A Moment of Weakness (Epilogue)

[dauntperplexity]

Lucifer flew to the Garden. He needed to speak with his Father, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to locate Him without help. He sat under the largest tree and waited. His wings tensed when he heard someone approach a moment later. He looked up and smiled. “Joshua,” he greeted with a smile, making his way to his feet. “How is my favorite landscaper?”

Joshua smiled. “I’m doing well,” he replied in his smokey voice. “It’s been some time, Lucifer.”

“It has.”

“Your Father is waiting for you.”

“I don’t know how to find Him.”

Joshua snapped his fingers and a doorway appeared in front of them. He stepped forward and opened the door. It swung open slowly. “He’s in there,” he said.

“You aren’t coming?”

“I already know what you two are going to talk about.”

Lucifer walked to the door. “Should I be afraid?”

“You aren’t afraid of anything.”

Lucifer smiled as Joshua smiled at him. “That’s true. Well, it was nice to see you, Joshua.”

“The feeling is mutual, Morningstar.”

Lucifer froze in the doorway. “It’s been an eternity since someone’s called me that.”

“You’re more suited to the side of good than you think you are, Lucifer. Remember that.” Joshua closed the door behind Lucifer as he stepped through.

--------------

The setting was different from the last time he was in Heaven. Now, they were in a bookstore. Lucifer found his Father sitting on a small stage in the children’s section. “Father?” he asked as he approached.

His Father looked up. He didn’t look surprised to see Lucifer standing before Him. “You didn’t want to stay on Earth any longer?”

“I’m not needed,” he lied. Of course he was needed, but he knew his brothers would be able to handle a few things without him. He’d be back on Earth eventually to give them the next clue. Or tell them the answer to his riddle if they hadn’t figured it out the allotted time he gave them.

“They could always use your help.”

“I helped them as much as I could before I left.”

“I’m surprised you even told them that much,” his Father replied with a smirk.

Lucifer smiled back. “They wouldn’t have been able to figure it out without me. But I didn’t just hand it to them. I think that Castiel is smart enough to eventually figure it out.”

He could not ignore how Lucifer’s tone changed at the mention of his youngest brother. “He will be.”

Lucifer nodded. There was no mistaking the fondness in his Father’s tone. He was jealous for a moment when he remembered how his Father used to talk about him that way. “I understand why he’s the one.”

“Do you, now?”

Lucifer nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, let’s not talk about that now. I’m hungry. Will you be joining me?”

“I suppose,” Lucifer replied. He wasn’t needed anywhere else. And he was not in a rush to go back down to Hell.

“Good. There is a place in Montana that apparently serves very good sandwiches.”

Lucifer shook his head. “I have no wishes to return to that state so soon after spending so much time there.”

“We’ll have someone bring it to us.”

Lucifer huffed. He didn’t know what his Father was talking about, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He watched his Father lean back on the stage with a children’s book in his hand. He saw angels on the pages.

He didn’t know how long he stood in silence, but felt awkward standing there with his Father and nothing happening between them. “Does your youngest know what will happen to him the moment he sees your face?”

“No.” He turned a page in the book in His lap.

“Does anyone besides me know?”

“Does it matter?”

“Not to me,” Lucifer said. “But you don’t know how everyone else will react.”

He closed the book then stood up. He stayed on the stage so he was at eye-level with His son. “They will adapt.”

“Like they always do?” Lucifer replied, incredulous. History had shown that angels were not good with change.

“They will adapt.”

Lucifer wanted to know what his Father knew, but he kept his mouth shut. There was probably already a plan in action. Lucifer just had to wait and see what part he had in it.

“Once they find out who he is, they’ll come after him again,” Lucifer said. And they would be more determined and persistent than before.

“I know.”

“You can only bring him back so many times, Father.” He didn’t know if there was a limited number of times that the youngest angel could come back to life.

He grabbed Lucifer’s arms and squeezed them. “That’s why you’ll be there to protect him when he needs it.”

Lucifer bowed his head, unable to accept his Father’s words. “You have a lot of faith in me, Father.” His Father smiled.

“God is allowed to have faith in things too.”

[Chapter 16]   [Masterpost]

Comments

[monteseverus.livejournal.com]

I just stayed up all night reading this and all I can say is... Best Story Ever... into memories it goes!!!! I would say more but my mind is still catching up to how absolutely awesome this is! Will take another 2 or 3 readings!!! <3

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Oh my. That's crazy that you stayed up to read this. Oh gosh. You're making me blush with your compliments. You really don't need to read this again. It's huge, but thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this monster of a fic.

[naomi-iwakura.livejournal.com]

i liked it a lot *O*! it was.. wow xD, very good :D congratulations :D!!! there will be a sequel? will be? i'm very intreged about what lucifer and God was talking about in the end O:!!

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad that you enjoyed it. There will be a few follow-up stories, but most likely nothing of this magnitude. I have ideas of how to answer that question.

Thanks for reading!

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

He is someone very important. :)

I know. I left a lot of unanswered questions. I'm sorry.

I love the whump!Castiel. It's my favorite thing in the world. I'm glad I didn't overdo it. I never wanted the angels to leave the show, so I feel like this is a possible way to bring them back. AND... I love Lucifer too.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[queengeekkeri.livejournal.com]

I loved everything about this story. Dean using his training from Alastair, Lucifer egging him on. I hope to see more for this verse. So we can find out why Castiel is so special, besides the obvious reasons. Maybe explain Ra..Crowley a little more because I'm so glad you went there. Personally I think you're on the money with that one, thought that he's a fallen for a while. I like that you added Jody Mills to the bunch too. She's a female character that has survived yea for her. =-)

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you liked it so much. There will definitely be a few more stories to this verse. I think that Crowley is more than just a crossroads demons, and I like that someone else thinks so too. I love Jody. She needs to come around more often.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story!

[tygerc.livejournal.com]

Wow. I don't really know the words to tell how awesome this was. There's going to be a sequel, right?

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness. Thank you so much. I have a few stories lined up. I don't know if they'll be as massive as this one, but I know I have a lot of questions I need to answer.

Thank you for reading!

[meanheans]

This was so good! I like all the ways you played with identities and personalities; I hope there's more to this at some point.

(You might want to have fresh eyes go back over for a final beta because there was some word and character name mistakes that threw me for a minute.)

Thanks so much for such a gripping long read!

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I feel like all of these characters have a part that they can play on the show and I'm glad that it worked well. There will eventually be more, I can promise you that.

I know. I think that I've read over it too many times to see any mistake. I need to find a beta. Sorry about that. I hope that the mistakes didn't make it too confusing.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[laura-trekkie.livejournal.com]

It looks like Lucifer hasn't finished being one of the good guys, no matter what he thinks on the matter.

But what was all that cryptic conversation? Just what is on the cards for Cas? What will happen when he sees his Father's face?

I hope there is a sequel of some sort planned to explain this and some of the other things hinted at in the earlier chapters, such as exactly who Crowley really is.

Laura.

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

He still has a part to play.

There are a few follow-up stories planned. I don't think it's anything this big, but it will answer a lot of the questions I know the reader want answers to.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review every chapter.

[villainxatxhert.livejournal.com]

Just read this all in one sitting. Christ this was amazing. I know it's not as eloquent as other replies but it seems fitting. Your characterization was amazing and your storytelling ability kind of astounds me.

I've got an idea about Cas' secret identity but I'll definitely stick around to see how it all turns out. ;)

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh. Thank you for the compliments. I don't really know what to say. I'm glad you liked my characterizations. I tried really hard to make all of the characters work in the story without needing to change their personalities. And I don't really know how to respond to you speaking about my storytelling ability. I'm really glad you liked it.

I have a few ideas of who I want Cas to be, but it's constantly changing. They all fit in my head.

Thank you for reading!

[bleufishie.livejournal.com]

My homework is going to be late and I hate you and love you so much for writing this.

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Oh man. I'm sorry. I hope it's not too late. I'm glad that you liked this story, even if it did make you love/hate me.

Thank you for reading this story!

[suki37.livejournal.com]

Really good, one of the more memorable ones I have had read in a while actually.

Kudos to you.

Will there be a sequel? Please say yes.

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.

:D

There are more stories lined up for this verse. Nothing as long as this was. I know there are answers that everyone wants.

Thank you for reading!

[yrnight.livejournal.com]

I can't even describe how awesome this fic is. it took me a couple days of reading after school and between work, but it was definitely worth it! I really enjoyed it and plan to read whatever sequels come out. so excited!!

[dauntperplexity.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you liked it! I know that this thing is a monster and I'm always surprised whenever people say they read it in one sitting. Thank you for taking the time to finish it. I have a few stories planned. It won't be this massive, but there are a lot of questions that I have yet to answer.

Thanks for reading!

[seeking-pardon.livejournal.com]

AWESOME!!!! I loved it! One more fan fic in my list of favourites!