Amenadiel entered his father's quarters the next morning looking none too pleased. He'd just spoken to several of his siblings, and most of them had not one good thing to say regarding Samael. There were a few who were open minded and even happy about his return, but most were at least reluctant to be around him. Others were downright nasty. Amenadiel feared how his brother was going to fair.
God had just entered the living room when his oldest came in. He noticed his son's sour mood immediately. "Are you alright, son?"
"I was visiting with some of the others. Father, they're not going to treat Samael well. Not most of them anyway," Amenadiel said.
"Yes, they will," God said firmly. He wouldn't allow anything else. He'd made himself very clear in regard to how Samael was to be treated. If any of his children went against that, they would face the consequences.
Amenadiel shook his head. "Even if most of them hold their tongues over your orders, they will still show him they don't want him here, even if they aren't trying. He's going to pick up on it."
"Amenadiel, did you see the way Michael and Raphael reacted to him? Did you think that would ever happen?" God asked.
"No," Amenadiel admitted. Raphael, he was less surprised by. Raphael was mild tempered, and he got along with their younger brother for the most part. They weren't exactly friendly growing up or as adult, but they were fine with each other. Michael was another matter entirely. Michael never had much patience for Samael. He was jealous of him, which Amenadiel could understand to a point, but he always took it out on the younger angel. It was a little better when they were both grown, but then the rebellion happened, and Michael was one of the first to lash out at their younger brother. So, yes, it was very shocking that he treated Samael so gently last night.
"Michael sat here and played with Samael for over an hour. He knew he had to treat Samael kindly, and he agreed to that, but all it took was a couple minutes for Samael to wrap him around his finger. As an adult, he just could not withstand your brother's innocence and cuteness," God said with a smile.
"You're saying you think that will happen with the others," Amenadiel realized.
God nodded. "I have faith in your little brother."
Just then, they both heard footsteps.
God turned to see his son come out. "Good morning, Samael. Did you sleep well in your new bed."
"Uh huh. I like it. It was really comfortable," Samael said.
"I'm glad to hear that. Are you ready for breakfast?" God asked.
Samael nodded.
"Come on then," God said before leading the way into the kitchen. He waved his hand and the table was filled with several different breakfast foods. The three of them then sat down to breakfast.
"What's that?" Samael asked as he pointed to a white object that had some brown on the top.
"That's an English muffin. They're very good. Try one," God encouraged him.
"Okay," Samael said before taking one and tentatively taking a bite. He hummed in delight and took another bite.
"How long do you plan on staying, Amenadiel," God asked.
"Uh, I'm actually going to head back soon, probably right after breakfast," Amenadiel said. He had technically only been in Heaven a day, but on Earth, it was longer. He didn't want to be away from Linda for too long.
"Why do you have to leave?" Samael asked with a pout.
"Hey, I told you, I'm gonna come back to see you. I won't be gone for long," Amenadiel promised him.
"But why do you have to leave at all?" he asked.
"Because I have a family on Earth now," Amenadiel told him.
"We're your family," Samael argued.
"Yes, of course, you are, but I have more other family now too," Amenadiel said.
"Your brother has people on Earth that he cares very much for. He wants to spend time with them too. He's happy on Earth. We ought to be happy for him," God said to his son.
"But I don't want him to leave. I'll miss him," Samael said sadly.
"I'll miss you too, little brother, but I will be around often. I need to be on Earth mainly though. I'm about to have a child who will need me. That means you'll be an uncle," Amenadiel told him.
"What's an uncle?" Samael asked.
"It's what you become when your brother or sister has a son or daughter. You'll be my baby's uncle. That means you'll have to help me look out for him. Do you think you can?" Amenadiel asked.
"I can try. How can you be having a child? I thought only Mum and Dad could do that. How does it work?" Samael asked.
God chuckled. "That's a question for another day. Listen, I know you're going to miss your brother. I will too, but we want him to be happy, right?"
Samael nodded.
"That's my boy," God said as he rubbed his back for a second.
They all returned to their food, making small talk as they ate. Soon enough, they were finished. Amenadiel stayed a bit longer, playing and talking with Samael for a good hour in the living room. He then decided it was time for him to go. He hugged his little brother goodbye. "I'll be back soon, maybe in a couple of weeks."
"You swear you'll come visit?" Samael asked.
"Yes," he said.
"I will hold you to that promise as well, son. I expect to see you often. And of course, I hope you will bring my grandson to meet me after he is born," God said.
"Of course, Father," Amenadiel said before hugging his father briefly. He said another goodbye to them both and then flew away.
God turned to his now youngest child. "Are you doing alright, child? Would you like to talk a little bit?"
Samael nodded. "I want to talk about Mum. You said we could."
"You're right, I did. Let's go sit down on the couch," God said.
Samael ran over and got on the couch. His father sat as well and pulled him into his arms to cuddle him.
"Oh, I missed cuddling you like this," God said before giving him a gentle squeeze. It had been a very long time since his children were young enough for him hold like this, and when they were, he was ashamed to say that he didn't utilize the chance as much as he could've. Well, he'd make sure he didn't make that mistake this time.. "Go ahead. Ask me whatever you wish."
"Trixie said that if I can't see Mum, it means she did something bad. Did she? Samael asked.
"What did she do?" Samael asked.
"We can talk about that when you're older. It's not important for you to know right now," God said. Samael was too young to understand any of it now. Telling him would likely just confuse him and alienate him his mother. As angry as God was at her, he would not do that, despite the fact that she'd done it to him. It would only hurt his son.
"Yes, it is. You made her leave because of it," Samael argued.
"I made her leave because it was best for everybody that she not be here, and, yes, it has to do with what she did, but it was also because we weren't happy living together anymore. Everyone else was very upset about it. Something had to be done," God said.
"But why can't I know what she did wrong. If it's why I can't see her, shouldn't I know?" Samael asked.
God sighed. He had to admit that the boy had a point, but he couldn't go into details. His son just wouldn't understand. He had to tell him something though. "Alright, you make a fair point. Your mother and I were very angry with each other. Your mother was so angry that she took it out on others."
"Did she hurt anyone?" Samael asked.
"If you mean cause harm to you or your siblings, no, but your siblings were hurt by us fighting. Sometimes you can hurt people without meaning to. Your mother was doing that a lot and she couldn't seem to stop," God explained. It was a very mellow version of what happened, but his son wouldn't understand any more than that right now. Nor should he have the full version in his young mind.
"Why was Mum so angry?" Samael wanted to know.
"She had a lot of things she was angry about, and she was right to be angry for many of those reasons. Things just weren't good between us anymore, and we ignored that for too long," God said.
"Do you hate her?" he asked.
"No, I don't. We weren't happy together, and I was angry with her, but I do not hate her," God assured him.
"Do I have to be mad at her because you are?" Samael asked in worried voice.
"Absolutely not. What happened between your mother is not your problem, nor your siblings. I would never expect you to stop loving your mother," God said.
Samael was relieved to hear that. He loved his mother. He didn't want to stop, but he didn't want his father to be angry with him. "I can never see her again?"
"When you're older, if you still want to see your mum, I will make it happen, but right now, it's best that you don't," God said.
"What if I don't get older?" Samael asked.
"What are you talking about? Of course you will," God said.
"But I haven't yet. Why have I stayed the same age while everyone else grew up?" Samael asked. That scared him. He was scared he'd be the same age forever. He didn't want that.
God knew he was going to have to explain this a bit more. He didn't want his son thinking he'd be this age forever. The trouble was that this concept was a bit over a child's head. "You did grow up. You just don't remember it. At some point you decided you wanted to be little again," God said.
"Why?" Samael asked. That sounded stupid to him. Why would he want go from fully grown to a child again? You got to do so much more when you were bigger.
"It's hard to understand, but you just wanted to start over, I think. I don't think that's so bad, is it?" God asked.
"Can't you fix it?"
"There's nothing to fix. There's nothing wrong with you, and I think you'll be happier this way, which is all I want for you," God told him.
"This is weird," Samael said.
"I know, but it doesn't have to be bad, right?"
Samael supposed it wasn't. He didn't really remember being grown anyway, so it didn't seem like much was wrong. It was just strange seeing everyone so grown. One of the biggest things he was afraid of was that something was wrong with him and he wouldn't grow up, but his dad said that wasn't true. "I guess not. You're sure I'll grow up again, Dad."
"Yes, my boy. You won't be this age forever. Do you have any more questions for me?"
"Do you have to work soon?" Samael asked. His dad created everything, so he worked a lot. Samael knew it was important, but he wished he could spend more time with him.
"I think any work I have will keep for the day. I think you and I should spend the day together," God said. too often, he'd let his work get in the way of spending time with his children. He wasn't going to make mistake again. He had a second chance. He wouldn't waste it.
"Really?" Samael asked hopefully.
"Yes. what would you like to do?"
"Can we just sit like this for a while?" Samael asked.
"I think that sounds perfect," God said as he continued to hold his son in his arms, running a hand gently through his hair locks.