39. Rafe

I squeeze my son against me in a tight hug. This is the first time I've ever held him in my arms in person. I see him in his dreams all the time, talking to him and teaching him what I can about who he is. I make sure he knows his job is to protect his mother.

Looking over Rellick's head, I meet her confusion filled gaze. I've never met someone who needed healing more than Brianna did when I saw her at the campus bar all those years ago. She wasn't on the approved list of people to be forgiven for their sins, but I couldn't not help her.

She needed healing then, and she still needs healing now.

I hold him for a second longer, before whispering in his ear "Mommy needs help." He turns to face Bree, his arm still around my shoulder.

A tear is falling down her cheek as her eyes move between the two of us. "What's wrong, Mommy?" She shakes her head, inadvertently showing the bruises forming on her neck.

Rellick notices them at the same time I do, and he immediately reaches for Brianna. His tiny arms embrace her and it's all it takes for the tears to flow free. He looks to me for permission and I give it.

He places a kiss against her cheek and healing white light glows against her skin, just like I taught him. The bruises that were already faint against her skin clear and Brianna gives a sigh of relief.

"Oh my!" My sister's words are whispered in awe. "He's an angel!"

"Look, Daddy! I did it! I kissed it better!" Rellick beams with pride, seeking praise from me.

"You sure did, bud! I am so proud of you." I hold my hand up for a high-five, something he taught me, and instead get pulled into a group hug.

Our first as a complete family.

I bask in the warmth of my son, just happy that he is safe and sound. And that Brianna is taking such great care of him. Every night in Rellick's dreams, I check on him. Making sure he's okay and wanting for nothing. I wish I could spend more in-person time with him, but I am an angel. I cannot play favorites with humans.

That is only a half-truth… I didn't want my siblings to know about Rellick. He's the only child ever made from an angel and human pairing. I chose a favorite human the night I forgave Brianna. I granted her wish to have someone to love her forever. I gave her Rellick and in return, she raised my perfect son.

Father would never approve. I disobeyed a commandment. If he knew, I would be punished like Lucifer. Cast out of my only home.

I am nothing without my healing capabilities.

"Do you understand now, Darling?" Lucifer's voice brings me back to reality. Thank God, only Jophiel was here to witness Rellick's power. Power no one but me should have.

Brianna's eyes flit through everyone in the room before landing on Lucifer. She shakes her head causing my brother to roll his eyes. "You've been healed." When her face stays blank, he continues with attitude. "By your son."

Her eyes shut tight, and she takes a deep breath, then turns to Rellick. "Did you save me, sweet boy?" He nods his head exaggeratedly, a bright smile from ear to ear. "Thank you." She pulls him back into her arms, squeezing him tight.

Our eyes meet over his head, and she gives me a shaky smile, mouthing the words "thank you" again.

"What a precious family."

Oh no.

Slowly, I stand, turning towards the voice. As a unit, Jophiel and Lucifer move to stand on either side of me. We do our best to block any view of Brianna and Rellick.

This is exactly what I was afraid of.

Michael stands before all of us, arms crossed over his chest, playing into his role as eldest brother. His dark golden gaze: such a contrast to his dark brown skin, holds on each one of us before trying to see around us.

The three of us slide closer together, united. "Raph. We had a scheduled meeting ten minutes ago. You're never late so I thought to come check on you." He tries once again to see around us, growing suspicious when we don't allow it. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine." Lucifer's tone is filled with malice.

Michael's gaze focuses on his twin. "Hello to you, too, Samael." The stare down between the two of them seems to last a lifetime, though it really only lasts a few seconds. Eventually, Michael breaks his gaze away from Luc to focus on me. "Raphael, I must say, I expected more from you. Lucifer is an inch away from being a demon and your dear sister has mated herself to one. You are the healing grace of this world. You should not be among this riffraff."

"They are my siblings," I say simply. Lucifer may be the opposite of everything he was created to be, and Jophiel may have found a mate when we are not meant for one, but they are my family. Everyone in this room is my family. Father may have preached many things, but his first and foremost lesson was to love everyone. And while I have broken commandments, I have never not loved someone.

"They are trash not worthy of Heaven, anymore," Michael growled out with disgust.

Jophiel steps forward, bringing the attention to herself. "But Brother."

"No! I am your brother no longer." His attention switches to Lucifer. "Just as I am no longer a twin."

Lucifer scoffs as I stand here frozen. My family is breaking apart in front of my very eyes and I cannot heal it.

Rellick's muffled voice brings me out of my reverie. I need Michael to leave. "There is a child present, Michael. Let's discuss this somewhere else."

With Jophiel's movement, he now has a small view of Brianna and Rellick. I hold myself still as he takes them in. If I were to block his view again, he would grow more suspicious. "It's the Sin's whore and her bastard son. They've heard worse, I assure you." He lets out a riotous laugh as though he hasn't just insulted my son and his mother.

Rage, unlike anything I've ever felt before, fills my body. "What did you say?"

His laughter stops. "Raphael," he tsks. "Don't tell me you favor a whore…"

"If I did? Are you willing to lose another sibling?" I've never fought Michael on anything. He's always been the big brother I look up to. The first son of God. The Highest Angel. The Head of Heaven in Father"s absence.

I have no idea who stands before me now. He is not the Michael I know.

"You would choose these rebels? Over me?" Grabbing the lapel of my suit, he pulls me forward until we are nose to nose. "Think carefully before you answer."

Small hands are on my leg, attempting to pull me away from Michael. "Leave my daddy alone!"

Everyone in the room freezes at Rellick's emotional words. Then chaos ensues.

Michael reaches for Rellick, and both Lucifer and Brianna are too slow to catch him. I try to rip my screaming son from his arms, but Michael slides away from me. Ever the warrior.

"Daddy!" Rellick yells, kicking and screaming. "Mommy!" Brianna and I both lunge forward only for Michael to switch positions once again, pulling his flaming sword out of thin air and raising it towards us.

"What have you done, Raphael? You've fornicated with a whore and have created an abomination!"

Brianna is hysterical in Lucifer's arms, attempting to break free while he is trying to calm her down.

A sword wielding supernatural has her son hostage. There is no calm.

"Michael," I placate. "Put my son down. Please," I beg.

He doesn't move, holding Rellick against his chest with one arm and the flaming sword towards us in the other, keeping us from getting to close to him. "Father will hear of this."

"Father is gone!" Jophiel's tearful voice rings out. "He left! There is no God on Earth anymore!"

"Wrong." A crazed smile grows on my eldest brother's lips. "Father never left me."

A second later, Michael slashes his sword through the air, cutting a hole in reality, and steps through with Rellick still in his arms. The black hole closes immediately, leaving the rest of us behind.

Brianna lets out a screeching wail. "Noooooooo!" She's hurting and normally, my automatic response would be to help her. To heal her.

But I'm hurting too.

My brother just kidnapped my son with the intention of bringing him to the Father, who abandoned all except Michael.

Lucifer and Jophiel are talking quietly among themselves, while I stand frozen. Unable to do anything.

Lucifer stands in front me, placing his hand on my shoulder, forcing me to make eye contact with him. "Raph. We can't feel Michael or Rellick's essence. He shares your blood. We need you to search."

Of course! I close my eyes, searching the three dimensions for any piece of my son.

Nothing.

I switch tactics, searching for Michael instead. Again, nothing. Lastly, a long shot that I've tried many a time in the last millennia, I search for Father.

I crumble to the ground at the lack of findings. Brianna crawls to me, placing her hands on my cheeks and forcing me to face her. "Where is he, Rafe?! Where's our son?!"

Tears fill my vision as I give voice to my worst fear.

"I don't know."