Return of the Light Bringer

Summary: What if Michael was behind Priest Kinley's actions? What happens when God discovers not only those plans, but also his manipulations that lead to Lucifer's actions before the rebellion?

Disclaimer: I don't own the TV show Lucifer.

Discovery

Lucifer sat nervously in the conference room. His father had left him here to go find Michael, which gave him time to think about what his father had said.

He had to admit, he never expected to hear his father apologize for his banishment, much less lift it. After all, why now, so many eons later? Father had never even bothered to respond to him in the past. Albeit he'd been less than respectful at the time. His father had always tended to ignore them when they were not showing respect.

And then there was Chloe. He felt broken at the thought that she would've destroyed him, or at least to her knowledge, sent him back to hell. She had made him believe that it was ok! She might not have believed him at the time, but she knew how he felt about being banished to hell.

And then there was that matter of course. His "daddy issues" as he liked to call them. He had to reluctantly admit his father had already made serious efforts to regain his trust in the few minutes since the first time they'd seen each other in eons.

Lucifer sighed and leaned back in the chair. That was a matter he'd need to consider more later. Looking up he was pleasantly surprised to find that his little star lights were still there. He had long since assumed his father would've gotten rid of his work in the Silver City.

"Why are you dragging me here?!"

Lucifer sat back up at hearing Michael's voice to find his father dragging Michael into the room by his collar. God looked furious. Lucifer flinched at the facial expression. The last time he'd seen that look was when he was being given his banishment orders.

God grimaced seeing the flash of fear in Samael's eyes. He tried to give his son a comforting look. They had a long way to go before Samael was ready to forgive him. If he ever did. God was not unaware of how much Samael rightfully resented him for his banishment. "Sit." He growled tossing Michael into a chair.

"What's he doing here?" Michael asked. "Shouldn't you be back in hell Sammy?" He smirked at his brother.

Lucifer growled and started to stand up. "How dare you?"

"Samael." God said as calmly as he could. He gave his son a look. "You will treat Samael with respect, Michael. I brought him back here, and where he is or is not is not your concern."

Michael scoffed. "Of course. Perfect little Samael. Even banished he's daddy's favorite." He sneered.

God glared at Michael. "I admit I have probably played favorites more than I should have but that is not an excuse for your deplorable behavior. Samael is no longer banished, not that it's any of your business. Speaking of banishment, you have no idea how close you came to receiving the same punishment today. Your brother is the only reason you aren't being sent to hell right now."

Michael's face went white. "Why?" he asked, terrified. His father couldn't know about…

God stood up over his son. "Why? You dare ask me why? You tried to have Samael destroyed, claiming I'd given you the order to do so. Tell me, why should I show you any mercy?"

Michael could barely breathe. His father hadn't even looked this pissed off after Samael's rebellion. "I don't know what you're talking about. I would never disgrace you like that." He squeaked.

"So, you're telling me this isn't your feather?" He pulled out the feather he was given and forced Michael's wings out. The feather reacted. "I know what you did, Michael. If you're not going to be completely honest I might just reconsider throwing you to the demons. You know how I feel about lying."

Michael knew he was screwed. His father knew. "Fine, yes, I did it. Perfect little Samael. Even after the rebellion, you loved him more than the rest of us."

"You will tell us everything you've done against Samael." God growled at his son. He couldn't disrespect Samael's wishes right now but Michael didn't need to know that.

And so, Michael told them everything about the plan he'd made to have Samael destroyed. "Oh, and convincing him to rebel was so easy. He fell for it so easily. I implanted a little fear that he would be banished. Of course, he never knew the banishment I showed him would be the result of the rebellion. And his little escape in the garden with Eve. It's been so satisfying to manipulate him and let perfect Samael take the fall. Oh, and pretending to be him, letting the humans think the worst of him."

Lucifer's face went white. "What did I ever do to you to deserve that? You were my twin, Michael."

Michael scoffed. "You were always daddy's favorite while he neglected the rest of us."

God was furious but closed his eyes. "Michael, I loved all of you. Samael and I just have a lot in common. We spent so much time together because he was always interested in my projects and would help me. I didn't love the rest of you any less. I made a terrible mistake in sending him to hell."

Lucifer looked at his father in a whole new light. He was still pissed off that he'd been banished but it was an interesting view into things that it sounded like his father had missed him. If he was honest with himself there were many times he longed to have another day just hanging out with his father. He'd missed the time they spent bonding over projects and just spending time together.

God waved his hand. "Your powers and wings are bound. I made the mistake once of punishing a child while furious, I will not make that mistake again. So, until I can think calmly, you will be little more than a human in the cells. Now, I expect an apology to your brother."

Michael ground his teeth and spat, "Sorry," at his brother.

God glared at his son but knew he wouldn't get a better apology currently. "You should know, no matter what punishment you receive, one of the stipulations of it ending will be you apologizing in a way I'm convinced is honest to Samael. In the meantime, I will see you once I have calmed down." He waved and Michael was sent to the cells. Looking back at Samael He knew his son had enough to deal with for the day. "Do you want a drink?" He knew he'd have to tell the rest of the host soon of Samael's return but that could wait until Samael was a little less stressed.

-0-0-0-0-

Lucifer sat and watched quietly from the couch as his father made drinks. It was all so much to handle. The end of his banishment. Being back in the Silver City, with his father. Michael trying to destroy him. He knew Michael hated him, but he had never expected him to go this far. If only because he was notorious for following Father's orders.

"Samael…" God looked at his son concerned, handing over the drink before sitting next to him. He didn't miss Samael's flinch. "I want to make things right between us, Samael, please give me that chance."

Lucifer looked at his father, carefully studying his face. "I want that too, but I don't… I don't know if I can trust you again. Not the way I did before…"

God felt pain at that. He more than deserved Samael's distrust. "You don't believe me that I won't send you away."

"I know you don't break your word." Lucifer looked away.

"But you still don't trust it. Samael…" God closed his eyes.

"Why won't you call me Lucifer?" Lucifer decided to move to a safer topic.

God looked at his son cautiously. "Because of the perception behind it. Humans have vilified you using that name. And deep down, I think you do, too. I never gave you your 'devil face' as you call it. That is how you see yourself. Deep down, you view yourself as a monster. I don't want to propagate that."

Lucifer opened and closed his mouth a few times. "I don't…" Then again… "Ok maybe I do see myself as a monster. But I am. I had to… to…" He closed his eyes. He could still hear the tortured screams of souls in hell.

"It was a job, Samael." God squeezed his hand. "One I forced you to take. You didn't enjoy it; it was something you were forced to do. That doesn't make you a monster. In many ways you were a victim, too. I had hoped…"

"Hoped…?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"Your true calling has always been to heal the broken souls." God clarified. "I made a mistake in sending you to hell, but I had hoped perhaps you would stumble on that calling in the process."

"And you couldn't have just told me this?" Lucifer stood up and paced. "So, I don't have a choice, I will have to return to hell."

"No!" God put a hand on his shoulder. "Samael, once you are at a point where you are ready to start that duty, I will bring them here temporarily. I have some plans, but I need to work out the details. I won't traumatize you again by forcing you to go back there. Either way, it'll be a while before you're ready to take on those duties."

"And why is that? I've ruled hell for eons just fine." Lucifer asked, annoyed.

God was reluctant to tell him, but he needed to know. This had all happened in part because he'd failed to communicate with him. "Samael, you can't heal those souls while you're still tormented yourself." He noticed the offended look on Samael's face and raised his hand. "I do believe you will agree with me that we have a great many issues that we need to work out between us. You carry those with you."

Well, Lucifer could hardly argue that point. "Are you going to force me to stay here, then?" He asked somewhat bitterly.

"No." God said. "You are welcome to come and go between the Silver City and Earth. And hell, if you choose to, but I don't imagine you will. We do need to spend time together though. I believe you are already working with a therapist, Linda Martin?"

Lucifer snorted at that. "Are you seriously suggesting God and the devil figure out their differences in therapy?"

God raised an eyebrow. "I do hate that title you took on. But yes, bluntly put I suppose I am. And former."

"Riiiiiiight." Lucifer looked wary. "Poor Linda…" He mused. She had had to deal with so many celestial issues over the years and now she was going to have to council probably the most dysfunctional relationship in the history of time.

"Besides, I would rather like to meet the future mother of my grandson."