Who could imagine that the first intimate moment that they both so desperately longed for would be the starting point of their next problem? Slowly he began to think that he was digging a hole so deep that he would emerge on the other side of the planet. Tuesday morning already seemed to start in just the same way as Monday. First, a complete surprise that although completely unexpected did not seem to involve any danger. Then it was a pleasant surprise that Sam's parents immediately embraced the kids as their grandchildren and even claimed Beatrice in the process. And then the train derailed again when two figures made themselves known...
The children, all four now, had been sent to bed hours ago. It had been a long and emotional day for them and not much later the adults had done the same. Tomorrow was going to be ridiculously intense so everyone could use their rest. Especially Alexanders plate was more than full. Not only in Heaven, but now he would have to babysit Lucifer of all people, on earth for a couple of hours. Alexander and Samantha had spent a few more hours on their bedroom balcony. Talking about everything and nothing but purposefully avoiding any topic that might have to do with work. They both felt that the night was less peaceful for the children than their first night in the suite but nothing to worry about. Not yet Alexander thought.
Samantha lay in his arms in their bed. They enjoyed the quiet and each other's presence without really being able to sleep. She thoughtlessly drew meaningless patterns on his chest with her fingers:
"What are you thinking about?"
She asked:
"I'm making up a theme for the beach bar in Mexico..."
She laughed:
"If there are good schools nearby for the kids I could be persuaded."
She felt him get a wide smile on his face. Sam straightened up a little and kissed him full on the mouth. Softly at first but then deeper and deeper with increasing desire. Their hands explored each other's bodies, and their arousal, their passion grew deeper and deeper. For him, it had been two thousand years, for her three. It still felt so familiar to both, as if it were yesterday. Their desire for each other had to be satisfied, now. They rolled over so that he was on top of her. He looked into her eyes, and she said softly and full of desire:
"Yes Alex, yes..."
The next moment they had become one, completely lost in each other. Their climax was getting closer and closer and neither of them realized what was happening. Together they began to emit a golden glow that became increasingly intense as they came closer. When the climax came, they could literally see the Big Bang happening in each other's eyes but the golden glow also burst apart in a shock wave of grace. The effect was so intense that everyone in the palace and far beyond was awakened. Alexander and Samantha lay catching their breath, not noticing at first that everyone was in an uproar. Quickly he made sure no one could open the door because for a moment they were not ready to face anyone.
"Alex, Sam, are you okay?"
They heard Jo ask anxiously.
"Yes Jo, give us a few minutes will you, we'll be right out."
They were lying on their backs staring at the ceiling and Alex muttered:
"What the fuck just happened?"
"I think fuck is the right word..."
Giggled Samantha.
"Damn, everyone is wide awake. I'm afraid we must get out sweet, the little ones are half scared to death and the rest aren't much better off."
"Yep, and what about..."
"How could I forget those? I know they're there and what they look like without having literally seen them. But wow..."
Other words he couldn't find. They crawled out of bed and made sure they wore the minimum to be presentable, he had one of his favorite sweatpants, she her usual sleep shirt and he manifested two bathrobes. Hers had the inscription Mrs. G with a halo above it and his Mr. G with devil's horns and a tail. She couldn't help but laugh and shake her head when she saw it. Sam was pretty sure that Alex had done this in the hope of getting a little bit under Lucifer's skin and by having the actual Devil grumbling a bit to distract the kids with those antics.
He opened the door and there sat Maximus. It looked like the cat/dog had narrowed its eyes to slits and had a frown. A few wobbly sounds escaped his throat. Alex put his hand under Max's chin, stroked him, and said reassuringly:
"It's okay buddy, we're just fine."
They shuffled into the living room with Max close on their heels, the children were already waiting there in full eagerness and they flew toward Alex and Sam. Jo, Anna and Azrael were equally in suspense. Alex picked up Elise, and Sarah grabbed Samantha as if she never wanted to let go while David just launched himself as a small cannonball at the midsection of Alex. Trixie remained standing a short distance away looking at them uncertainly. Samantha smiled at her and said softly:
"Room for one more Sunflower."
That was all the invitation she needed, and she jumped at Samantha. At about the same time, Gabriel, Lucifer, and Ella flew into the suite.
"Okay kiddo's mommy and I need some fresh air. We're going to the balcony for a little while yes?"
The three big ones let go of them and returned to the sitting area, but Honeybee just wouldn't let go. She vehemently shook no and tightened her grip around Alexander's neck.
"Everybody grab some coffee or something, we'll be back in a few minutes. Nothing going on. Just euch..."
He looked at Samantha:
"Some starting trouble?"
He asked and Samantha snorted with a broad smile. At the same time, Michael and Celine flew into the suite with swords drawn.
"Oh, this is too good to be true!"
Thought Alexander and mentally took a picture of what he saw for later use. And misuse that image he would, he was after all the Antichrist. He said:
"Six thousand years and now you decide to come out of the closet and share your little secret with the world."
He said laughing. Michael in nothing but his boxers with his breastplate and sword. Celine in a rather provocative, rather transparent nightgown also with her sword and with the pin of Amenadiel in a brand-new gold chain around her neck. Both had a wild look in their eyes and hair that indicated they had had a busy night. Alex wondered after they had tested Amenadiel's pin in the bedroom what that room would look like now.
"Michael, Celine, good morning and welcome. There are still plenty of bathrobes in the bathroom if you should need one."
Only now did they realize what they looked like and that they had been caught. The God and Goddess retreated to the balcony with a bold smile, and the rest of the room also sat watching them with undisguised pleasure. It was Lucifer's moment for revenge on his twin:
"It's about god-dammed time!"
Outside, Alex pressed a soft kiss on the head of his Honeybee and said:
"You need to stand or go to Mommy for a while because Daddy needs his hands."
She had absolutely no desire to stand on the ground and eagerly held out her hands to Samantha who gladly took her over from Alex. The latter made a cigarette appear out of nowhere and ignited it without a lighter. Too distracted to follow his routines. Samantha asked:
"Any idea what it means?"
"My darling everything, I do not have a clue..."
He inhaled deeply and looked into nothingness for a moment.
"If only I could communicate with the throne in a normal way. It slowly gets better every time I sit on it. However, the information still comes through in bits and pieces and often not even in a logical order."
He pulled her into an embrace and said:
"I think we should at least ask your parents to come over and if we still can't figure it out by then.... Them..."
She raised her eyebrows:
"My parents absolutely. But Them? Do you think this universe, this Heaven is ready for that revelation?"
He sighed deeply:
"Absolutely not! But through the throne, I only get snippets that do not reassure me at all. It literally makes me feel anxious sometimes. You know how my brain reacts when I get a certain gut feeling. And since I don't know how long it will be before I will be able to communicate with the throne in a clear way..."
She nodded understandingly:
"Yes, then I think my parents and secondarily Them have become inevitable. I'll call my parents in advance."
He let the butt of his cigarette disappear into thin air.
"Yep, but for now just your parents and only the counsel, Them later. I hate keeping secrets from the Angels, but this needs to stay under everyone's hat for a while before we get complete chaos."
"Absolutely!"
Sam closed her eyes and shot of a prayer to her mom that they where needed and enclosed a little request for a surprise for Alex.
Together they stepped back into the living room. By now everyone had found a spot. He and Samantha did the same thing at the same time. They looked at everyone present with equal attention. Lucifer and Ella had been visited by Trixie who sat safely between them and had a large mug of warm chocolate milk in her hand. Both were not surprised at all to see that David had found his place among the hardened warriors Michael and Celine. What did positively surprise them was that timid Sarah was nestled into the arms of Anna who in turn had picked a spot very close to Gabriel. Jo sat on the same couch as Anna and Gabe. Rae Rae as he expected was close to Lucifer and Ella. The gods and their Honeybee took a seat on their couch. He looked at his watch more out of sheer habit than necessity:
"Okay, folks it's 4 am and the workday seems to have started a little earlier than planned."
"What the Hell happened Alex? That was a shock wave of pure grace and bliss that blew through the city! Nothing like that has ever happened!"
Asked Michael and everyone was all too eager to hear the answer to that question.
"I, we, have no idea, Michael, so your guess is as good as any other."
He handed Samantha her tea as Elise was still more or less glued to her, himself taking his mug of coffee:
"What happened we don't know. What it did to us we do but to show that we need a little more space than here. It will have to wait until we get to the throne room. Whatever it was it did no harm to us. I'm inclined to think the contrary, but we will have to wait for that to manifest itself. When did it happen?"
He looked for a moment at those present who were following every word intently. So also, to the children and he decided to give a rather neutral answer:
"Well let's just say we had a private moment and then suddenly boom; let there be light!"
Beatrice couldn't help but interject:
"Eeuww, you were doing the naughty."
And with that, the mood in the suite changed considerably. Samantha in turn could not resist teasing the girl a bit:
"Yes, Beatrice we were very very naughty!"
Again the latter said:
"Eeuww"
stuck her fingers in her ears and:
" lalalala"
"What now son?"
Lucifer asked worriedly. Alexander thought for a moment:
"I suggest we drink our coffee in peace and then make ourselves respectable. It's going to be a long day so let's try and get ahead of it. Michael, Sam's parents are coming over too. Wait for them please but this time without a guard of honor, this should remain very discreet for now. Gabe, will you send out two messages? Council meeting at 05:00 and general meeting at 07:00 and please reassure them that all is well. No need to see thousands of worried angels in the throne room at 7."
"Done Boss."
Said Gabriel.
"Kiddos, it's way too early for you guys. Back to bed in a few minutes and listen to what Anna says."
David let out:
"But Dad please, can't we stay up and join you?"
Sarah was not far behind:
"Yes please Mommy, please Dad?"
Alex looked at Samantha and they communicated wordlessly again:
"What do you think?"
"Why not, as long as a few rules are made clear."
"Yep!"
"Love, have you noticed that we are now mom and dad to all three?"
He had felt her maternal instinct became nearly palpable when she had heard the two oldest also address them as Mom and Dad.
"Yep, we have a daddy's girl, a mommy's girl, and a seemingly tough kid judging by the company he has chosen. Damn, I love our little makeshift family."
"Me too my love, me too."
Played sternly, he looked at the three older children one by one and raised a finger:
"Very well you may come down with us and stay in the throne room for a while. After that, you will go to the playroom without fussing because it's going to be a busy and important day for Mommy and me. AND you are going to listen nicely and do exactly what Anna says. If Anna says it is time for a nap because you were up so early you will do just that!"
"But Dad..."
Said David in a whiny tone.
"No buts young man. We can still change our minds. So?"
"Okay, Dad we're going to do what Anna says."
Said David somewhat defeated.
"You better, believe me when I hear complaints from Anna, I'm pulling open a can of whoop-ass!"
This new God continued to amaze Anna over and over again. In Hell, he had saved her from her fate six thousand years ago. Entrusted her to Belios and Bearus who utterly protected her from the rest of that terrible place and its inhabitants. And now, now he entrusted his children to her. Indeed, he had even given her authority. The children had to listen to her. It was the first time she had a shred of authority. All her existence she had been a servant, a Demon of the lowest rank. A tear escaped her eye that she tried to hide but Alex eluded extremely little. He sent a thought to Sam:
"Damn I need to let Anna know urgently what I think of her, who she is to me now that she is in Heaven, but time escapes me over and over again because of that prick Godfry."
"Alex, maybe the perfect moment will present itself today."
She said a little mysteriously. Elise looked into her eyes and asked excitedly:
"Me show Corny Trix?"
"Of course, honey but remember the rules okay."
"Yes, mammy."
Ten minutes before the first meeting was to begin, Alexander sat on the throne. He had to make some alterations to the throne room. If all Angels had anything in common, it was that they were always extremely punctual. Sometimes to the point of exasperation when it came to social gatherings as he had learned in the past. First, he manifested a sort of large projection screen behind and above the thrones so that all the Angels could follow everything better during a general meeting. Then he made comfortable chairs appear. With that, the throne room suddenly looked much less sterile and more like an auditorium of enormous size. The council table he made was a little bigger because guests were coming. The members of his council plus Samantha, the kids, Anna, and Max arrived just in time and took their seats. Alex stepped down from the throne and took his place next to Samantha. To pass the time until Michael appeared with Samantha's parents, he asked Nariel and Ariel:
"Did you guys get lucky and find two potential Archangels?"
Ariel spoke up:
"Yes, MyLord. In our opinion, Selaphiel would be absolutely suitable for drama and Lewit for music. They immediately started working on your suggestions."
Alexander who had taken out his notepad again penned down the two names. Gabriel added:
"With those two and Azi the arts are back to five archangels, not bad for a start. I selected Raquel to take minutes. She used to be active in the Hall of Knowledge. On Earth, the monks would call her a copyist. Back in the day she loved to just write you know. Would you like me to have her come, MyLord?"
He shook his head:
"Nop, at least not for the first part of this meeting. Listen all..."
Everyone's ears pricked up. Including Anna, the children, and seemingly Max who had all found their places. Alex had specially made comfortable seats for the little group close to the conference table.
"What is said in the first part of this meeting and certainly what you are going to see later must remain secret for a while. I therefore rely on your absolute discretion."
Michael came in with Samantha's parents, Samael, and a surprise guest for Alexander. Everyone at the table stood up as a Goddess and a God made their appearance. He and Sam practically ran up to them. Against protocol, Alex ignored the Gods and Samael for a moment, grabbed the fourth person from the entourage around her waist, and swung her around for a moment out of pure joy. The girl relished the attention while Sam, her parents, and Samuel watched the scene amused.
"Maila dear, how you have grown up and became a beautiful young woman. Sam wouldn't tell me anything. She told me to wait and see for myself!"
He gave her a few thick kisses on her cheeks, and he put her back on the floor.
"I am sorry we are a little tight on time, I promise you tonight we can talk and then I want to hear everything from you! And with certainty the mischief you got into! Surely there has to be a way for me to establish whether I was a good teacher my little Padawan..."
Samantha had already greeted her parents and now hugged Maila while Alex firmly hugged and pressed Samael and Robert's hands. He hugged Salome, kissed her softly on the cheek, and whispered:
"Thank you Mom for bringing Maila."
Samantha brought Maila to the little group with Anna while Alexander escorted the rest to the conference table. Samael, who thought his sister would be seated with them, was not a little surprised to find her seated on the other side of the table immediately to Alexander's left. When he also saw two thrones instead of one, he felt a throbbing headache coming on. Samael knew that his parents had obviously seen it too so he would leave it to them to respond to it.
"Mom, Robert, Samael, and my Little Maila welcome. I am sorry to have made you come at this early hour, but we could use your advice very urgently and very badly. Please sit down, everyone."
Spoke Alexander and everyone took their seats. However, he himself and Samantha remained standing. They even stepped away from the table, so they had more room. Alexander asked:
"What color are my wings Dad?"
Lucifer looked at his son not understanding but answered nevertheless:
"Blood-red, the color of Hell, fitting as the Crown Prince of Hell."
In turn, Samantha asked:
"Mom, what color are my wings?"
"The most beautiful green I have ever seen darling. Regal and fitting for the Crown Princess."
At the same time, Sam and Alex unfurled their wings until they were in their full glory. Sounds of surprise and amazement could be heard. Their wings were almost identical. They shone with a heavenly light, the white of the purest snow with pure gold woven into it. The only difference between their wings was that it seemed that emeralds were hidden in hers and sapphires in his. It was the observant Ella who suddenly exclaimed:
"Oh, my God! Oh, sorry I desperately need to get used to not doing that anymore. It's your eyes!"
"What do you mean?"
Asked Samael and Lucifer just about simultaneously.
"Look at that. Samantha has the bluest eyes I've ever seen. He bright green ones! Alex reflects so much the blue of Samantha. Now his wings, his throne, his signet ring, his earring, his necklace. Samantha reflects in turn his. Emeralds in her jewelry when she wears it, green in her throne, Emeralds in her wings. Their whole lives reflect each other, blue for him, green for her."
She said proudly of her discovery, and at the same time, two loud thumps could be heard. Gabriel and Samael were with their foreheads on the table and groaned. Everyone was silent for a moment. Lady Salome pointed to the children with a wide grin:
"And who are these beautiful children?"
Asked the Goddess with a warm look and a sparkle in her eyes. Samael shot up with a jolt, but Gabriel stayed down, he knew what was coming. Samantha and Alex folded their wings again and Sam walked to the group She put her hand on Max's head:
"This is Maximus, he's a hellhound. We don't know if he has an identity crisis or just an artistic run on the rules."
Max showed his agreement by voicing his impression of Scooby Doo.
"This here is Anna, a Demon who was actually named Squee, but which Alex immediately disliked and soon changed as being totally inappropriate. Her job in Hell as a Demon with a very low rank was to be subservient to everything and everyone again something Alexander hated and placed her under the express protection of Belios and Bearus his generals in this Hell because he sees Anna as a little sister."
One heard the Demon breathe sharply at this news. Samantha stuck her tongue out at Alex for a moment and continued:
"Of course, that was something he should have told Anna much, much earlier, but could not do so in Hell because she would have been targeted by Demons who resisted his changes. Here in Heaven, unfortunately, opportunity escaped him time and time again because of the hassle with Godfry! Our new guest here, this beautiful girl is Maila. Alex took her away from our Hell ten years ago and she has been our baby sister ever since. You guys will get to know her whether you want to or not because she's a real firecracker. Raffa you better get ready because she has the tendency to end up in the infirmary."
Said Samantha with a heartfelt smile and the girl waved with a wide smile a little uncertainly to the rest of Alexander's people at the table. Sam continued:
"This here is Beatrice Espinoza, daughter of Daniel Espinoza. Her father was murdered by her mother. Daniel is now unfortunately unjustly in Hell. Beatrice is staying with us temporarily until her father can be rescued because she has nowhere else to go for a while. And these three wonderful children are Sarah, David, and Elise the Honeybee and they are my and Alexander's children!"
Now an even louder thump echoed, and Samael was with his head on the table again. Her parents, however, jumped up and practically ran to the children. With tears in her eyes and arms outstretched, the Goddess said:
"Oh, my dear beautiful children come here, you too Beatrice, yes you too. Say hello to your grandparents."
And with those words, Trixie was suddenly the granddaughter of a God and Goddess. Behind them, two heads came jerking from the table but nothing more than an "euch" came out of their mouths. Meanwhile, the children were almost flattened and received a multitude of kisses from the Goddess, but the God did not let up either. Robert whispered softly:
"I am so going to spoil you!"
Sam and Alex, however, had heard it and cried out together:
"O no you don't!"
Salome and Robert looked at each other with a twinkle in their eyes and could only laugh softly imagining absolutely that they would simply ignore Sam and Alex's command.
When everyone had regained their seats, Samuel spoke:
"Don't get me wrong okay. I'm glad you two are still together and want to be together. It was clear since that first day that this would be inevitable, predestined. The kids? Although a total surprise, I grant it to you and Mom and Dad wholeheartedly. So, I wish you the best of luck trying to keep them in check now that they are grandparents. But come on have you guys thought this through? Thought about the implications for not one but two universes if there is an official union between the two of you? And knowing you two and the speed you sometimes have when flying into something or another that is exactly what will happen sooner or later. Because we are no further along in that regard than we were when you started this adventure."
Gabriel was already glad it wasn't him who had to ask these questions out loud. He had known Alexander's short fuse for a long time. Everyone had also already sensed that Samantha, too, had a very short fuse. Gabriel had no intention of becoming the target of an explosion of either one of those fuses let along both at the same time. He awaited the answer in just as much anticipation. To everyone's surprise, it was Salome who spoke and then in a tone that could not be misunderstood. This was the Goddess speaking and not mom:
"Samael! Has your sister ever done anything to damage your confidence in her? To endanger the thrones? Or was it your intention to sit beside her and just take your father's secondary throne?"
Instead of tying in, he said sharply:
"No that was never my intention MyLady!"
He had heard that Salome was in her Goddess role so he answered her as such:
"But if Father quits as King of Hell his place must be taken. Hell cannot exist without a King. Instead of sending one of my siblings there, it is my decision to sit on that throne myself?"
Now Lucifer asked extremely surprised:
"You would voluntarily go to that godforsaken place?"
"Then how do you think it should be done Lucifer? Let's see if we can do it another way, yes? Samantha takes her seat on the primary throne and then must decide which of her siblings has to replace dad and should be dragged to Hell by Micky or myself and thrown onto that rotten throne. Oh, wait, your father already tried that once with you and you know the result all too well! What then? Ask for a volunteer? Yes, we'll find one, they will line up around the block, I'm sure. Because Samantha's siblings would do anything for their baby sister! But I refuse to send anyone from my family there! The third possibility, somehow Samantha and Alexander will find a solution, and both can sit on the thrones in both Heavens. Do you really think I'm going to allow them to do the same thing as Mom and Dad? She in Heaven and he in Hell? Even though our Hell is not nearly as toxic as yours it is still a retching place in the lower levels. Yes, that what Alex and Sam made of our Dis you absolutely cannot compare to what your Dis is. The deeper levels nonetheless suck. Alex would be stuck there time and time again for months or sometimes years before he could go to Heaven to visit Samantha. You know this, the deeper down you go the faster time flows compared to Heaven. Because those half-savages crave nothing but violence and love nothing more than to plan uprisings and wars. Which leaves Alex trapped indefinitely until those are put down and peace has temporarily returned. If you think I am going to allow this then you are completely moronic! It's my decision so that Samantha and Alex do not have to make the heart wrenching decision of whom should go to Hell and be King. I'm going and that's it!"
Robert addressed Samael:
"Sammy it is not up to you to decide that nor is it up to us once we pass on the thrones. Do not think that your mother and I are not touched by your selflessness. But we have complete trust in your sister, but we also have that same trust in Alex. You trust your sister so leave it to your future Goddess and Alexander to solve that problem."
And with this, the air disappeared from the Lightbringer of the other universe. The Goddess asked:
"Sam, Alex have you any idea how you will untangle this knot?"
Alex answered a little gruffly:
"Preferably chopping it in half with my sword as another Alexander demonstrated a long time ago! Because just like him I'm kind of running out of patience!"
He rubbed through his curls and looked at Anna:
"Anna dear, will you please take the children?"
"Yes, MyLord."
She stood up along with the children and Maila and they disappeared in the direction of his office and their playroom. Elise had once again grabbed Max's neck hairs and he was more than happy to let it happen. When they were out the door Alexander spoke:
"And this brings us to the next item on the agenda. Sam and I know that there is a solution that is acceptable and workable for both universes. And I would already have the answer if I could have a clear fucking way to communicate with the throne. I am getting information through, but it is in bits and pieces and absolutely jumbled. Not only that but I'm getting a clear sense of unease from it. It seems like the throne is somehow sentient. It seems like a human brain that is completely confused and mixes up ten different subjects in ten different languages and wants to communicate all of them at the same time. I don't know about you, but I think this throne really is sentient."
Salome was deep in thought and spoke:
"No, our throne is not necessarily sentient. We can indeed communicate with it, but it is different. The throne answers our questions or shows us things. No information ever comes from the throne itself, no unsolicited information at least."
"Well Mom, Dad this is exactly Alexander's problem. His throne has the answers we seek but the information is scrambled like... well... scrambled eggs."
Alex sighed and said:
"I'll get it deciphered..."
He got no further. A bubble of gold and silver light appeared in the center of the throne room.
"Oh shit, here we go..."