When God walked into the house, he found his son sitting on the couch with the doctor. The boy immediately got up when he saw him.
Samael immediately ran to his father. "Dad."
God knelt down in front of his son and hugged him. "Hello, my boy. I trust you slept well the rest of the night."
Samael pulled away. "Why'd you leave?"
"I had something I had to take care of. I'm sure Amenadiel told you I'd be back, yes?" God asked.
Samael nodded. "Did you go home? Why couldn't I go with you?"
"Samael, I told you, I will take you home soon. You need to be patient, alright?" God asked.
"Okay," Samael said reluctantly.
"Thank you. I know it's difficult for you. I know you want to go home. You will not have to wait much longer," God assured him before rising to his feet.
Linda, meanwhile, was watching the scene in utter shock. She was standing in front of God, watching him parent. Needless to say, it was overwhelming. She had thought she met God once, but this was different. There was no doubt whatsoever that this being in front of her was God. Power radiated off of him with the way he carried himself.
God smiled and approached the shocked woman. He extending his hand in greetings. "Hello, Doctor Martin. It is wonderful to finally meet you."
Linda's body moved without her knowledge as her hand grasped his. She wasn't sure what to expect as she made physical contact with God, but it felt the same as shaking anyone else's hand.
God shook her hand and then released it. "I would like to thank you for everything you've done for my son, both my sons actually. You've done much for them. I must say, my faith in humanity was recently tested, but you help to remind me that not one or two do not define the whole of your species."
Linda blushed at the compliment. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't think of what she should say. What was she supposed to say to God?
Just then, Amenadiel came in through the back door. "Father, you're back. Did things go well?"
"As well as I expected them to," God said before turning to his younger son. "I want you to go change your clothes. Then come back and we'll talk."
"Okay. Do I have to wear a robe? I like the clothes here better," Samael said.
"No, I'll get you some clothes that people wear here, and you may continue to wear them when we get home if you like," God said. A bag appeared in his hand, which he handed off to his son. His children actually didn't wear the robes as much anymore. There were a few who did, like Amenadiel when he was in Heaven and a handful of others, but many, like himself, had chosen to adapt a human wardrobe.
Samael took the bag and ran from the room.
"Linda, you okay?" Amenadiel asked once his brother was gone.
"I…" Linda trailed off. She was having a hard time forming complete sentences right now.
"I can see how my presence might leave you a bit overwhelmed, but rest assured, there is no need to feel intimidated or anything of the sort. After all, you are giving me a grandchild. I would say that makes us family," God said kindly.
"Uh… Thank You," Linda said. It was all she could think to say right now. She was overwhelmed, and God's last declaration made her even more so. God saying they were family made her feel a bit light headed. She was related to God through her child. She'd never given it much thought before. She probably should've. She was carrying the grandchild of God himself. That left her in awe a bit.
"I would like to thank you. You were just speaking to my son. I thank you for trying to help him. Is there anything I need to know about the conversation?" God asked.
Linda pulled herself together. She did so by telling herself that Lucifer… Samael was a patient, and God was just a father who needed her help in helping his son. "He… He's confused. He doesn't understand what's going on around him or why he was hurt. He doesn't seem to remember anything consciously, but without breaking confidentiality, he has made comments that lead me to believe he has an idea that something big happened between him and his family."
Just then, Chloe walked in from outside, but was pretty much ignored.
"Yes, he made comments to me as well. Lucifer is still there somewhere, but I'm not sure if he's there enough to come back," God said.
"What do you think, Linda?" Amenadiel asked.
"I…I don't know. This situation is way above anything I've ever dealt with, and that includes everything I've dealt with since finding out the truth about you and Lucifer. I think your father's right that Lucifer is there somewhere, but I can't say whether it's enough to bring him back. If this really is Lucifer's doing, he has to want to come back. He may never want to," Linda said. She knew how close Lucifer was with Chloe. She knew how much her betrayal must have devastated him. She could see him deciding that he just didn't want to be around anymore.
"Doctor, this is something I could probably fix if I sought to. I've made the decision not to, as I think it's important to abide by Lucifer's wishes. Do you think I'm wrong?" God asked. He was mostly sure of his decision, but there was a part of him that was second guessing himself. He'd made so many mistakes with his son. He didn't want to do so again.
Linda thought about it and shook her head. "No. Like I said, this situation is not something I can even pretend to understand, but I don't think this is something that should be pushed, as it was the result of emotional trauma. I think Lucifer needs to decide for himself when and if he can come back."
"What if that doesn't happen though?" Amenadiel asked.
"Then it doesn't," Linda said sadly. She didn't like that thought either, but this should not be pushed. It would only make things worse.
"Thank you. This means that I'm going to have to tell my son things he won't understand, like his mother being gone and everyone around him growing when he's still so young. Do you have any advice?" God asked.
"I can only really help you with the first one. Divorce is very hard for children. It will be even harder for Samael because he can't see his mother. He's likely to blame himself, especially because he already feels that he's done something wrong. It's important for you let him know that he isn't to blame," Linda told him.
"Certainly. I'll not have him thinking it's his fault," God said.
Samael came back into the room a moment later. He'd changed into a pair of tan pants and a black polo shirt.
"Good, you're all changed. Let's sit down. We have to talk about some things," God said before leading him over to the couch and sitting him down next to him. "I have to tell you some things that are going to be very upsetting."
"Is it about Mum? Is it why she doesn't want to see me?" Samael asked.
"First of all, no one said your mother didn't want to see you. Your mother loves you," God said. Despite his personal distaste for his ex-wife, he knew she loved their children. It was why she ultimately decided to leave the dimension as Lucifer asked, but he also believed she didn't love them enough. She'd hurt them very much, especially Lucifer. She'd done him a lot of damage, and no, God wasn't one to talk, but his ex's hated of him clouded her and he wouldn't have that around his son. "I want you to understand that nothing I'm about to tell you is your fault. Some very strange things have happened, but you're not responsible for them. Do you understand?"
Samael nodded, but he was still skeptical. He felt like he had to have done something. If he hadn't, he would be home, or at least his mother would've come to see him like his father had.
"The first thing I need to tell you is that you've been away from home longer than you think you have," God said.
"How long?" Samael wondered.
"A very long time, and I've missed you very much," God said. That was true. Life without his son hadn't been well. He missed his mere presence, and he would never stop regretting his choice to send his son to Hell. He'd made that decision out of anger. He would do anything he could to make it right. "Your siblings have all changed since then. They have grown."
"Like Amenadiel?"
"Yes. They are all grown," he said.
Samael started to become frightened. His siblings were all older now, according to his father, but he wasn't. Why was that? And why didn't he remember all this time that had passed. His last memory of being home was just days ago.
God put an arm around his son and pulled him into his side. "It's alright, child. I know you're frightened, but everything is going to be okay."
"Everyone's older now, ever those younger than me?" Samael asked with no small amount of fear in his voice.
"Yes," God said.
Samael began to cry. "I want Mummy."
God held him tightly in his arms. "I know this very hard to understand. It's going to be alright, son. I'm not going to let anything bad happen. You will be okay."
"Why did everyone else grow and not me?" Samael asked in a shaky voice.
"It doesn't matter, child. What matters is that we will get through it. I'm going to take you home soon, and while I know it will be hard for him seeing everyone so different, it will be fine. I won't let anything harm you," God promised.
"I want my mum," Samael said again as he buried his head in his father's arms.
God glanced at the doctor, wondering if he should continue this. His son was very upset, and he wasn't sure if the boy could handle any more right now. On the other hand, he thought it might be best to get it all out now.
Linda nodded that he should continue.
Lucifer pulled his son out of his arms just a little bit. "I need you to look at me, Samael.
Samael rubbed his eyes and looked at his father. "You will be home by the end of the day, but your mother will not be there."
"Why?" he asked.
"I want you to remember what I said when we first started talking. Nothing that has happened is your fault. Your mother and I could no longer get along. It was decided that we wouldn't be together anymore. Now, your mother has a new world that is all hers," God explained to him.
"Sh...She's coming back, right?" Samael asked in a broken voice.
"No, Samael, she's not," God said as gently as he could.
"Why? What did I do?" Samael cried. His dad had told him it wasn't his fault, but it must have been. His mother had left him. He must have done something to make her hate him.
Chloe closed her eyes sadly as she heard the pain in this little boy's voice. It was all her fault. No, she didn't take his mother away, but she was the reason he couldn't understand why she was gone. He was the way he was because he couldn't handle her betrayal.
"No! I told you, this is not your fault. Your mother and I decided to separate because of ourselves, not you or any of your brothers and sisters. It was my decision for her to leave the Silver City, and for her not to see you children again," God said.
"Why?" Samael asked through his tears.
"Because it was what was best for you. I know that that's hard to understand, but you will one day. Your mother loves you very much, but she doesn't know how to do what's best for you. I think she even realized that herself in the end," God said.
"Is she okay?" he asked.
"Yes, she's fine. She's got her very own world now all to herself. I think she's very happy," God said.
"It's not fair. I want her," Samael cried.
"I know, son," God before pulling his son into his arms. He hated how much pain his son was in, but he would get him through it, and he would make sure life was different fro him this time. Samael would not go through the same pain again.