It wasn't often that Michael got time by himself, being an Archangel and the eldest Archangel meant that he was in charge on taking over the others duties namely Lucifer and Gabriel (even though he knew full well where the latter of which was currently hiding out and although he did not approve of what he was doing as long as his younger brother was safe then he figured he could turn a blind eye), but every once and a while there were moments of peace where everything was working according to plan and he was not needed.

Most of the time when those few but welcome occurrences did happen he would spend his time in his favorite Heaven's of people he had grown to like over the long tiring years. An Adam Milligan, Nelson Mandela, and Albert Einstein came to mind. Call him an odd ball but he liked the underdogs. Not this time though, this time he stuck around their garden, their home. Wondering the halls looking in the rooms as he passed them. In all reality he was the only one who continued to live in this place, it was lonely, but the happy memories still flooded back every now and then.

When they were all happy and would rarely be seen apart. When one could see them out in their garden playing with their younger brothers. When one would spot Lucifer chasing Gabriel around and just being a tad slower then the youth simply because his smile when he'd beat his older brother could make the sun seem dull in comparison. Or when one might have seen Raphael sitting under the tree, leaning into his eldest brothers side as he read him a new story. When there was nothing but love in their hearts, before all the fighting.

Before Lucifer had expressed his none to stellar opinions.

Before he had risen to the challenge.

Before Gabriel, having enough of seeing his family tearing into each other like that, had run.

Before Raphael had left their home to continue his existence in His Hospital so he would not have to be reminded of what the used to be and what they had lost.

Before he had done that heinous act against his younger brother.

Michael's eyes wandered over the marble bassinet in the center of the room, as his feet came to a stop in front of the nursery. He tried not to think about him too much as it was painful every time, but how could his mind not wander to the his younger brother, to the one he had raised as a fledgling.

He could remember a time when he'd come running in here, hearing the shrill cries of the Light Bringer, deep in the night after Father had set the sun on the day (Lucifer, The Morning Star, The Light Shepherd had been afraid of the dark-He wondered if he still was?) and he'd skid to a stop at seeing the young blonde merely a few decades old (equivalent to maybe a three year old in human years and if memory serves him right he had been close to that of an 18 year old) sanding up in the crib. Tiny arms hanging over the rails, face red and eyes puffy. Snot and tears glistening on his face in the pale light of the moon. His blonde hair, soft as silk but always unruly, sticking up in all directions indicating that he had been pulling at it for a moment or two. A stuffed frog hanging under one arm as he suckled on one of his tiny hands.

He'd been a ridiculously adorable toddler.

"Luci? What's wrong Little Brother?"

"Mifa! Mifa! Pwease don let it get me!"

"Don't let what get you Little Brother?"

He'd reached up over the bars of the crib and picked his baby brother up. Lucifer latched onto him making an excellent impersonation of a leach. He had not minded, wrapping his arms tightly around the baby angel. A wet slobbery hand clasped onto his neck as his baby brother nuzzled into him.

"Da monsters Mifa! Don let da monsters get me!"

He'd kissed the top of his brothers head gently, walking over slowly to sit in the caramel colored oak rocking chair, settling his dear younger brother into his lap.

"No monsters will ever get you Little Brother, not as long as I'm around"

The elder continued on his walk, not really sure where he was going but his feet seemed to have their own ideas. He turned left down a dimly lit wall and ended up standing in front of a door he hadn't entered in millennial's. He pushed on the light blue door and froze in the door way unsure as to what he was doing here, in this particular room. There was a sword, still amber with blood, laying in the middle of the floor as if haphazardly thrown there in a fit of pain or a fit of anger.

Something on the window sill caught his attention, drawing him closer to it.

A small trinket.

It was a small locket, sitting half open on the windowsill and he could just make out the deep sparkling blue of the green stone of Venus. He'd given it to Lucifer as a gift when he had been given his official title. At first his brother had not known what to do with it, but he had worn it all the time. There was not a time when one wouldn't see it shining whenever Lucifer had moved.

"Luce! C'mere! I got something for you!"

Lucifer laughed as he flew up to his brothers perch, his smile shining even in its relaxed state. He was taller now, almost at his abdomen.

"What is it Big Brother? Is something wrong? Is Raphael ok?"

Michael's eyes widened, his hand shooting out to grasp his brothers shoulder, guilty for worrying him.

"No! Everything is alright, I am sorry for worrying you. Little Raphy is down for nap time. But umm, you see..I..."

Lucifer sobered up as it was not like his big brother to stuttered like this. He twisted a bit until he caught his brothers gaze.

"Mike?"

The elder archangel took a deep breath to prepare himself as he slowly held out a small box.

"I made you something, as a gift, for your titling"

Lucifer took the box in gentle hands, pulling the lid of softly. His eyes widened as he pulled the silver chain necklace from the box. A green locket pendant hung on the end, swinging gentle to and fro as it hung in the air.

"Mike...Michael...It's beautiful! Thank you!"

Michael laughed, half in amusement and half in relief, gently turning his brother around to help him clasp it.

"I am happy to hear it"

On the other side of the window sill was worn old book. The cover was beginning to curl and it looked as if it would fall apart as any moment, just by looking at it. But Michael picked it up instantly and recognized it almost immediately. It was the same book of stories he had used to read to Lucifer when they had been younger before bed time and nap time.

A smile graced his features as he remembered a time before his dear sweet little brother had gone cold, when he would climb up on the elders bed and curl into his side and he would read him a story. How, during late night thunderstorms tiny foot patters would come running across the room and a tiny body would jump up on him. Instead of being angry at being jumped on in such a manner, he'd simply smiled and hugged his little brother close, lightly tickling his baby brothers tummy until light giggles filled the air.

"Story Mica! Tell me a story!"

"Whats the magic word Luci?"

Lucifer looked down sheepishly at having been chastised, Michael smiled fondly at his younger brother.

"Please?"

A kiss was pressed against his temple, "Anything for you Little One"

Lucifer giggled as he was dangled off the bed as his big brother reached over to grab his story book off of his nightstand, and cuddled in closer when Michael righted them, opening the story book to their book marked spot.

He had lost it a while after Lucifer had stopped coming to his room at night. He'd figured it had just simply ceased to be. But it appeared that his brother had taken it. The book mark was moved to a different place indicating that it had been read recently (or at least since he had lost it) and he guessed that Lucifer had read his story book to Gabriel when he had been a mere fledgling.

He set the book back down, suddenly feeling like an intruder.

His eyes were drawn to the photo on the nightstand, a photo of all four of them together. He was an adult, Lucifer a young adult, Raphael looked to be a preteen, and Gabriel was still a child. Tears filled his eyes as he noticed the tapped halves of the picture. He remembered what had happened. They had had a particularly horrid fight, and in a fit of rage, Lucifer had taken the picture and torn it in half as he threw each piece at the elder.

"You call me a monster! But your the one who is blind!"

"You are treading on thin ice Lucifer! Watch what you say!"

Lucifer got in his face. It was right before he snuck in the garden, a time Michael would remember for as long as he shall live. His brother was full of so much hatred, so much fury, that he almost didn't recognize him.

"You may be Eldest, Brother, but you are no leader!"

"At least I am still one of the family, Monster, but you, you are no Brother of mine. Your a beast. A monster"

Lucifer froze, his eyes widening a moment in betrayal, before they glazed over in fury once more. He spun around and pulled the photo he'd seen on his way in here up off the dresser, tore it in two, and threw the two halves at his older brother as hard as he could. Michael took a step back in shock as he had not expected such an action.

"Then we are no longer a family."

Tears slipped from his eyes as he finally turned away from the picture and stood to make his leave. He could not sit in here any longer, it hurt too much, why did he do this to himself. Michael stopped in the doorway, turning to take one final look in his brothers bedroom. It would be a long time before he came back here again and he wanted to remember the good memories that this room contained (which probably meant that he would be back here the very moment free time came back around once more). He wiped at the tears as he turned and shut the door behind him.

He missed his family.

Lucifer looked at him with betrayal, his eyes brimming with tears as he rubbed at his sore behind. Michael felt guilty for striking his younger brother like he had, but when he had found out that the younger had gone to play with Fathers Plagues, and had almost harmed himself after he had been warned not to mess with them, he'd been beyond furious.

He took a step forward to try and comfort his younger brother, but Lucifer took a step back to match his.

"Mike..How could you..I thought you were fun"

"I am Little Brother, but there is a line, please, come here"

Lucifer shook his head, sniveling as the tears finally spilled over his cheeks. He swiped at them angrily thrusting his hands out to force his big brother off balance.

"NO! I..I hate you! I wish I never had you as my big brother! I hate you!"

Michael could only watch, wide eyed and slack jawed, as his baby brother turned wing and ran out of sight. His Baby Brother, his little Luci, he hated him. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes as well, his gaze never leaving the spot his brother had just vacated until a gentle hand under his chin turned his attention up to his Father.

Chuck wiped away the tears with calloused but gentle thumbs.

"Do not worry My Son, he is merely upset at being punished so severely"

"But..But Dad what if he means it!"

Chuck smiled at him gently, "I am positive he does not mean it My Little Prince, trust Me when I say he will come around, and sooner rather then later, you are his big brother whom he adores. And, if I remember correctly, you My Son, had said the exact same thing after I had taken you over my knee for the first time. And tell Me, what happened later that night?"

Michael sniffled and lent into his Father. He rubbed at his shoulder comfortingly.

"I came back later before bed and said I was sorry and that I didn't hate you"

"And?"

Michael blushed as he spoke the next part, "And you pulled me into you lap and hugged me tightly and told me that Daddy loved me and then you tickled my tummy until I felt better"

Chuck hummed in affirmation, "And I will be more then glad to do it again if you do not turn your mood around Little One, he will come back, I promise"

And his Dad had been right, Michael was just about to turn off his lamp for bed when he spotted a head of platinum blonde hair poking through his door. His eyes widened when he realized who it was and his heart soared.

"Luci?"

Lucifer shuffled his feet, plucking at his stuffed frog's eye.

""m sorry I said I 'ated you..I didn't mean it Mikey"

"Its ok Luci, I'm sorry I had to punish you so bad too, but you really scared me"

Lucifer nodded shyly, "Can I sleep with you tonight Mikey?"

Michael smiled and pulled the blankets back quickly, motioning for his brother to jump in.

"Of course Baby Brother, anything for you!"

Lucifer smiled, jumping in beside his big brother, cuddling down close.

"I love you Mikey"

"And I love you Luci"

"Forever?"

"And ever"

And he still loved him today after everything he had done to him and their family and Father's creations. He would always love his dear little brother, but he could never bring himself to adore the thing that Lucifer had turned into. The archangel turned the corner and wandered into his own room, closing the door and leaning back on it. The tears finally cascading down his cheeks as he slid down the door and held his face in his hands.

Where had they gone wrong?

Where had he gone wrong?

They screamed as they fell. Michael opened his wings just in time to stop himself from crashing face first in the cold hard ground below them, he grabbed the human boy Adam before he could touch down and flicked his hand in Sam's direction to try and soften the landing as he did crash. Lucifer opened his wings too late, not to mention he was still backside down, and landed with a loud crash. Feathers splattered everywhere and a loud crack reverberated around them in the cage.

Michael, who had been crouching in front of the two humans ensuring that they were safe in each others arms, turned startled as a loud screech resounded around them. Spinning around just in time to see his Little Brother flail his wings, wrapping the injured one around himself and curling around the injury to protect it from the outside world. His breaths (even though he did not honestly need them) were sharp and quick and with the eye of an older brother he swore he saw the glistening of tears on his face.

The elder archangel stood up slowly, brushing off his robes as he turned to face his brother.

Adam and Sam huddled closer to each other.

"Lucifer?"

Red eyes glared at him through the pain of the broken wing. He hissed again and groaned as he twisted away from his older brother. Warm hands gently grabbed his shoulder, messaging the flesh gently as he was turned back over only slightly.

"Let me see Little Brother"

Lucifer struggled but was weak from pain and therefore was no match against his older brother. This was unlike Michael though, to attack whilst his opponent was injured. Warm gentle hands moved to the base of his left wing, traveled down the ridge until he jumped and let out a low wail of pain. Michael startled a moment but snapped out of it just as quick. He urged his brother over onto his stomach.

"It has to be reset Little Brother"

Lucifer recoiled his wing but only slightly, "Why are you even helping me!"

"You are my Little Brother, why would I not help you"

The younger archangel was shocked into silence for a moment, flinching as his brother poked at the break in the bone.

"Why?"

He cried out as his brother pulled sharply on the broken appendage, snapping it back into place. More tears fell from the Morning Star's red eyes and the elder was quick in cupping his hands around the break to stimulate the healing process. Michael hushed hum gently as he sat back, pulling his brother up with him.

"Because you are my brother and I love you"

"You love me?"

Lucifer's temper snapped for a moment. How dare his brother say that he loved him, he cast him out of Heaven, banished him away from his family, and here he was say how he loved him. What right did he have?

"Where was this 'love' when you beat me down! Where was this 'LOVE' when you banished me! When you cast me out! When you decided to fight me!"

Michael stiffened behind him, "Do you think that your banishment from Heaven had not affected others, had not affected me? Do you not think that I would have done anything to bring you home? That I had not begged Father to see reason, to change his mind? That I had not wanted to come with you? That I had ever stopped thinking of you? Loving you? I do not wish to fight you, why would I?"

There was silence after their outbursts, nothing but silence.

"Really?"

Michael glanced down at his younger brother, gently pulling him back into his chest. Resting his chin on the blonde soft locks.

"Of course, I have loved you since the day Father brought you to me"

Lucifer stared at him for a long moment, before surprising them both, as he buried his face in his brothers chest. Sobs rocked his body as he gripped the front of his brothers robes. Michael reaction was instinctive as he wrapped his arms around his brother, rubbing soft circles on his back.

"Hey now Little Brother, what ever are you crying about, come now"

Lucifer shook his head, unable to speak his sobs were so harsh. Michael hugged him tighter as he placed a gentle kiss on his brothers temple. Maybe this was what his brother needed to be the one Michael remembered him being, back to being his little brother whom he adored. Maybe all he needed was to get that off his chest and to finally let his emotions go for a single moment. He rubbed softly against his brothers back, humming slightly under his breath.

"Hush now Little One, there there, all is ok"

"Why are you being so nice to me! After everything I have done to you!"

Michael wrapped his wings around them both, "We are not perfect beings Little Brother, and as I have said, you are my Little Brother. I believe I had told you once that I would always love you. Now, you are injured and I can feel your exhaustion, you need rest Little One"

"I am not tired"

The elder smiled as his younger brother ended his statement with a yawn, completely disproving what he had been trying to convince his older brother.

"Of course not Little Brother, then just rest you eyes Little One"

Lucifer nuzzled in closer to the warmth his brother gave and was rewarded by warm lips pressing into his hair.

"There you go, that's it"

The elder archangel smiled lovingly down at his younger brother as his eyes slowly fluttered shut. Lucifer mumbled against his chest, hands twisting into the fabric of his robes.

"I love you big brother"

"And I love you Little One"

"Forever?"

Michael smiled, feeling a sense of deja vu as he tucked his baby brothers head under his chin.

"And ever."

Sooo! Due to popular demand, Big Brother Michael with Lucifer! Hope you liked it!