They had let Gabriel pick the spot for their blanket after having gotten to the beach. Raphael had crossed his arms in defiance at having been passed over, but a look from Michael had him biting his tongue to with hold his comments. He followed behind a tad slower, something that did not go unnoticed by his older brothers, kicking at the warm sand with his tiny bare feet.

Lucifer set out the blanket they had brought and, even though he had asked first, went about putting sunscreen on Gabriel first anyway. He loved his baby brother, but sometimes he liked it better when it had just been him.

After that his big brother had turned to him, inquiring about him needing help applying the protective cream, but Raphael shook his head and snatched it out of his brother's hands.

"I's not a baby"

Both elder archangels exchanged looks over his head, Gabriel remaining oblivious to the change in attitude like any child his age would. Raphael angrily rubbed the cream on himself before thrusting the bottle back down onto the blanket and looking up at Lucifer.

"Luci, can we go plays in the water?"

Lucifer looked up from where he had been helping Gabriel pat down the sand to build a castle. Raphael was looking up at him with shining green eyes.

"Maybe later kiddo, Gabe wants to build a castle"

Raphael frowned as his big brother turned back to his baby brother, formally dismissing his wants. Deciding that this big brother was a moot point, he turned to his biggest brother.

"Mikey?"

Michael looked up at his younger brother, pausing in what he had been doing. Raphael looked so upset that it made his heart twist.

"Yes, Little One?"

"Will you please play in the water with me?"

Michael smiled sadly at him, clearly seeing that underneath he really wanted to play with Lucifer but the Morning Star was more then content in playing with Gabriel. Even if he didn't see it, he as playing favorites between the two. Reaching over to caress the healers small cheek, Michael looked over his head at the two behind them digging in the sand.

"Hey Gabby? Is it ok if I help you build your castle?"

Raphael's entire frame drooped at the question. Michael almost called quite's to his plan and pulled the boy into a warm cuddle, but he was able to pull out of it. Keeping his gaze above the youths head watching as Gabriel looked up and smiled happily before going back to his castle. Michael stood, leaving Raphael in his place, as he made his way over to them. Raphael huffed in anger and turned around with his back facing them as he fell into a pout.

He missed it as Michael leaned over to whisper in Lucifer's ear. And he missed as his big brother's head shot up to look at him in alarm.

Raphael let out a small shriek as he was lifted up off the ground and into his big brothers arms. Lucifer cradled him in his embrace against his chest as he walked them both down to the waters edge. Raphael huffed as he looked away, there was not much more that he could do other then that as he was a tiny boy in his big (tall) brothers arms. There was no way he could turn around and ignore him.

"I'm sorry Kiddo, can I still play with you?"

The young healer shook his head and looked away again. With his gaze averted, he missed his big brother smile mischievously down at him. He did, however, feel the finger that wiggled in his lower little belly. He twisted his head around, hiding his face in his big brothers bare chest to hide his smile.

"Oh? What's that I spied?"

Raphael shook his head. The finger moved upwards towards his belly button, giggles finally pouring from his mouth as it did. Michael looked up at them with a soft smile when he heard the squeal that escaped his little younger brother. Raphael giggled hard as he grabbed at the wrist of the hand that was poking at his belly.

"Luci! Top it! Luci!"

Lucifer chuckled but stopped his playful attack. Raphael was smiling again and that was all that mattered. Righting his little brother once more, settling him on his hip.

"Still wanna play in the water Little One?"

Raphael nodded, giggling when he was hiked up higher on his big brother's hip and they walked out in the waves. The water was a warm but not too warm, cool to just the right degree. Once they were out deeper Lucifer pulled his younger brother around to his front. Raphael let out a sound of alarm when his feet didn't touch the bottom and latched back onto his big brothers arms. The Morning star frowned lightly at his little brothers fear, wrapping his arms around him securely.

"What's wrong Little Brother?"

Raphael nuzzled into his big brothers chest, not so sure he wanted to play in the water anymore.

"Raphie?"

"I's can't touch the bottoms!"

Lucifer's eyes widened in realization. Raphael didn't know how to swim at this age. He could feel the quivering of his baby brother against his chest and he pressed a gentle kiss into his hair.

"You don't know how to swim, do you kiddo?"

Raphael shook his head and huddled closer, if that was possible. Lucifer hummed over his little brothers head, locking eyes with the person swimming up to them. Kissing his head once more he slowly peeled the young healer off him. Michael had put Gabriel down for a nap on their blankets, a ward of protection surrounding the young slumbering archangel, a ward that would alert them should anything happen to him.

Michael gently took their little brother as he was passed to him, pulling the little healer into his own chest, both of them still facing Lucifer. Leaning down softly, he spoke gently in his little brothers ear.

"Then we will teach you Little Brother"

Raphael gave a squeak of fear as his small hands grasped his big brothers fingers as hard as he could. Michael squeezed his back in reassurance.

"Kick your legs, Little Brother, I promise not to let any harm befall you"

The little healer was frightened to do so, but he trusted his big brothers to no ends, and therefore kicked his legs as instructed. Slowly he felt his big brothers arms unraveling from around him and he cried out in fear, tears actually springing to his eyes at the thoughts that his big brother was actually going to let him drown.

But he didn't sink an inch.

He kicked his legs good and hard for a long minute until Lucifer swam up behind him and wrapped his arms around his small frame. Raphael stopped kicking as he latched onto his big brother, sobs wracking his entire body.

"Raphie? What ever is wrong?"

"M-M-Mikey lets me go Luci!"

Lucifer pressed a small is to his forehead.

"Only because you did it Little One, you swam all by yourself"

Raphael sniffled but looked up at him none the less. Lucifer smiled gently down at him, Eskimo kissing his small nose for a moment to bring back that smile, albeit a watery one.

"I did?"

Lucifer smiled warmly, pecking the youth on the nose. Even Michael smiled at him from behind.

"You sure did Little Brother, wanna try swimming back over to Mikey?"

Raphael looked frightened at the idea of losing his safety net for that short moment, but rose to the challenge anyway. Nodding his head slowly, Lucifer gently turned him back around felt it when his tiny feet began kicking in the water. Raphael struggled but managed a strong doggy paddle across the short distance all by himself and swim himself into his big brothers waiting arms.

Michael smiled, laughing at his little brothers triumph as he pulled him into a warm snuggle.

"Mikey Mikey I did its!'

"You sure did Little Healer, and I am so proud of you"

Raphael yawned adorably against his shoulder.

"I think that's enough swimming for one day, your sleepy Dear One"

Both elder archangels smiled at him adoringly when the baby angel muttered 'no I's not' and nuzzled deeper into his big brothers shoulder. Michael met Lucifer's gaze and they shared a smile as they turned in sync heading back to shore. Lucifer was gentle as he scooped Gabriel up off the blanket, as to not wake him up too much. Gabriel mumbled nonsense into his shoulder as he snuggled closer. With a quick snap of his fingers the blanket and cooler where gone. Michael shook his head fondly and nodded his head towards the car.

They got home a little after sun down, both young angels had woken up on the ride home, but were still pretty mellowed out. Looking back at them from his seat, Lucifer smiled at his little baby brothers. They both looked up at him with wide eyes which only made his smile widen.

"So, its getting dark out, but I don't think you two will want to go straight to bed after such a nap...How about we camp out in the living room and watch a movie?"

"Mikey be dere too?"

Michael looked back at Gabriel and smiled softly, "I wouldn't miss it for the world Baby Brother, however, I do believe I know two fledglings who will be getting baths before we have any sort of movie adventure"

The both giggled at his words.

Unbeknownst to His children, Chuck had stopped by later that night. It was late into the night and their movie had restarted itself, the light from the screen filling the room. He spotted first the adorable sight of Michael and Gabriel sleeping together on the couch. Michael was sprawled out on the couch, Gabriel curled up a top his chest his tiny thumb in his mouth, both his elder brother's arms wrapped loosely around him.

In front of them, curled on the floor, a top a pile of blankets, laid Lucifer. He was curled around the tiny form of Raphael. The little healer nuzzled into his big brothers chest softly, unconsciously, in his sleep. Chuck smiled gently when he noticed Lucifer's arms pull the small boy closer. Bending over slightly to pull the discarded blanket back over their slumbering forms.

Standing back, he looked over his four sons, smiling as his plan fell into place.

Sooo! Who doesn't love angel fluff! And Baby Gabe and Baby Raph are cuties!