The Archangels sat in a comfortable nest. Michael was the oldest almost an adult. Serious minded and obedient it was always his goal to be the perfect son so he considered it his duty to watch over his younger brothers. Next was Lucifer;blessed with beauty and grace, he always wanted to be the center of attention and went out of his way to be the favorite brother. Raphael came after Lucifer; quiet and studious he never made much of an impression next to his older brothers and that's the way he liked it. Snuggled in Raphael's lap was Kemuel; the newest fledgling, as of yet Kemuel had not developed much of a personality but he did have three older brothers who would dote on him.
The Archangels were gathered in the nest because Kemuel was restless. He whimpered constantly. Michael had taken him in his arms and flew him around their home which they called Heaven. Lucifer had tempted him with sweet fruits from the Garden that grew in the center of heaven. Raphael has cuddled him and crooned a lullaby yet the little one remained fussy. Hearing their father's voice call out to them they were all apprehensive thinking that father was angry with them for their failure to calm the fledgling. They were not expecting father to arrive holding a small squirming bundle in his arms.
"Father you only just brought Kemuel to us." Michael exclaimed. "You bring us another so soon?"
God smiled down at the squirming fledgling with the strange golden colored eyes. "Yes, he is special. He is the last of you that I will create. I intended Kemuel to be the last but this little one had different ideas."
"But if you did not intend to create him, where did he come from?" Lucifer asked.
"Whenever I created one of you, there would always be a tiny bit of grace left over. Usually it just faded away but when I went back to check after bringing Kemuel to you, I found this stubborn bit of grace still there. It attached itself to me and would not let go, instead it grew stronger on my power and developed into another fledgling." God explained.
"We have another baby brother!" Raphael said excited. "Can I name him father? Please?"
God smiled down at the eager little Archangel. "He has a name already Raphael, because he developed by feeding on my power. I call him Gabriel, the strength of God."
"Look father! I think they like each other!" Lucifer said as he realized that Kemuel seemed to be reaching up toward tiny little Gabriel who in turn seemed to be squirming to get down.
"I believe you are right Lucifer. Gabriel was created from Kemuel's leftover grace so they have a bond." God said setting Gabriel down onto the nest and watching him wriggle his way over to Kemuel.
All of the archangel's found themselves smiling affectionately as the two Fledglings snuggled happily together and began chirping and cooing at each other.
Growing up in Heaven was a happy experience for Kemuel and Gabriel who found themselves spoiled by their older brothers. Michael would often let them climb on his back and fly with him. Before pulling them off and holding their hands while they flapped their little wings flying beside him. Lucifer would entertain them for hours with 'parlor tricks' that fascinated Gabriel but just bored Kemuel. And Raphael would always be there to tend to their bumps and bruises.
For all that their brothers spoiled them, the two were always happiest in each other's company. They would lay together in the garden under the tree of life looking up at the branches for hours wondering what strange sort of fruit the tree would bear. They were familiar with all of the fruits in the Garden but had no idea what life would turn out to be or how it would taste.
Once they began to fly they would often be seen racing across Heaven's skies with Gabriel often pretending to get a cramp or some such other nonsense to allow Kemuel to win. The Archangels had soon learned that Gabriel was fast. Even Michael and Lucifer found themselves having to work to keep pace with their youngest brother. And when the Archangels settled into the nest at night, Kemuel and Gabriel would always nestle together in the center leaving the older Archangels to curl around them for the night.
Their father would often come by to check on them and would watch his children with fatherly pride although he could occasionally be seen frowning at Lucifer and Kemuel before going right back to beaming at them. So it was no surprise when he called them to the garden one day saying that he had something to show them.
"Be careful now." God said as he led them to the edge of the garden t show them a little ball of something floating below them.
"What is it?" Michael asked frowning.
"I call it Earth. It will be a wondrous paradise full of life." God said. "And I have created this for all of you to watch over and protect." God said. "Michael, Lucifer you may visit at any time but the younger ones will not be able to make the trip. It's a long way, the distance is much too far for their wings to carry them yet. So I charge you to take your brothers some time so that they can see it too."
"Could we go now Father?" Michael asked excited at seeing what their father had made.
"Soon Michael first I must tell you that I will be busy for a while." God said. "The five of you are special. You are Archangels. You will soon have other brothers, these others will not be as strong as you are and they will look to you for guidance and love. Teach them well how to help you with this gift of the Earth. Now you can go and see what I have created."
Michael and Lucifer charged Raphael with watching over Kemuel and Gabriel and made their way down to the lifeless ball of molten rock Father had pointed out to them.
Time passed as time normally does. Kemuel and Gabriel were now adult Archangels and like their older brothers took their duty towards their siblings very seriously. They could be found paying with the younger seraphs in the garden or teaching them to fly. The two youngest Archangels had developed distinct personalities for all that Michael often complained that they exactly the same. They were both pranksters, something that Lucifer found amusing in Gabriel whose pranks were more embarrassing than anything else. He never caused any harm in playing them. After all it was easy enough to will your wings back to their proper color.
But the same could not be said of Kemuel. While Kemuel did not intend harm with his pranks they did sometimes end that way. Like the time he flew little Zachariah to the top of the Tree of Life and left him stranded there until Gabriel rescued the terrified fledgling.. Michael and Lucifer both kept a close eye on Kemuel although Gabriel usually stepped in before any harm could be done.
All of the Archangels kept an eye on the little ball called Earth that was rapidly cooling and solidifying. They all knew that soon it would be ready to support the life that father had promised would flourish there. Father would sometimes come and speak with them to find out how the younger angels were doing so when he called to them, they all rushed to his presence.
"You are all adults now, you should have more responsibility as I will be even busier now. Earth is ready to support life and the older seraphs can take over the majority of caring for the new fledglings." God said. "I will appoint each of you to a different duty that you will be responsible for."
"Michael, you are the eldest and you have always been responsible for your brothers. You will continue to do so but in addition I charge you with protecting Heaven from those who would destroy it."
"Yes Father. I will let no harm come to our home." Michael agreed.
"Lucifer, your fascination with Earth is apparent. I see how you have been watching it closely looking for the first signs of life. I charge you to be it's steward. You will protect it and nurture it."
"Thank you father. I will make sure that it always remains the paradise that you have created it to be." Lucifer said.
"Raphael, you are always quick to fly to the side of a sibling and heal their injuries, ease their pain, you I appoint as healer."
"I will take care of them." Raphael said with a smile.
"Kemuel soon life will come forth on the Earth. I will allow you to choose a species and guard over it."
"I can choose the species?" Kemuel asked.
"Yes, once the Earth populates you may make your choice." God answered and then turned to the youngest Archangel. "Gabriel, I will not be able to come to Heaven as often as I do now and yet there may still be things that I need your brothers to know. You will be my messenger."
"Yes Father." Gabriel answered.
And so with their heavenly duties assigned the Archangels went back to caring for the fledglings and watching the Earth.