It was finally here, the day they had been waiting and preparing for this entire time. Thunder crashed around the two warring archangels, lightning illuminating the sky, the surrounding area. The wind was actually howling as it was manipulated by the two strongest angels in existence. Michael's sword clashed against Lucifer's sparks flying from the metal at the impact.
Lucifer tried to dodge his next attack, but Michael was very much the seasoned warrior he was made out to be, and while he had taught him most of what he knows, every warrior still has their secrets.
He was too late and the blade sliced through a lower set of wings. Lucifer let out a loud shrill wail as he collapsed to the ground. He still tried to parry the hits as best as he could but the blow had been crippling and Michael knew this too. The elder archangel was relentless in his blows, driving his sword downwards harder and harder. Lucifer's hand was glistening from blood as he reached up to grasp the blade of his older brothers sword, the substance dripping down his arm, his sword was slipping from his grasp, falling to the ground as if in slow motion.
He closed his eyes, waiting for the killing blow, that never came.
Someone cleared their throat loudly, both archangels spinning to look at who ever it was that had interrupted them, and their eyes widened simultaneously. Standing before them, in tacky Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian to match stood a single man, holding the hands of two small children at his sides.
"What in My name is going on here?"
"Father?"
Chuck nodded slowly, the gash on Lucifer's hands closing in a single glance. The blood dried up and flaked off his skin until it was left clean once more. Michael lowered his head slowly, bringing his hand up to his chest in the form of a salute. Chuck raised his head an inch in acknowledgement to his oldest son. Lucifer's eyes wandered over the two children at his Father's sides.
The elder of the two, no older then maybe six, dark toned with the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen. It was so familiar but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. He was in a simple t-shirt with a dinosaur munching on a cookie and little tan shorts, sneakers on his little feet. There was something about this kid that he recognized.
The younger one of the two on the other side of Father was looking up at him shyly with achingly familiar whiskey eyes, his thumb of the free hand in his mouth. He was much younger, maybe four, golden brown hair falling like a crown on his head. His own t-shirt had a large lollipop on it, little pants, and tiny sneakers.
They both looked up at him with silent wide eyes.
"Dad...Are those...Are they.."
Chuck looked at the two children at his sides, gently shaking their hands until smiles split their faces. Nodding his head, he turned to look back up at his oldest two children.
"Yes, these are your two youngest brothers, Raphael and Gabriel, I have decided to give them a second chance and in extension give you two a second chance as well."
He ushered the younger two forwards to stand at their elder brothers sides. They looked awkward, frightened even, where they stood now out of the safety of their Father's shadow. Raphael held little Gabriel's free hand in his own, keeping his baby brother near his side protectively.
"You will take care of them for the week, I will be back next Sunday to check up on things, do not let me down"
And he was gone just like that. Michael and Lucifer looked back down at their younger brothers, eyes widening just a fraction at the fright shining in their eyes, left standing there silently watching as Raphael spun around and led Gabriel towards the house their Father had left them with. Lucifer turned towards Michael, and for the first time in a long time did not feel the need to throw an insult at him.
Instead, "We really messed up, didn't we?"
Michael nodded.
"Gabe, Raph, dinner is ready"
Tiny foot steps came running down the steps. They had been practically inseparable, not that they hadn't been at this age the first time around, but even more so. Upon entering the house, Raphael had led little Gabriel up the stairs and to their room to play with the toys that their older brothers did not know they had.
Lucifer set down Gabriel's plate of dinosaur nuggets and apple sauce in front of his seat while he slid a bowl of macaroni and cheese over to Raphael's spot. Michael set two similar but different sippy cups full of juice down by their meals, stepping back with Lucifer only slightly to watch as Raphael helped Gabriel climb up onto his seat. Lucifer stepped forward to help them, but his outstretched hands were slapped away by the young healer.
"No touch Gabe!"
Lucifer stepped back, shocked at the outburst, behind him he could feel the shock in Michael as well.
They watched as Raphael got Gabe settled in his chair with his nuggets and applesauce before slowly turning around and returning to his own chair to chow down on his macaroni and cheese. They seemed settled in and left the elder two to slowly move forward to take the seats near the two, but were stopped in the form of Raphael, moving to get in front of their baby brother, to keep him away from them.
"No sit by Gabe!"
But there was not much a six year old could do to an adult archangel let alone two, and therefore could do nothing to stop them as they took their seats. Gabriel finished his nuggets before Raphael got in five bites of his macaroni and began to whine about being full and bored. Raphael set his spoon down and made to jump from his seat, but was stopped by Michael before he could even move an inch.
"No Raphael, he can wait until you are finished to go play"
The young healer looked between his baby brother and his eldest brother, before pushing back his seat and jumping down to meet his baby brother. Michael watched as he was blatantly ignored as the healer helped the messenger slide down from his seat. Raphael paused in the doorway, his tiny hand clutching at Gabriel's even tinier one. He looked over his shoulder at his eldest brother.
"Your not my boss"
Michael's eyes narrowed at the comment, he remembered this stage.
Later that night, thunder shook their small farm house, lightning filling the sky. Raphael turned over in his sleep, peaceful in the nighttime thunderstorm. Michael and Lucifer, in their shared room, both slept just as peacefully. Only one sat awake during this night time storm. Tiny tear filled whiskey eyes looked around the room frantically, jumping every time thunder rolled across the sky.
Crawling out of his bed and scurried across the floor to Raphies bed, reaching up with tiny hands to shake his older brothers arm. The healer groaned in his sleep and lightly smacked away the pestering hands.
"Raphie! Please!"
Tears formed in the youngest's eyes, spilling out down his cheeks.
"I 'cared!"
But the healer was blissfully unaware and and simply smacked the hands away once more. Gabriel found his direct older brother useless and waking him futile, debating on his next option. However, another bolt of lightning and loud crash of thunder made his mind up for him as he turned on his heel, bolting from the room and down the hall. Stuffed platypus clutched in one hand, he reached up slowly with the other to push at the door gently.
More lightning illuminated the room, the figures on the shared king sized bed, both of whom sleeping soundly where they lay.
Gabriel's tiny feet carried him cautiously into the room, carrying him closer and closer to the large bed. He clutched at his beloved stuffed animal tightly, hands shaking in fear. Thinking twice about his plan to seek comfort from his biggest brothers and rather just wait out the storm huddled under his blankets, the young archangel made to turn around and scurry back to his room. But a voice stopped him in his tracks. Soft against the raging storm.
"Gabby?"
Gabriel turned slowly to look at his big brothers. Lucifer's eye widened in concern at the tears cascading down his baby brothers face. He did not wait for Michael to wake up before snapping the light on and sitting all the way up. Michael rubbed at his eyes at the sudden light and sat up groaning.
"Lucifer!"
The Morning Star hushed him while motioning out with his head. Michael glared at his brother but turned to look all the same, his own eyes widening at the sight before them.
"Gabby? What ever is wrong little one?"
"I 'cared"
Lucifer leaned forward, sleep completely forgotten at those words.
"Your scared? We can't have that, come here kiddo!"
Gabriel scurried across the floor as quick as his little legs would carry him. Michael leaned over the side of their bed to pull him up. Gabriel settled down in between the two elder archangels. Michael and Lucifer settled down on either side, the blonde wrapped an arm up under his head while Michael rolled over onto his side. Lightning filled the room causing Gabriel to shriek and hide away into Lucifer's side the best he could.
Lucifer exchanged looks with Michael over the baby archangel's head.
"How about we try and play a game to ignore the scary storm? You like games, don't you Gabe?"
Gabriel's interest was peaked, and he withdrew from Lucifer's side to nod his head. The elder two smiled at him fondly.
"Mike, know any games we could play?"
Michael got his expression of deep thought about himself, smile never leaving his features. All of a sudden he looked down at their baby brother. His hands shooting into the air.
"Gabe! Hands up!"
Gabriel giggled and thrust his hands into the air like his big brother. Out of no where, Michael's hands shot back down and tickled at his arm pits. Gabriel squealed adorably and slammed his arms back down, trapping his biggest brothers fingers there. Michael laughed with the young fledgling archangel, freely and wholly. Lucifer watched them for a moment, smile covering his face too, as Michael's wiggling fingers traveled down to the baby's tummy, sneaking up under the dinosaur night shirt to poke at the pudgy tummy underneath. The smile that adorned his face so gentle and happy it made Lucifer simply sit there and watch it.
It had been forever since he had seen his older brother look so carefree, so happy. Michael's eyes shone with such adoration and love that it made his heart hurt knowing that he had used to get that look too. Gabriel kicked out at his big brother, Michael caught the appendage in a gentle hand.
"How about your cute little footsies? Are your cute little footsies ticklish baby brother?"
Gabriel shook his head, giggling adorably when two fingers gently stroked the bottom of his captured foot.
"I think they are!
Michael waggled his eyes brows (where did you think Gabriel had learned it from) as he pressed his lips gently against the captured footsie. Gabriel screeched with pure mirth when his biggest brother blew a large raspberry into his sensitive sole. Lucifer looked away from the lighthearted sight when he heard their door creak slightly. He smiled as he took in shy little Raphael peeking in the crack. The Morning Star narrowed his eyes playfully. Raphael giggled and ran forward to jump onto their bed. Lucifer caught him in an embrace, pulling him back into his chest, bending low into his little brothers neck.
"I know your ticklish! Aren't you litte Raphie? Is your adorable little neck tickly?"
Raphael squealed much like Gabriel had when his big brother buried his face in his neck and blew a giant raspberry. Pressing little butterfly kisses and tickly nibbles everywhere he could reach. Raphael squirmed in his big brother's grip, shrieking when he laughed into his ticklish skin.
"Raphie, if I don't get to give your cute little neck all my little kissies, then I'm afraid I'm gonna have to settle in for eating your cute little tummy"
Raphael shrieked in giggles.
"Luci no dare!"
Lucifer growled playfully at his young brother. falling back into his pillows and lifting the small fledgling above his head.
"Luci does dare!"
The little healer let out a mirth filled screech as his big brother buried his face in his pudgy tummy, giving him little kissies and nibbles everywhere he could. Raphael cackled as he tried to twist to his side only serving his big brother another spot to nibble on. Twisting back around, Lucifer blew the biggest raspberry into his belly button. After a long torturous moment of happy giggles and squeals they all finally settled down. Gabriel was curled up as happy as a puppy on top of Michael's chest, the eldest angel looked as content as could be, running his fingers through the youths hair gently.
Raphael was sprawled out on top of Lucifer's chest, the Morningstar playing with the youths fingers of his small hand as he held it in the air above them. Tugging on the small appendage to gain his attention, Lucifer lowered his arm around his little sleepy brother.
"Raphie..Why didn't you want us to be near Gabe today?"
Raphael yawned tiredly, "Yous made him cries. He no likes it when you guys fights and sometimes he goes and hides. I just wanted my baby brother to's be happy"
If anything, Michael wrapped the blanket around the baby archangel even more, snuggling him closer in his embrace.
"Mika and Luci promise not to's fights no more? Cause it gets 'cary and we don't wants to have to watches you get hurt again cause we misses you"
Lucifer pressed a gentle kiss to the youths forehead, "And we miss you too"
Raphael sighed contentedly, and much like Gabriel, no longer winning in his battle against the oncoming sleep. He felt one more pair of warm lips press against his forehead before he was gone. Lucifer looked up sharply when a gentle hand scratched at the back of his scalp, being met with Michael's loving adoring gaze.
"I think its time for little brother to get some sleep, both of them"
Lucifer smiled at his big brother as he was pulled closer to him and his blankets draped over them all.
Maybe, a second chance, was all they really needed.
Ending sucks, I know...