Disclaimer: I wish I owned Supernatural. Unfortunately, Castiel already took my soul, so I can't make a deal for it.

A/N

I'm gonna keep this short, since you probably are hungry for the next chapter. I'm really sorry I haven't updated in a while, but my laptop was broken and I had marching band for 8 hours a day for the past week. So, without further ado, the next chapter!

Chapter 4

"Gabriel…"

Castiel poked his big brother's face, harder this time.

"Gabriel…"

Castiel squealed with delight from where he was perched on Gabriel's chest as the archangel lazily opened one eye, looking at him with an excited expression.

The older angel sighed, sitting up, sending Castiel tumbling off onto the cloudbank with a muffled squeak.

"Wazzat?" the blonde archangel asked drowsily, peering around through half-lidded eyes. His long hair was mussed up and sticking out in every direction, and his clothes were rumpled from where he had slept.

"What're we gonna do today, Gabriel?" Castiel asked, practically bouncing in excitement.

Castiel heard his brother give a loud groan, suddenly being jerked back to lie on the clouds when the archangel flopped back down, taking him with.

"Not today, kiddo," Gabriel said, his face buried in the clouds, "it's a lazy day today."

Castiel cocked his head the best he could while he was pinned down by Gabriel's arm, "What's a 'lazy day?'" he asked.

The fledgling's elder brother turned his head to look at him, "It's when you do nothing and just rest and goof off," Castiel furrowed his brow. What was the purpose of such a day? Why would someone just do nothing? Gabriel smirked, "It'll catch on eventually," he replied to Castiel's confused expression, re-closing his eyes.

Castiel hooked his pudgy fingers around Gabriel's hand and pushed, struggling to get free, eyes scrunched up in determination. Letting go, he relaxed for an instant, catching Gabriel's smug smirk before renewing his efforts with increased fervor. Castiel huffed in exasperation as his brother remained lying down. Then slowly, a smile curved his tiny mouth as he fought to keep giggles in check. Reaching out cautiously with one finger, he prodded Gabriel in the ribs, forcing out a bark of laughter from the archangel, who instinctively drew his arms to protect his chest.

Leaping up triumphantly, Castiel grinned at his older brother, who looked at him with a menacingly mischievous smirk. Castiel's grin faded slowly, dimming and dying out as he realized that Gabriel was up to something.

"You got me that time, huh?" Gabriel asked, watching him with the same unnerving smirk plastered on his face. Castiel shuffled his feet nervously in response. Gabriel shook his head in mock solemnity, "you're messing with the original trickster here, kiddo," he warned, making the fledgling grow increasingly nervous. Castiel was debating whether or not it would be a good idea to run when Gabriel tackled him, tickling him mercilessly.

Castiel giggled, flailing his arms and legs in an attempt to push the archangel away, scattering little bits of cloud into the air, getting them caught in the two brothers' hair and clothing.

Tousling about for several more minutes, the two angels eventually lost all their energy, flopping down next to each other in exhausted cheerfulness.

"See there, kiddo?" Gabriel said, turning his head to face Castiel, "It's not so bad."

Castiel nodded in agreement, suddenly looking forward to this new kind of day. Gabriel sat up abruptly, rummaging through a pocket.

"Aha!" he declared triumphantly, finding whatever it was he was looking for. Castiel wasn't sure he wanted to know. The archangel held out a small brown, rectangular package with a filmy sort of wrapping. "Here," he said, smiling encouragingly, keeping a packet for himself. The archangel carefully, almost reverently, peeled off the wrapping, exposing a warm brown colored square. Mimicking his elder brother's actions, Castiel did the same, taking a tiny nibble of the substance inside.

Immediately, a warmth spread throughout his entire mouth, the strange brown substance coating his tongue with a decadent, sweet flavor. Castiel closed his eyes with a sigh of pleasure, marveling in the new sensation.

"Like it?" Gabriel asked with a small smile, interrupting the fledgling's thoughts. Castiel nodded enthusiastically, looking at the small rectangle with round eyes. "It's called chocolate," his older brother explained, "It's come a long way, and, strictly speaking, I shouldn't have given you any," he raised his eyebrows twice at his little brother, "You think you can keep a secret, kiddo?"

Castiel looked up and nodded eagerly, "I will, Gabriel! I promise!" he squeaked around his mouthful of chocolate. Finishing off his piece, Castiel greedily licked the smears of chocolate off of his fingertips, disappointed that his chocolate was now gone. He then looked forlornly at his hands, causing Gabriel to laugh, messing up his hair yet again.

"Hello, Gabriel." Castiel whipped around to find Michael, the archangel who was obviously the most powerful. By his side was a fledgling who looked as if she were older than Castiel. She was much taller than the tiny, blue eyed angel, and she had long red hair spilling down her back. Michael nodded once to Castiel, who blushed furiously.

"Castiel," he greeted warmly. The hazel eyed archangel turned to Gabriel seriously. "Father has a job for you, Gabriel," he stated.

Castiel turned to the blonde archangel, tilting his head in confusion, "Why does Father want to see you, Gabriel?" he asked.

The aforementioned archangel sighed, running a hand through his long honey-colored hair. He held up a finger to Michael, signaling him to wait, and knelt beside his little brother.

"You see," Gabriel started, "I'm kinda like Dad's messenger. It's my job. And sometimes, not often mind you, he calls me to send messages throughout time. Which means I'll be gone for a while. I won't be gone long. You should go with Michael."

Castiel was completely silent as the words settled in. "B-but," he stuttered, his lower lip trembling, "you're leaving?" he asked. How was he supposed to go and face his other siblings without his big brother to support him? Why would his brother leave him?

"Only for a little while," Gabriel reassured. The archangel looked around, his eyes lighting up as he found what he was looking for, "take your teddy, kiddo, he'll keep you company," he said, pressing the squishy brown bear into the fledgling's arms. Castiel cuddled the teddy close, sniffling a little. Gabriel leaned over and hugged him tight before standing up and taking off, disappearing out of sight in less than a second.

"Come, Castiel," Michael said, holding out a hand. Castiel took it shakily, smiling a little as the older fledgling leaned over and hugged him, smiling brightly.

"I'm Anna," she said, her eyes shining, "I'm your big sister."

Castiel trudged along, dragging his feet through the clouds. Everything seemed so much bigger and colder without Gabriel beside him.

"Castiel!"

The fledgling turned around to see all of the other fledglings hovering in the air.

"Come play with us!" Anna called, beckoning to him encouragingly.

"Come on, Anna," A squat, brown eyed angel scoffed, "Look at his wings. He can't fly yet. He's too weak."

Castiel's bottom lip began to tremble. Weak? That was the second time he heard it. And this time, Gabriel wasn't here to defend him. Looking down at his feet in shame, Castiel sniffled halfheartedly, pulling his teddy closer to his chest.

"Zachariah!" Anna exclaimed, aghast.

"It's true," The fledgling shrugged.

A dark skinned fledgling a little older than Castiel gently touched down next to the sniffling fledgling, "Well then let's play on the ground then," he said, patting Castiel on the shoulder, "Lucifer said that all our brothers and sisters are special."

Anna smiled brightly, "That's right Uriel!" she said, landing next to her brothers, "Michael said so too!"

Castiel smiled shyly at his siblings, still clutching his teddy close to him. Zachariah, realizing that no one was on his side on the subject, touched down as well.

Soon all four fledglings were laughing and running through the clouds. Even as he was playing, though, Castiel couldn't help but wonder when Gabriel would return and take him home.

Castiel curled into a tighter ball, burying his face in his teddy bear. All the other fledglings were already sleeping, but the blue eyed angel couldn't do anything but cry. Hearing footsteps, he curled up even tighter, pretending that he wasn't there.

It didn't really work.

"What's wrong, brother?" Lucifer asked gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. Michael looked on with concerned eyes. Castiel raised his head, sniffling.

"Gabriel said—Gabriel promised—" Castiel sobbed, "Gabriel promised he'd only be gone for a little b-b-bit."

Michael kneeled down to look Castiel in the eyes. "Gabriel will be back, Castiel," he insisted, "Be patient."

Castiel nodded, opening his mouth to respond when both brothers suddenly flew off, heeding some call only they could hear.

"Gabriel's coming back," Castiel whispered to his teddy, "Don't worry."

A/N

I'm sorry! Like I said, I didn't have a laptop, and I had marching band, but I'm back now! I hope the length of this chapter made up for it!

Oh man, now I just wanna hug Little Cas until he stops crying…. Or send him some chocolate. And punch Zachariah in the face. I guess he was a dick even as a fledgling. Next chapter will tell what Gabriel's been up to! With an added surprise….. hehehhehehehe…. One shots may be postponed another week or two… sorry.

Once again, review if you liked it! And if you don't, still review! I like constructive criticism almost as much as compliments :)