So...Dunno where this came from, but I hope you like it! I was just feeling some Gabriel/Castiel Brotherliness mushy stuff...actually came out rather angsty. I have yet to find out if this is a one shot or not; we'll see what the muse demands, or if you want more, just lemme know! I wrote this in one sitting, just for fun.

For those reading my other stories: I'M BACK! They have not been abandoned, and I'll post a chapter for each in-progress fic (maybe more than one,) this week, and we'll be back to weekly updates for everything after that!

Here's the disclaimer for this story...

DISCLAIMER: All of the wonderful Supernatural goodness is not from me: pretty much if it sounds familiar its not me. I do not own this (but oh the things I would do if I did...hehehe.

Anywho... READ ON!

Gabriel wasn't stupid. Of course he wasn't stupid! He was awesome. Just ask him, he'll tell you! Don't ask anyone else though, you won't get very flattering responses.

Gabriel wasn't so stupid as to believe that others would forgive him for all of his misdeeds. He would be honest though; he'd tell you that he hadn't made any more mistakes than anyone else has. Everybody makes mistakes, he would be foolish to hold everything he'd done wrong against himself. Others were more than happy to do that for him.

He forgave himself for all the mistakes he'd made. He was fine with who he was, flaws and all. He only ever regretted one thing; and it was a doozy.

Leaving Heaven after Lucifer's fall was the best decision for him. Self-preservation, was what that was, and he was right to do so.

Leaving his baby brother behind? That was the no-no.

Most angels didn't bother with the fledglings; why would they? They were to be trained, given positions, and that was that. They weren't coddled and cared for and loved, not the way humans did with their offspring. Baby angels weren't offspring, not really. There were no family units found in Heaven, Just God the Father, and everyone else as a brother.

Gabriel followed these beliefs, as all of heaven did. At least until the last of the fledglings.

Gabriel remembered the slight disinterest most of the garrison responded with when they heard that their father was ceasing in the creation of new angels, that he would make one more, and then he was done. No one seemed to really care, there were enough angels, there was no need for anymore, they had plenty, and angels didn't really die, so they were content.

But Gabriel was interested. Their father was done with creating more angels, that was fine, but before he could stop; he had to make just one more? Why not quit cold turkey? Gabriel could find no logic in the Father's decision, but like a good soldier, he didn't question him.

The day the fledgling was finished, Gabriel waited eagerly to see him, the only one eager to lay eyes on the new, and the last, to join the garrison. Michael waited as well, out of duty, but he seemed only to want to make his required appearance, and then return to more important work. Gabriel was excited, why, he wasn't exactly sure, at least not until he saw the babe.

The new fledgling was beautiful. Tiny white fluffy plumage adorned his back, his cheeks flushed, his impossibly blue eyes inquisitive. When the babe caught Gabriel's eye, he smiled; a bemused little thing that asked, "And what exactly is going on here?" Gabriel immediately melted, and from that moment forward, Gabriel would always hold a soft spot for the youngest angel.

Gabriel, as archangel, need have little to do with simple foot soldiers, but he personally trained the new babe, raising him and keeping an eye on him. Raphael mocked that angels didn't need their own guardian angels; but Gabriel ignored him and the new babe adored the archangel. Michael, whom Gabriel was sure would've protested, said nothing, only observing with a dark scowl emblazoned on his face. Gabriel couldn't be bothered to question him, as he taught his fledgling to fly, and then to fight, and what it meant to be an angel.

But Gabriel refused to raise the babe as a mindless drone, heaven had enough of those; so Gabriel instead taught him to appreciate the flowers, to adore the humans, (whom were NOT to be called mud monkeys, though they were funny to watch, and the fledgling would agree, weren't the humans marvelous!?) to question everything and to be strong. He treated the babe as a son more than as a brother; and Gabriel; the untouchable, mighty archangel, gained a fledgling shaped weak spot, but Gabriel couldn't be bothered to care. He liked it too much.

And then Lucifer fell, and Gabriel was devastated, vowing to leave and never return, his heart wrenching at leaving the only person who really mattered to him. He knew it would break his heart, to have to say good bye.

So he didn't. He left; disappeared without a word to anyone.

He took to Earth as a Trickster, having fun and pulling pranks, gaining an alias so no one would know his true identity, vaguely keeping up with the angel gossip, not paying much attention until he heard; one day, a voice deep and rich, one he'd not heard before but strangely familiar;

Dean Winchester is saved.

Gabriel frowned at the voice; then shook his head. He couldn't place it. But Dean Winchester? Oh, that name, he knew, and he knew it very well. It had been awhile since he'd messed with the Winchester boys; maybe he'd go pay them a visit, but first? There was a lot of information he needed to catch up on, and some old friends whom he knew would know what was happening; he'd pay them a visit first, (because they knew how to party, and Gabriel had always been the kind to eat his dessert first, if you catch his drift,) and then, he'd see what the boys had been up to.

Gabriel couldn't breathe. One couldn't tell by looking at him, his easy grin, was his trademark, and the Winchesters were too distracted to notice that it was faked, (what with his fabulous, if he said so himself, changing channels prank,) but it was.

His fledgling was here. His babe, all grown up, and with a terrible fashion sense, but here. Helping the Winchesters, which was surprising, the glance he caught of his fledgling's wings surprising him as well. He hadn't let his babe get a word in before he'd thrown him out, he couldn't reveal his identity, but the charred black of his wings told Gabe he knew what voice he would've heard.

His babe; now no longer a babe; working with the humans.

His Castiel; all grown up, and Gabriel was ecstatic to see him, but also nervous. From the disdain and shock he'd seen etched onto his angel's face; Castiel wasn't happy to see him.

Gabriel didn't do guilt; it was a nasty emotion for humans to deal with. No archangel would ever lower themselves to feel such a thing as guilt.

But Gabriel felt just that.

Gabriel the archangel found himself smothered by guilt.

And the only person he could blame was himself.

THE END!

...or not? Lemme know if you want more or not, and I'll give you what you want! (to a degree, I give myself creative license, so hah!)

Hope you enjoyed it, tell me what you want to see, and I'll see what I can do!

I love you all, dear readers, in that totally platonic and non-creepy (kinda creepy) way that I am most familiar with! Sending you kind thoughts and warm wishes!