Castiel hiccupped a tiny sob, obviously trying his best not to make the fact that he was crying known to his four older brothers. Of course, that was a lot easier said than done, when it came to being the youngest.

Michael was frozen, staring at Gabriel with a look of horror that was almost comical. It made Balthazar snicker.

"Gabriel," he choked, giving his younger sibling an appalled look, "Why, in the name of our Father, did you think that was a good idea?"

Gabriel shot the weepy-eyed Castiel a glance that said, "don't worry, kiddo. I'll get you sorted in a minute. Just let Big Bro deal with mean ol' Mike, yeah?"

He frowned at the senior angel. "Lighten up, Mikey. Cas is fine. It's just a scuff. Plus," he shot both Michael and Lucifer, who was lounging in a conveniently placed chair, reading, a look, "that's how the two of you taught me. Monkey see, monkey do."

"He's got you there," Balthazar piped up between fits of giggling. "I'll back Gabe up on that."

"We did not hurl you into the air, telling you to 'fly'! And DON'T call me Mikey! It's Michael!"

"Actually," Lucifer closed his book, setting it aside, "we did teach him like that. And Balthazar." He rolled his head back, yawning with barely concealed boredom. "Only we threw Gabe off the edge of a cloud, remember?"

Michael's cheeks heated as he looked away in shame. As the oldest, he felt that now it was his God-given duty—and he meant that quite literally—to lord over his four younger brothers. "Father said that we were to make sure Castel stayed out of harm."

"I wouldn't call scraping a knee 'harm'," Gabriel retorted coolly. He strode over to the sniffling Castiel, whose black, duckling-down wings fluttered slightly before seeming to fold away in fear. He swung his little brother up into his arms, bouncing him lightly. Settling him onto one arm, Gabriel inspected Castiel's knee. "See?" he asked, tapping the bruised skin with a forefinger, making the mark vanish. "All better."

Castiel rubbed the back of his tiny hand over his eyes, still sniffling, but managing to smile at his brother. "Uh-huh," he nodded, looking down at his knee.

Gabriel turned to Michael. "He's fine. Are y'gonna run and tell Dad, or not?"

Michael glared in reply, which only made Balthazar laugh harder.

"Here ya go." Gabriel snapped his fingers, using one of his magic tricks to make a lollipop the size of Castiel's head appear from the folds of his tunic (Lucifer grinned to himself. His brother was a fast learner). "Sorry, kiddo," he said, handing it to the baby angel.

Castiel's tears had completely dried at this point, and he gave Gabriel a big smile. "Than'ku Gab'il," he said, his words still those of a toddler's.

Gabriel grinned back. "I'm always gonna be here to pick you up, okay Cas?"

Cas nodded slowly, comprehending the idea of always. "Okay. Promise?"

"Promise."