Of Angels and Men Ch. 1

Having a soulmate is the best thing that could happen to a person. It made you feel a certain wholeness, like nothing else in the world mattered. It wasn't unusual to have more than one soulmate either. When soulmates are born, their souls intertwine with another and create a perfect union. A name gets burned onto your skin and a bond is immediately formed between them. Nothing can break the bond but you can block it (which isn't healthy for either mate). Sometimes your soulmates die before you meet them. It's a painful feeling and you never really get over, even if you decide to be with someone else. Everyone has a soulmate though, they just might not be born in your time. Because of that, many people try to ignore the bond and be with people they think is best. Sometimes it lasts but, more than not, the souls find each other.

Gabriel remembered the day he got his soul mark. It was the day his baby brother Castiel was born. It was then he knew his baby bro would forever be a part of him. It didn't disgust him or his family. They were all a bit proud that Cas would be protected for his whole life. Castiel was such a precious thing and Gabriel wouldn't let anyone hurt him. One problem was, Gabriel didn't know how to be a perfect soulmate and at the same time be a good brother. He turned to the second oldest brother, Lucifer.

Lucifer was bonded to the oldest of the family, Michael. Maybe it was a genetic thing since the same happened on their father's sisters side. Mike and Lucy fought all the time yet you could tell they cared deeply for each other. Lucifer strictly told Gabriel to never ignore the bond. That was what caused some tension between the brothers. Michael tried ignoring his love for Lucifer, effectively casting his brother away, thinking it was all wrong. The pain of separation was all either could feel because the bond got so weak that it was a thin thread.

Michael finally owned up and accepted Lucifer but the younger of the two still hasn't forgiven him for it. Gabriel soon realized that to be a good brother was to be an even better mate. Castiel loved him and Gabe knew it well. Once he got the hang of being himself it was easier to accept their bond and let it prosper.

But something was missing.

Gabriel didn't know what but he didn't feel complete like he should. And he wasn't the only one either. Castiel, now four (Gabriel is eight), came up to him one day, a very serious look on his face for one his age. Gabe could feel confusion through the bond and took a curious glance at his baby brother.

"What's wrong Cassie?"

"I don't know," The blue-eyed child replied confused, crawling into Gabriel's lap. Gabriel cuddled him close and nosed his hair. "I-I don't feel right."

"Whad'ya mean?"

"I don't feel…full," Castiel looked worried at his older brother, scared of the reaction. Gabe just smiled and Castiel relaxed.

"I feel it too," Gabriel whispered, kissing the four-year old's cheek.

"I thought soulmates meant full?"

Gabriel sighed and crossed his arms. He thought it did too. He had Castiel, why wouldn't he feel complete? Why did he feel like something was missing? Picking Cas off his lap and onto his own feet, Gabe grabbed his hands and tugged the younger boy to their father's room. Chuck, their dad, was a writer. Not a good one, but he managed to get them by. They were grateful and it wasn't like they were poor. Michael, Lucifer, and Raphael all had jobs and were getting ready for freshman and sophomore years of high school.

They were happy. That's all that mattered.

"Dad?" Gabriel called quietly. If their dad was busy, he would leave and ask later but he hoped that wasn't the case.

"Yes, Gabe?" Chuck peeked at them from over his computer. His eyes looked swollen and tired and a bit unfocused. Alcohol reached Gabriel's nose and winced. Chuck's soulmate Becky, the kid's mother, died when Castiel was two in a bad car crash. Chuck didn't get drunk often but sometimes he needed to unwind. He wasn't violent either, just a crier. He never blamed his boys, always showed he loved them and he kept them safe.

"Can you explain soulmates to us?" Gabriel felt guilty about asking but his need for answers was stronger than his sense of sensitivity.

Chuck looked at his youngest boys in confusion. They already knew all the concepts, what more did they want to know? "You already know boys."

"Then why don't I feel full?" Cas asked softly, looking sad and confused.

Chuck blinked in thought and rubbed his chin before leaning on his arm, "You don't?"

"I love Cas, more than anything," Gabriel reassured his dad quickly. "But I feel like something is missing. Another puzzle piece, a different color to our picture, something."

Chuck smiled and ruffled his head of bedhead, "It sounds like you have another soulmate."

"Another soulmate?!" Castiel looked at him with bright eyes filled with barely contained excitement. Gabriel mirrored his look.

"Yeah, we can have more than one soulmate. It's really not that unheard of. Once this mate is born though, I think you'll be perfectly happy."

Both brothers looked at each other, happy that there wasn't anything wrong with them. They just had another soulmate. The mere thought of it had them guessing back and forth what gender (It's a girl Cas. No! It's definitely a boy. A kid knows these things), favorite color, food, etc. (and he wasn't even born yet). Michael and Lucifer (mostly Lucifer) teased on how another scamp was going to be running around and they would be like the Golden Trio.

Six months later, a searing pain went through both boys. Gabriel felt it across his right wrist and Cas felt it right across his chest.

Sam Winchester had been born.

Gabriel traced the name with his fingers and smiled softly. He was about to say something to Cas when an overwhelming hit of sadness came from both ends of his bond. Cas looked like he was about to cry and trying to be strong about it.

"What's wrong Cassie?" Gabriel asked, immediately pulling the boy into his chest. Castiel sniffed and nuzzled his older brother.

"Are you gonna love him more than me?"

"What? Cas, what are you talking about!" Gabriel demanded, making his younger sibling face him. "Why would you think that?"

Castiel just shrugged and wiped his eyes.

"Cas I'm never going to love Sam more or less than you. I love you both equally. I always will," Cas smiled and nodded. Pure honesty and love spread through the bond and Cas felt silly for even considering Gabe would leave him.

With a sniffled laugh, he said, "Told ya it was a boy."

Gabe ruffled his younger brother's hair and kissed his cheek. "Yes, you did," Sam's bond felt so sad (which isn't surprising, he was just born. Babies cry) and Gabe didn't like it.

"Gabe?" Cas muttered, playing with his shirt.

"Yea buddy?"

"I don't like that he's sad," Gabe smiled and pulled Cas closer to him.

"Me either. Remember how to send emotions through the bond?" At his mate's nod, he continued. "Send some calming feelings Cassie. He's just a baby right now so he won't be in control of most of his emotions."

Gabriel relaxed as he felt Castiel's bond, that was connected with him, also connect with Sam. Sending the emotions over, Gabe could get a small feel for how big Sam was and cooed softly.

"He's so small!" Cas whispered in awe, eyes closed like he was imagining what Sam looked like.

"I know," Gabe jumped as something hard slammed into their bond. By Cas' jump, he felt it too. The feeling of confusion came flooding into his soul. Another was pure innocence and it was attacking his heart. It filled him up and Cas giggled brightly.

Gabriel was whole.