Chapter 17

God makes an appearance and the mates are finally reunited… after a little Gabriel styled revenge, of course.

You know… one reviewer pointed out that I kill Harry a lot in this fic. I really really do, though he never actually dies except when Sirius sends him to Death's realm. He is out of commission a lot. Weird. Oh well.

Apocalypse Begin

Someone was speaking but it was slowly fading. That was alright. Harry liked the silence. Azrael liked the silence. And they both loved the dark. It kept them safe. Maybe now… it was… time…?

Gabriel howled as he destroyed the part of Heaven he was in. Death had swept Azrael off and he had not seen his little brother since. Deciding to fulfill one of Azrael's requests he went to Heaven to inform Michael and the others what happened. Michael was beyond furious and immediately locked himself in his room. Uriel wept again and could only be consoled by Raphael, who had his whole division searching Earth.

Why? Why would humanity do that? Kill his brother? He was the sweetest little angel! Their ignorance, greed, fear or whatever reason they did it for caused the bible to be written. It was the downfall of Heaven.

And Azrael… being trapped by that thrice-damned goddess pissed Gabriel off. If he could, he would storm Hogwarts and smite her but that bitch was as wily as the roadrunner. He would not be that Coyote…

Raphael paused as one of his angels reported the sighting of Azrael. Death could not protect him indefinitely, especially under the control of Lucifer as he was now. Luckily for him, there were two vessels on earth capable of holding him right now and Uriel and Gabriel already had one as well. It was time to go rescue the fledgling before Gabriel decided that storming Michael's rooms was a smart idea.

"Give him to me! I command you!"

"You are not part of Death. You have no hold over me demon."

"GRAAAH! I will have him and if I have to resort to using Lucifer to call you away, don't think I won't. It would be so much easier if you just accept that I will become Azrael," Samael growled, prowling along Death's barrier outside a pizza shop in New York on an empty street.

"I have told you before; you will not succeed in your endeavor. It would be fruitless," Death drawled as he adjusted his hold on the angel.

As he was now, the child would not survive. His soul was almost bled dry and if that finished it would implode and cease to exist. Death did not want that happening. But the ring was being stubborn. Azrael did not want his grace back so the ring was refusing to place it back into his body. And he could not wake the infernal child to make him see reason.

With a snap and a surprised grunt from the entity, the barrier fell and Samael crowed in victory.

"He is mine now! All mine! Hahahaha!"

The demon lunged and Death frowned. He could not take this one's twisted soul while he still held parts of Azrael. Normally it would not be a problem but Samael's survival was slowing down Azrael's path to complete eradication.

"Wha-"

The moment the black cloud tried to possess his precious bundle, was the moment that three Archangels appeared. The expressions on their faces did not lend any credit towards thoughts of leniency. They would be quite the nuisance if he could not calm them down.

Gabriel had the most vicious sneer on his face as he strode after the stumbling demon. Forced back into its previous host, Samael screamed in rage at the thwarted possession.

"I am Azrael," it roared.

Gabriel only batted it to the side and watched as Uriel approached Death and Raphael stood still, keeping alert for trouble. It was always trouble with so many high profile people in one place.

"Do not kill it just yet," Death warned striding towards him with Uriel on his heels. "He is slowing the process of Azrael's death. Hold it down, if you would. I need to take back something that does not belong to it."

"No," it warbled. "It is mine! I am him! You cannot do this."

"You will find that I can. Now that you are not moving so much, it should be quite simple."

And with that, the extraction began. The youngest archangel had never seen anything quite like it. Souls were supposed to stay in one piece except demon souls that were twisted and fractured throughout. This black one held hints of white in its swirling depths. Was that Azrael's essence?

Slowly, much too slowly for his liking, the white was gently pulled from the black and placed above Azrael's chest where it sunk in.

"Now he's all yours."

Gabriel cackled with glee.

Death pushed his hand through the corpses locks in a comforting gesture. Azrael still had not woken. Even with parts of himself returned. With pursed lips, he glanced at Gabriel that was most enthusiastically torturing Samael, or what was left of it anyways.

"Pain."

Black eyes switched to Raphael.

"I am not an expert but pain usually rouses the soul, if not the body. It senses the pain and determines it as a threat."

"It is something I have already tried," the entity sighed remorsefully.

"Then… emotional connection," queried Uriel.

"My connection is stronger than any emotional one and even I cannot rouse him."

"Perhaps Alistair could," Raphael pondered.

"What?"

"Alistair's specialty is seeing into the depths of a person's soul. He sees everything about them. What hurts the most, what brings the most joy, ect. But he can also communicate directly to the soul. It was why he was lead torture expert in Hell and why his loss was a devastating blow to Heaven. Many of our own were brought down just by Alistair."

"It is a possibility. But we do not know where he is."

"He is with Azrael," Uriel grinned. "Azrael did not wish to kill he best friend, even twisted as he is, and instead created a pocket dimension with his magic. Alistair has been residing there since."

"With Azrael dying, any magic he has cast will start to fade… It seems I have some searching to do. This might take a while," the master spy warned.

"Do it," Gabriel said walking away from the cooling corpse. There was no hint a demon had ever been in the area.

"So be it."

Lucifer felt it when Samael passed. He was not proud of that creation but he had been desperate. It was no loss to him.

Azrael on the other hand… How had he not seen him coming? How could he not feel his beloved's grace? It should have been like a fire that called to him, but instead there was empty nothing. His mate resided in a corpse and had no grace to speak of. What had happened?

He paused.

Alistair… It had been such a long time since he had felt that one. The devil had no idea where he had been but he could feel him now. He was in the same area as Death and… his brothers? Yes… Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael were all there. How had he not felt them either? Had his senses truly grown so dull?

He needed to find out what was going on…

Gabriel blinked down at Alistair who lay upon the floor in pain. The fallen angel had not taken too kindly to abruptly being in three archangels' presence. Raphael had immediately dropped the man before he attacked them.

"Why… am I here," he grunted pulling himself up, his broken wings shifting on his back.

"We need your expertise in the area of the soul, Alistair."

"Like I would help any of you," he spat, literally at Gabriel's feet.

"You wouldn't help Azrael then," Raphael needled.

"What?"

"He is dying," Gabriel growled. "He needs to wake and accept his grace back but nothing we can do will work."

The bastard twitched and turned his eyes to the small form of Azrael's broken corpse vessel. He had to do a double take that almost made Gabriel laugh. But now was not the time for that.

"What happened," he whispered mournfully.

"Lucifer stabbed him."

"What!?" The fallen stumbled to his feet and glanced at Death and the three archangels in shock. "But he would never- that is… Why? Has he truly forgotten?"

"No," Gabriel grunted. "He was aiming for me. Azrael got in the way. Now, work your mojo and wake him up."

Alistair frowned at him. "It isn't as simple as that."

"Is it not," Raphael asked smoothly as he came to stand at the youngest's archangels side.

"No. It's not! If he were awake it would be easy. But his soul is sleeping and weak. If I just dive in, it would kill him!"

Uriel winced and rubbed his hands together nervously. Gabriel glanced at both of his brothers with a grim expressions. If Azrael died here… The archangels might throw a revolt in Heaven against father. Is this how Lucifer felt when he knew that humans had killed his mate? This utter rage that filled his entire being? If so, Gabriel completely understood his older brother now.

"Then do what you can," came Death's monotonous voice. "Any longer and he will cease to exist anyways."

"Fine!" Alistair threw his hands to the air and approached the entity. Slowly he placed his hands upon Azrael's brow and frowned in concentration.

What happened next, no one was expecting. Alistair choked on a scream and light surrounded them all. This feeling…

"Father," the angels whispered.

Even as a Fallen you choose to heal. It seems you are not all as far gone as I feared. Alistair for your deed in trying to save Azrael you will be welcome again in Heaven.

"Father," Gabriel shouted enraged. "You did not save Azrael and yet you would give Alistair his wings!"

Calm, young Gabriel. Azrael will be fine. I apologize that I did not notice him before. He changed the Winchester's history and still I did not notice. It was only after the convention…

"You are the prophet then," Raphael whispered basking in His holy presence.

Yes. I left Heaven to Michael because I wished to find all the Lost angels. Azrael was not the only one to disappear from my view. Many others were taken and hidden by other gods. They were assumed dead, though I knew they were not. I was too preoccupied with Metatron that I did not notice until too late.

"Metatron is still alive," Uriel frowned.

Yes. And very much against me at the moment. I have been gone for too long. Things did not go how I hoped them too.

"Are you not omniscient, God," Death asked sarcastically.

However much my children like to think so, no. You know this. I am only as strong as the Faith of my believers but that does not make me all knowing. Else many things would have happened differently. Gabriel, I am sorry that you had to hide. Uriel, I wish your memories did not have to be sealed back then. Raphael, I regret that you had to retreat into your cold outer shell.

I am here now. My attention is solely focused here at the moment. This needs to end and I would rather it be peacefully. Azrael's soul is healed but he must accept his grace to finish his healing. Lucifer is waiting. When this is over, I'm going to have a long chat with him…

The angels winced. They all knew that tone. The disappointed reproving voice that no child wanted to hear from their beloved parent. As God's presence faded, Azrael shot up a gasp.

"Ow…"

"You idiot, fledling!"

Two knuckled buried themselves in his tender scalp and Harry winced as he was mobbed by the other angels.

"I am sorry about whatever happened, friend. I-I did not want…"

"Alistair!" Harry could not help but gape in amazement. Wasn't the Fallen still within his pocket dimension? And his wings were healed!

"Father is still with us," the newly healed angel whispered softly.

"Wha-wha?"

"He healed you, fledgling. And he is getting involved in the apocalypse," Uriel said as he nuzzled his nose in Harry black locks.

"B-but-! Where has he been then," he demanded outraged.

"No matter how much you would like to think of your Father as omniscient, he is not. He has been searching for other angels, just like you, that disappeared without a trace."

"Oh."

"My fledging, my sweet little brother~!"

"Gah! Gabriel, knock it off," Harry whined, pushing the archangel's head from his stomach.

"Michael will be gladdened to hear this news… but it is not over yet. You must accept your grace again, Azrael. Complete yourself," Raphael spoke quietly.

"I see… I guess there's no more reason to hide from Michael anymore is there? But… What about this body? It will disintegrate and I…"

"I can help with that," Gabriel chirped as he dislodged his brothers and pulled Harry to his feet. "I made my own vessel so it shouldn't be too difficult to help you make one as well!"

Death smoothly stood from his crouched position. "When you accept your grace back, it will summon Lucifer like a beacon if you four have not done that already…"

"Ah! That's right! He thinks he killed me," Harry wailed burying his face in his hands.

"Well, then I think a nasty surprise is in order." A nasty grin slipped over the youngest archangel's face. He looked to his brothers silently asking for help. Uriel gave a slight smile in agreement, Raphael smirked, and Alistair shrugged his shoulders helplessly (though the grin on his face indicated otherwise).

"You want to prank him?"

"Oh, yes. Hehehehehe…. A little revenge for an attempted murder and a thankfully botched one. Mwahahahahahahahaahahahahaha~!"

Harry shivered. He had never seen his brother this vengeful. He hoped Lucifer wouldn't be too angry once the prank was over.

Lucifer jolted, shifting his wings to keep his balance in the air. That energy… so strong and light… Azrael was alive!

Completely abandoning his stealthy approach, Lucifer sped up and practically dive bombed the beacon of grace. Which, of course, landed him directly into Gabriel's trap. With a yelp of pain, the devil crashed into the unforgiving concrete, his wings stretched behind him tangled in string. Very thick string.

He easily sliced through it by calling forth his battle wings but the damage had already been done. One of the most graceful fliers taken down by human string…

But that wasn't the end of it. In fact, he was just the very beginning. Oh, Lucifer was positive it was Gabriel who orchestrated the event but there were bits of Uriel's creativity and Raphael's strategy thrown in. When it was finally over, Lucifer (and his vessel) was completely covered in blue paint, an assortment of colorful feathers, his feet were glued to the ground, his hair stood on end with some pink dye showing through the paint, and worst of all… Azrael had stood to the side (Where was his host? Was that body finally gone?) watching the whole thing with Death. He could hear his giggling even now and what a beautiful sound it was. He had missed it so much it nearly brought tears to his eyes, but only Azrael was allowed to see him weak… er, emotionally weak considering the situation he was in now.

"Good luck trying to remove it brother," Gabriel crowed victoriously. "Raphael is a genius and that stuff is permanent unless you can overpower all of us or you get it off the human way~! Mehahaha!"

"Gabriel," he snarled baring his teeth threateningly.

"You deserved it, my mate," Azrael spoke as he stepped off the sidewalk, his grace flaring happily, and approached him in the middle of the street. "Don't deny it. You tried to kill Gabriel and you started the apocalypse."

"I was trying to destroy humanity for what they did to you. Gabriel was protecting them," he protested.

"I understand that you were doing it for me. That does not mean I approve! Instead of looking for me, you went off and started a war against Father and humanity!"

"I-"

"No. What you did was wrong even if you did them for the right reasons… Come home, Lucifer. We miss you."

He snorted. The Host of Heaven probably hated him.

"Azrael is right, brother," Uriel spoke, shifting closer. Raphael gave a nod as well.

"I would prefer to go back to heaven with all the Fallen." An angel stepped from the shadows of one of the buildings.

"Alistair!? How did your wings…?"

"Father is not so gone as we thought. He was looking for the Lost, ones like Azrael who vanished, taken by gods. He is here now though, and quite displeased with you. He wants to talk."

Lucifer groaned and hung his head. That was not something he wanted to hear.

"Please, come home. I'm sure Michael won't be pleased but he'll get over it if he wants me to stay."

By now, Azrael had shuffled close enough to lay a hand against his still dripping cheek. The smaller angel paid no mind to the mess that was covering his hand but instead stroked his cheek softly. Then their foreheads thunked together softly and Azrael released a soft breath.

Time seemed to slow and the world paused before rejoicing their reunion. Flowers sprung from cracks in the concrete. Clouds shifted to allow the sun to shine down upon the pair. The wind kicked up into a gentle breeze and for the first time since he thought his lover had died, Lucifer felt at peace. He felt whole again. The rage, the pain, the hate… it all faded as Azrael's presence came rushing through their reconnected bond.

This is what he had been missing for so long. This was home. He would never leave his mate alone again. Not for anything in the entire world, not even for Father.

Azrael hummed his agreement, laying a soft kiss against his lips that left the younger's lips blue.

"Come back to Heaven? Come home with me?"

"Always."

AN: Wow! Only one more chapter to; the epilogue~! I'm so excited! This will be the second story that I finish! There were no Winchesters in this one though I promise they will be in the epilogue. Review please! I love to know what people think!