My name is Lucifer, Dad.”
The god swallowed hard and nodded. “Lucifer. Thank you, Lucifer.”
It was the first time Yahweh had ever called him Lucifer. The world felt skewed, as if it had suddenly tilted on its axis. Perhaps... it was a good sign...? Truth be told, he didn’t know if he could ever forgive his father for the things he had done to him -- it was surprising that he was even having a conversation with the god without throwing something at his head -- but a small part of him recognized that he couldn’t stay angry forever. As Healing had told him, anger was a corrosive thing. Perhaps things would never be right between them, but at least he was giving the old bugger a chance.
It was a start.
________________________________________
As soon as Lucifer went home, he found his wife waiting for him on the balcony. Chloe looked beautiful with her hair shining like gold in the sunlight, and a big smile on her face. The pregnancy had given her a glow, making her quite breathtaking to behold. Taking her into his arms, he kissed her fiercely, then wasted no time in carrying her to bed. She seemed to understand his turmoil, responding to his touch with equal ferocity as they entwined and made mad, passionate love.
Afterward, as they lay sprawled together on the big bed in the daylight, Lucifer told Chloe of what had happened in Heaven.
“Do you think I’m mad?” he asked her. “Giving that old bugger a second chance?”
“I think what you did was very nice,” she said as she laid her cheek on his chest.
“Nice,” he scoffed. “Nice! The Devil is not nice! Bloody hell, now I know I’ve gone soft....”
“You’ve always been soft,” she teased, causing him to frown mightily. Chuckling at his expression, she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Your father sounds like he’s changed, and for the better. At least he’s not hiding under tables or behind couches, anymore.”
“Rafe said Dad has his good and bad days.”
“How is he? Rafe, I mean.”
As he kissed Chloe’s head, Lucifer thought hard about his brother. “Not... quite the same as he was. A little... harder, I suppose. He still laughs, but... not quite as much. His visit with Healing definitely improved him, but it might take a while for him to get back to his old self.”
“He should see Doctor Martin,” she suggested.
Lucifer brightened at that. “Splendid idea, love! Why, those two can start their own clinic! Rafe can heal people, and she can help them cope! And oh, the sex those two would have! Linda does do hot yoga, after all, and is freakishly flexible --”
“Ugh! No, Lucifer, just no,” cried Chloe as she covered her eyes.
“You’re right. I’m not sure Rafe could handle our good doctor. He is such a stick-in-the-mud, after all! He probably only knows one position --”
“Lucifer!”
He laughed, the warm, sensuous sound rumbling through his chest.
“At least the baby will be safe,” Chloe said as she gave him a loving glance. “Thanks to you, my wheeling, dealing Devil.”
Her praise had Lucifer puffing up with pride. A smug smile graced his face. “Of course, my dear! The Devil is an expert in negotiation, as you well know.” His grin turned wicked. “Speaking of negotiation, why don’t we....”
His whispered words in her ear had her laughing as she blushed. “Well,” she purred, “I have a counteroffer....”
“Do tell?” he asked with interest. As she whispered back in his ear, an excited expression lit up his face and his eyes twinkled with merriment. “Oooh, I think I might take that counteroffer! Or, perhaps, up the ante....?”
With a sudden movement, he took her in his arms and rolled them both over, so that she lay under him. Kissing her deeply, he propped himself up with one arm while he let his free hand caress her until she was moaning helplessly. Seeing his wife so aroused caused his desire for her to burn even brighter, until they were both aflame. It was a wonder that they hadn’t set the building on fire! Smiling devilishly, he kissed her lips, then the base of her neck, then started to stray lower....
They stayed in bed for a long time afterward.
________________________________________
Lucifer stared lovingly at his sleeping wife in his arms, thanking the stars above for her presence in his life. She made him... complete. He shivered to think of what his life would have been like had he never met her. Bleak. Empty.
At least she and the baby were safe -- for now. He had only told Chloe that he made a deal with the Council for them to leave her alone in exchange for saving Yahweh. He had left out the part about having to promise Orphiel he’d deal with the baby if it turned out to be a Nephilim. If she ever found out about the deal he’d had to make, she’d never forgive him. Reaching down, he caressed her belly and the growing life inside.
“Don’t be a Nephilim,” he whispered softly. “I’m counting on you.”
Gathering Chloe close, he kissed the top of her head and reveled in the feel of her body against his. She shifted against him, but didn’t wake up. He wished he could fall into a peaceful, blissful sleep, as well. Too many thoughts crowded into his head, but he pushed them all away. For today, he would enjoy his time with his wife. Having bought them time, he would take advantage of every second. He would worry tomorrow.
Tomorrow....