Chapter 4

Mary begins lecturing John on accepting his sons, regardless of sexual orientation. Michael comes up to a very upset Dean and takes him aside, and Dean instantly knows what this is about.

"I don't understand why you were so upset when Sam said he was dating my brother," Michael says quietly.

"Because he's the friggen Trickster! And he slept with the friggen devil, too!" Dean whisper-yells.

"He is not the only one to sleep with an archangel," Michael reminds him, though not in a teasing way.

"That was ," Dean hisses.

"And I assure you, it was only one time in the cage as well," Michael replies. "Is this still an issue?"

"Yes, it's an issue!" Dean whispers angrily.

"It shouldn't be," Michael replies evenly. "It is no different than what transpired between us."

"That was a dream," Dean reminds him. "It doesn't count."

"It may have been a dream, but we were both still real," Michael replies. "And it isn't as if you didn't know who I was, though I appeared in the body of a Lisa. Is the issue that Gabriel — and Lucifer, too, for that matter — is a guy?"

"No, it has nothing to do with that," Dean replies quickly. Too quickly.

Michael's gaze drifts to Castiel, who is attempting to talk to Benny, as he says, "Ah, of course. How silly of me to forget. And I take it he doesn't know?"

"No, he doesn't, and it will stay that way," Dean replies.

"Of course," Michael replies. "I won't tell, though I advise you to. I don't know my younger brother well, but I don't think you'll be disappointed if you tell him."

"Look, Michael, I don't know what you're getting at, but don't," Dean commands.

"Of course. My apologies," Michael replies evenly before walking away to talk to Lucifer.

"If you're here to talk to me, don't," Lucifer growls at his brother.

"Lucifer, you can't stay mad at me forever."

"Watch me."

"Lucifer..."

"You threw me in ," Lucifer reminds him. "And when I got out, you tried to kill me. Well, excuse me for not jumping up and giving you a hug."

"You killed Gabriel, didn't you?" Michael reminds him. "But you still love him. It was the same with me. I was doing what I had to."

"I don't care what you thought you had to do," Lucifer hisses. "I loved you once, and you betrayed me. I won't make that mistake again."

"Lucifer..." Michael says, but he can see clearly by his expression that the younger archangel is not going to change his mind any time soon. Michael sighs, knowing he lost his chance to make to it up to the angel when he decided to further the apocalypse all those years ago. Well, it was worth a shot anyway. He'll win his brother's trust back somehow. Until then, he needs someone new to talk to.

His eyes land on a man he recognizes immediately, though he's aged a couple years. It's Bobby Singer, leaning against the wall, alone. Well, better him than no one. Maybe he can go make it up to Bobby, at least.

"Either there are two John Winchesters or you're wasting your time," Bobby says as Michael approaches him.

"I assume that means you're not willing to accept an apology?" Michael guesses.

"Like you'd apologize to a human," Bobby says sarcastically.

"I would, and I am," Michael replies. "I never should have tried to start the apocalypse. I see now that it was pointless, and had it not been for Dean, you would still be dead because of it. I truly am sorry."

Bobby raises an eyebrow. "Wow. Never would have expected that from an archangel."

"Well, I highly doubt you'll hear it from any of the other ones," Michael replies. Perhaps Gabriel, but then again, what does he have to apologize for? "Am I forgiven?"

"I'll accept your apology, but it'll take a lot more than that for forgiveness," Bobby tells him, but Michael doesn't mind. It's more than he expected. Maybe there is hope for him to get along with people after all.

~~

Lucifer watches Michael walk away, rage boiling inside of him. How dare he? After everything Michael had done to him, he's going to ask for forgiveness? No, not even ask. He forgiveness, and that's something Lucifer is never planning on giving him.

A redhead bounds up to him after Michael walks away, a big smile on her face. Lucifer cocks his head in confusion. What type of person wants to talk to the devil? Especially like this. No one is ever this excited to talk to him, literally. What's up with this girl?

"Hi! My name's Charlie," she introduces herself, holding out a hand.

"Lucifer..." he replies cautiously. What's she up to?

Realizing he won't shake her hand, she drops it to her side. "Hi! How are you?"

"I got to embarrass Sam," he replies. "I'm doing great."

"So you and Sam really did it?"

"what you're so excited to ask about?" Lucifer says in amused disbelief.

"No, I just want to talk to you," Charlie replies. "I figure, if I'm stuck here, might as well be friends with everyone!"

Lucifer scoffs. "I take it you're not a Winchester, then?"

"Nope! I'm a Bradbury," she replies. "I just helped the boys out getting rid of some Leviathans."

"Leviathans?" Lucifer repeats. "Damn. They really messed up while I was in Hell, didn't they?"

"Big time," Charlie agrees. "But they always fixed things afterwards, so it's all good."

Lucifer doesn't feel the need to point out that they must do something wrong, because the thing they're facing always seems to get worse. Actually, he finds it pretty entertaining. He wouldn't mind just watching Earth as this all went down. It would make a good tv show.