"We thought maybe after Dad died Metatron didn't want to fool with finding Lucifer another vessel, so he tossed him back in the cage," Amy was saying faintly. "But a few weeks ago rumors started to circulate about some extreme – like, archangel extreme – things happening. We thought . . . we hoped . . ."

"Then we'll just have to stop them ourselves," Crowley said.

Amy shook her head, still looking dazed. "It's over. We can't take him. Not without Dean and the others. And Jo's in no condition to fight."

"We'll try!" Crowley told her.

Amy just shook her head again. "It's over," she repeated.

Crowley drew back his hand, slapping it across her face and then grabbing her shoulders roughly, shaking her. "No, it's not!" he snapped back. "Because if it's over out there, then it's over in here! And that means us Amelia! Are you prepared to accept that?"

"I . . ." She rubbed her cheek where he had struck her, looking dazed.

"Are you?" he yelled.

"No!" she yelled back, blinking a few times. "I'm not!" She looked at Deacon. "Send the remaining civvies home to the Island. This isn't their fight."

Deacon gave a nod and did as he was told.

The others did their preparing in their own ways; Amelia armed herself to the T, though she knew it was hopeless; no human weapons would destroy Lucifer. Meg and Castiel were nowhere to be seen, probably doing a sweep of the much too quiet borough. Bobby was drinking and cleaning his gun. Deacon had joined him. And Crowley was loading the Colt.

"Might not work," he shrugged at Amelia. "But it'll slow him down."

They all gathered on the roof later in the evening. The sky was the color of blood, which Bobby figured was bad luck (though he said nothing). It was eerily quiet as they waited.

"Hello, brother."

Castiel turned and faced Lucifer, who had appeared behind them. He looked calm, relaxed even, as he leaned against the brick.

"Lucifer," Castiel greeted him back.

"You all are all scrambled through time, huh? I just got back from the forties. That's the second time Sam's girlfriend has expelled me, you know. She's feisty."

"Why are you here, Lucifer?"

"Isn't it obvious?" he raised his eyebrows, looking at Amelia.

She snorted. "If you wanna kill me, come at me."

"Kill you? Why would I want to kill you? I need you."

Amelia frowned, and so did Crowley, who stepped forward. Lucifer's eyes darted to the demon.

"Crowley. It's been a while," Lucifer remarked.

"Not long enough, mate," Crowley said.

Lucifer was silent for a moment, looking between Crowley and Amelia. "Ohh. You two? The so called King of Hell and a Winchester? Oh, yeah, that makes this just . . . so much better. Don't even think about it, Meg," he added as Meg raised the angel blade behind him. "It'll only piss me off." With a flick of his wrist, he sent her barreling across the roof and straight into Cas. "There, why don't you two just lay there? I understand you've been doing a lot of that lately."

"Back off of them, if you're not here to kill us, then what do you want?" Amelia demanded.

"What do I want? Well, a lot of things, actually. Heaven, for starters, and Hell, too. And everything in between that – Earth, Purgatory, you know – well, I'll take that too. But what do I need, well, that's different. Cause there's only one thing I really need, and that's a strong enough vessel." He spread his hands, looking innocent. "And it's been brought to my attention that Sam is never gonna say yes again, no matter what I do or who I skin – so I guess I'll settle for the next best thing."

"And what's that?" Crowley sneered.

"Next of kin. And since my bro Mikey called dibs on ol whats-his-name – was it Alan? Alex? Whatever, doesn't matter – I'm going to have to settle for the next closest thing." He gestured to Amelia. "So I'm going to be getting in touch with my feminine side."

"Not in your dreams, douchewad," Amelia replied. "You need my consent. And you can do whatever you want to me, the answer is and always will be no."

"See, that's the mistake I made with Sammy," Lucifer said, nodding thoughtfully. "I let him keep his sanity. I figured out, the hard way, that it's actually way easier to manipulate someone into doing what you say when they don't know what you're saying."

"Lucifer, stop this," Castiel commanded, approaching his brother. "It's over, it's too late for you. I'm sorry."

"No you're not, Cassy. Not yet, anyway," Lucifer said.

"Hey, Cas."

Castiel spun around to see Metatron – who obviously couldn't see him, from the way his eyes were empty black craters.

"Funny, I coulda sworn I just ripped out your spine back in Kansas," Metatron said, grinning. "And now it looks like I get to do it again."

"Cas, Lucifer is gone," Meg exclaimed, staring at the spot where Lucifer had just been standing.

Cas turned to address her, only to be thrown forward by Metatron. Meg took this opportunity and drew an angel blade, attacking Metatron. The angel grabbed her wrist before she could strike. "The Croats got to you before I got my chance in Kansas," he breathed. "But I owe you for these eyes." Her wrist snapped and Meg cried out before trying to kick her way out of his grip.

Castiel punched Metatron in the jaw, sending him tumbling backwards, where Bobby slammed the butt of his rifle against the angels head. Metatron slammed Bobby to the ground, knocking the hunter unconscious, and then shoved Amelia out of the way as she and Crowley attempted to take him by surprise.

Crowley sat up and looked over at Amelia, his eyes widening as he saw Lucifer standing over her. "Amy!"

Amelia didn't have time to react, her eyes going wide as Lucifer pressed two fingers to her forehead. Amy gasped, falling backwards and crying out.

"Melia," Crowley growled as he reached her, pulling her up. She looked confused and was sobbing, her eyes dazed.

"Don't worry," Lucifer was saying. "She's only deteriorating from the inside. Right now I'd say she's seeing everyone she's ever loved die by the hand of God, and the only way to stop it is to graciously accept my offer."

"Put her back," Crowley demanded. "You put her back, or I swear –"

"You'll do what?" Lucifer raised his eyebrows, grinning. "You're nothing, Crowley. The Once and Former King. That's a book, right? Something like that?" his smirk grew. "Your reign is over."

There was a blinding white light as Castiel plunged an angel blade through Metatron's chest; the angel collapses, leaving smoking etches of wings behind him.

Panting, Castiel helped Meg up and looked at Lucifer, who smirked.

"Thanks, kiddos. You saved me the trouble of killing the little weasel myself."

"Lucifer, you'll pay for this," Castiel warned.

"What's gonna happen, Cas? Am I gonna get punished? Will I rot in Hell?" he laughed.

Amelia stirred in Crowley's arms, her eyes frightened. "Lucifer . . ."

Grinning broadly, Lucifer turned. "Yes, Amelia?"

"I want to tell you yes . . ."

"Finally," Lucifer grinned broadly. "Go ahead, Amy."

"Yes," Amelia continued. "You will rot in hell."

As if on cue, there was the sound of pure hope – or, that is, the TARDIS.