For God so loved His son so much that he gave him the world that whosoever believed in him would save his son and restore his everlasting life. Josh had His Miracle in place, but hadn't anticipated how free will changed it all for his beloved son, Samael. Well, His Miracle, sometimes, works in mysterious ways.

Disclaimer: All of the characters appearing in Lucifer are copyrighted by Fox Television, Neil Gaiman and Vertigo Comics. No infringement of these copyrights intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. I write this fanfiction only for fun and not for profit.

November 28. 2016

Josh had the windows of his rolled down as he pulled onto the 2800 block of Zephyr, the late November California breeze blowing gently through the open windows of the pick-up cab. Today was a great day, Josh thought, smiling to himself as he how his favorite song playing at good volume. Strains of The Hollies song "Long Cool Woman" filled the neighborhood. Josh kept time to the beat by tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he pulled into the parking lot of Sel Mar Apartments. He parked in the parking lot for a moment, letting the music surround Him, taking a swig of his favorite root beer before opening the driver's side door and swinging his lanky legs down to the ground.

He noticed a small black convertible speed into the parking lot, classic rock blaring from expensive, well-hidden speakers. Josh snorted, seeing the roadster's body vibrate in rhythm with the music's loud base line while its driver take a swallow from a silver whiskey flask. He saw a tall, lithe man his own height stretch his long legs out the side of the vehicle. Josh looked own at his own black tee-shirt, Levis and cowboy boots and compared it to the younger man's custom-tailored black suit, waistcoat and Italian leather dress shoes. Josh saw the stylish stubble that contoured the younger man's jaw and Josh strongly preferred His mustache. Both black haired and of medium complexion, it wasn't hard to see the two men were related.

That is, if anyone could see Him.

"Yeah, apple didn't fall that far from the tree with that one," he chuckled, grabbing his toolbox from the truck bed. He watched his son stride past him without a look in His direction, fidgeting with his waistcoat as he stood before Chloe's front door. He watched Lucifer nervously adjust his cuff links, straighten his jacket and run long fingers through his hair. He raised his hand to knock. The door opened and Lucifer made his way inside past Chloe.

"This oughta be good," Josh followed him, setting down his toolbox on the porch, folding his arms and casually leaning in the open doorway.

"I owe you an explanation," Lucifer said without preamble.

"Oh, Really? Why? Was it for... leaving me all alone at a restaurant so the server could give me pitiful glances all night?" I know what your explanation is and I don't want to know her name, especially not today." Chloe's hurt and frustration dripped from every word.

"Busted, son." Josh shook his head. He wanted to see how his son would charm his way out of this one.

"Actually, Detective, that isn't what I was going to say, I..." he started.

Josh recognized that urgent tone in Lucifer's voice. There was no charm coming from the Lightbringer today; he was sincerity and earnestness dressed in Prada. Before he finished his sentence, Josh saw Chloe raise her hand to halt him in mid-sentence, her brow furrowed in anger.

"Look, Lucifer, I don't have time for this. I was just on my way out. Besides, this is my fault. I should've known how selfish and thoughtless you can be."

Her words pierced His son's pride. Josh winced at her words and Lucifer's reaction when he watched his son's expression change from urgency to hurt from Chloe's harsh words. He saw the Samael he remembered: loving, honest, vulnerable. He saw his little boy instead of the stranger that looked vaguely like His son. Josh couldn't contain the long sigh that escaped him. 'The boy always wore his heart on his wings."

"Lucifer!" A cheerful voice cut away the tension with one word.

"Penelope!" At least one of the Decker women still liked him.

She gave him a welcoming hug and a kiss on each cheek. "You are the sweetest to come support us on such a difficult day."

Oh. I bet you an arm and a leg, Mom, that he has no idea what today is.

Well, that's rather unwise of you to wager your lovely extremities, Detective. Particularly as I'm perfectly aware of what today is, actually. It's a very difficult day... because...

"Today," Chloe raised a brow and crossed her arms.

"Today is. . ." Lucifer parroted, looking to Penelope for clues, but finding none.

"The first day," Chloe smirked.

"The first day. . ." Lucifer continued

". . . of the trial," she shook her head.

"of the trial of. . ."

"My dad's killer. "

"My dad's killer!" Lucifer repeated. "Nietzsche? No, wait. Your dad's killer. Yes, no, I knew that. I knew that. That's why I'm here, to support you. Not talk about myself 'cause that would be selfish."

"Yeah, pretty much and you're still pretty full of bullshit, Lucifer."

"Not, today, Detective," he gave Penelope a nod. "So, consider me an emotional jockstrap for the Decker family jewels.

"No, you're the dick," Chloe muttered, turning around without another word and strode past Josh.

"She's hot under the collar today, Son, you're gonna need more that charm to get yourself out of this one." Josh looked in Chloe's direction.

"Detective!" Lucifer called after her when Penelope put a hand on his shoulder

"Oh, Lucifer, she's stressed. I mean, who wouldn't be?" Penelope said.

"I didn't mean to," he started, watching the Detective get in her car.

"Let her breathe," Penelope advised. "You're being there will be the best thing for us both. She'll come around. Let me ride with you and I'll fill you in on the details."

"Smashing," Lucifer's perfect smile reappeared.

Josh watched as the trio as they all drove toward the trial. "Maybe that water heater can wait a bit. I think I need to be there."

Josh stepped out to the vending machine just down the hall from the courtroom, disappointed the machine didn't have his favorite brand of root beer. He went with the option available, popping the tab and enjoying the cold carbonation burning away the sleepiness from His body. Digging into his pocket, he grabbed a handful of quarters and selected the organic fruit juice he knew Chloe liked so well.

Josh cast a shaded look toward the courtroom, hoping she'd be all right. Seeing Sam, now Lucifer, after a few hundred millennia had been a shock to His system. His son wasn't the same precocious, rebellious boy that He remembered, not when he was around Chloe Decker. She was Lucifer's saving grace and a walking miracle.

He knew Chloe needed support during this next stage of the trial because her heart was breaking all over again after losing her father and reopening old wounds. He was surprised by Lucifer's presence, but still pleased that his son had shown the kind, gentle heart he'd once possessed before his mother had poisoned his mind against Him.

He quietly walked along the expanse of the marble-floored hall, his boot heels making no sound against the polished stone as he quietly walked past the bailiff who seemingly took no notice of the tall cowboy walking through the doors of the courtroom. He found an empty chair beside Chloe, placing the can bottled fruit juice.

Her eyes stayed constantly on the eccentric man wearing a designer suit and a woman's purple scarf draped around his waist. "Aw, son, you always had a flair for the dramatic."

"Thank you, Mr. Morningstar. What a, uh, vivid picture. It's almost as if Boris himself just testified," The prosecuting attorney straightened his blazer.

"Except a more handsome version," the judge whispered in Lucifer's direction, giving him a sly wink.

"Oh, stop it, Judy." Josh rolled his eyes when his son feigned false modesty. 'That boy always had a thing with the ladies.'

"Thank you," the prosecutor moved to sit.

"Right actually, to that, I would like to add one more thing, if I may," Lucifer flashed a smile a Judy who gave another adoring smile and a permissive nod

"I think we've had enough, Your Honor," Charlotte interjected.

"Shh," Judge Judy quickly admonished Charlotte for breaking the spell of the best part of her day. She returned her attention to the darling witness. "Please, continue Luc-, I mean, Mr. Morningstar.

"Thank you, my darling." Lucifer returned his attention to the jury and the courtroom spectators. "Yes, I'd just like to say, for the record, the LAPD, and Detective Decker, in particular, acted impeccably on this case."

The courtroom grew silent with the intensity of his emotion carried into his words. Instead of looking at the jury, Lucifer focused his eyes solely upon Chloe. Josh leaned back in his chair, pushing back the brim of his black Stetson, wondering what Lucifer's next antic might be.

"This whole courtroom, nay, the entire city can rest assured that someone as honest, trustworthy, and reliable as Detective Decker is out there protecting them. She is," he swallowed, blinking his eyes several times which shined with unspoken emotion. "truly good. And I don't mean in bed. I wouldn't know. That's how good she is."

Thick black brows shot up in surprise when he watched his Sam swallow the lump of emotion in his throat and those eyes, dark and fiery, never took their gaze of Chloe. He saw a quick sheen of emotion quickly blinked away as Lucifer withdrew his heart back into himself. Josh nodded in slow grudging approval.

Sam was jaded with an impenetrable wall of anger surrounding him cloaked in suave sophistication, seduction, charisma and wit. He numbed his pain and emotions in hedonistic debauchery, trying in vein to numb the heartbreak and scars on hidden deep within his soul. Josh knew reconciliation remained impossible because of the rage Lucifer carried for him.

Josh so loved his beloved son that he game him the world that whosoever believed in Lucifer would keep him from perishing and he'd return to eternal life in the Silver City. Lucifer needed grace. Better than that, he needed Chloe.

Josh glanced over to his left, starting at the miracle sitting in the chair with clear, blue eyes locked solidly and the dark gaze that reflected her unspoken emotions. Chloe was sincere and unpretentious about sharing her heart with someone she trusted. Her walls were high, but fragile when it came to Lucifer Morningstar. She eased the his pain and brought justice with her strong principles and disciplined mindset. She was Sam's miracle, but Sam had to accept it of his own free will just a Chloe had to accept freely the choice of loving him.

"Thank you. Miss Richards? Your witness." the prosecuting attorney motioned toward Lucifer.

"I have no questions at this time," Charlotte gave a ghost of a smile which made Lucifer stare intently in her direction.

"What are you up to now, Mother?" he muttered under his breath.

Josh saw Charlotte Richards begin her cross-examination after the short recess ordered by Judge Judy. The mortal body she wore encapsulating her divinity couldn't hide her true nature from Josh. He saw her beauty the moment she rose to her feet and he felt like a bucking bronco had kicked him in the balls. He knew she was on Earth and he wanted to her plans once Sam found a loophole through their deal. Still, he never thought that she'd be so intimately associated with Sam given the bitterness he held toward his parents.

He saw her beauty and quick intellect shine through her mortal coil, thinking of how a star came alive through explosion and fusion and how it paled in comparison to the visage in front of Him. She was still as lovely as the first day they encountered each other.

"Detective Decker, Lucifer Morningstar is your partner, correct?" Charlotte began her questioning with mundane, routine inquiries establishing the relationship Chloe had with Lucifer. Josh reached into his pocket, grabbing a half-sleeve of his favorite fig cooking and taking a bite of one, followed by a swig of root beer.

"Yes. He's a civilian consultant for the LAPD. We work cases together."

"And how is he qualified for this role?" Charlotte asked.

"He is very, uh, intuitive. He, um, understands people's desires," Chloe searched for the right words as she looked over at Lucifer who gave her a needed nod of encouragement.

Charlotte pressed on with her line of questioning. "And in addition to that, I assume he studied law enforcement?"

Chloe paused for a moment, her voice quieter than her previous answer. "Not to my knowledge, no."

"Does he have a professional background which is somehow relevant to law enforcement?"

"He owns a nightclub," the Detective stated.

"I see," Charlotte replied, a subtle smirk appearing on her face. Josh knew that look all too well. She had something planned and damned if she wasn't going to use it to get her way. "I'm sure his previous job was more relevant to his role as a civilian consultant for the LAPD? Right?"

The court room grew quiet with that question.

"Mm," Chloe began nodding her head in agreement, her gaze looking off to the left in contemplation. Charlotte went back to her table, pouring herself a glass of water before slowly tightening the proverbial legal web she had started spinning. Chloe chuckled. "Well, if you believe his claims that he used to run Hell."

Josh chuckled at her spunk as she gave an innocent smile to Charlotte along with the Chloe's single thought that ran in his mind louder than the trumpets of Heaven, 'Bitch.'

Charlotte spit out her water, coughed for several seconds and cleared her throat to regain her composure. He watched Chloe's eyes light with that pure blue fire that burnt deep within her soul. Charlotte gawked at Chloe's audacity to say such a thing, but Chloe continued in that vein of unpredictability that made her send any celestial creature into a tailspin. "Then yes, he's accustomed to punishing bad guys."

"That a girl, Chloe." Josh said with approval.

Now, it was Charlotte's turn to smile. "I'm confused, Detective. Are you suggesting your partner is delusional, or just lying?"

Charlotte and Chloe's eyes' met with the look of war raging in the hearts of both women. "Lucifer Morningstar is many things, but he is not a liar."

Josh glanced over at his son, seeing the look of amazement cross his features. Reading his son, he knew Samael had a hard time believing that anyone thought so highly of him. Josh had many regrets about how he and Sam parted ways. One son had bridged the gap between Him and humans, but how did God save a fallen angel? According to the very nature of the universe, since angels had free will and the powers of the divine, there wasn't the same room for forgiveness because they weren't encumbered with the heavy challenges of the corporeal realm.

Until they chose to come to Earth.

Josh then understood that what had worked for Humanity might work for His Beloved Sons, Amenadiel and Samael. He'd loved his son so much that when they chose the world, He gave it to them so that if they believed in love, they'd return to the everlasting Silver City. Both his eldest and his favorite lost their divinity through choice. However, one lost it through rebellion and the other through self-righteousness. He made His Miracle for both of them and both had to accept it.

"Everything that Mr. Morningstar said on this stand is absolutely true," Chloe declared. "I was the first person on that crime scene. And, yes, I shouldn't have been anywhere near it, but, I let my emotions get the best of me." Chloe's eyes were red with unshed emotions and Josh couldn't help but smile when he saw Samael give her an encouraging smile.

"Oh, Detective," Josh heard Lucifer utter under his breath with heartfelt emotion.

"Lucifer is the best partner I have ever had and I can only hope that he can count on me as much as I count on him."

Prosecuting Attorney Stedman cut through Josh's reverie as he redirected the audience's attention. "Your Honor, we request the jury be instructed to disregard Detective Decker's entire testimony.

His Miracle was The Key to reuniting his sons' redemption and returning them to the Silver City. He had made Chloe with the intention of being the Miracle Lucifer needed, but He hadn't intended for Samael or Chloe to fall in love. Still, free will was something Josh never messed with. It was a point of honor for Him. He gave that gift freely to all of His children, be they angelic or human.

Josh sat in the court room, feet kicked up and resting on the empty chair in front of him long after the people had emptied the chamber. Shaking His head in amazement, it warmed Him to see his son becoming the beautiful Angel he was meant to be. He put Chloe above all else and loved her with his entire being. He gave of himself in ways he'd never done previously for anyone else and that made His father smile. It was good to have His exclusive view and wanted to see how free will played in this unexpected turn of events.

"And now, back to the hacienda to finish installing that shower," Josh said, rising from the chair and as he exited, letting the court room doors close behind Him.

TO BE CONTINUED