Anyone else love that episode last week as much as I did. The lullaby nearly killed me.

Castiel discovered that he was quite fond of baths. There was just something amazing about sinking into a pool of warm water and how muscles will relax with worries washing away. Castiel gently scrubbed Daniels hair being extra careful to ensure no soap got into his fledgling's eyes. Since John had taken a bath with Daniel Castiel assumed he must now take on that role in John's absence. He was glad he did.

Daniel would splash around in the bubbles giggling. He had taken to speaking in Enochian to Castiel asking random questions and telling stories. In return Castiel would listen attentively and answer to the best of his ability one story in particular about one time where Michael had eaten butterscotches and acquired an addiction of sorts until John cut him off was quite amusing. Castiel had grown to be a soldier and his childish fledgling ways were lost after Lucifer fell. He had never much interaction with the fledglings; he hadn't known their wonder.

Gabriel had gone out, Balthazar was downstairs napping, and Michael was trying to tune into angel radio in his room. That left Castiel and Daniel alone. It was comforting to know that nothing on an apocalyptic scale of bad could happen. It had been so long since Castiel had lived a peaceful life. Daniel had gotten much of the bubbles outside of the tub rather than in but it wasn't much of a bother. Angelic abilities often had their perks. Castiel lifted his fledgling out of the bath along with himself then covered Daniel in a soft green towel. Castiel simply mojoed, as Dean would call it, himself dry now wearing a pair of pants. He realized once he removed the towel that Daniel had mimicked his daddy, and now wore a pair of shorts.

Daniel unfurled his wings and his babble ceased. The silence was a tad eerie like the calm before a storm. Castiel neatly folded up the towel and asked, "Little one do you have nothing more to say?"

Daniel opened his mouth, rather than replying with words he screamed. Castiel felt himself cease up; frozen were he stood. The screams were so full of pain that Castiel had to make sure no demons were in the vicinity. When he tried to pick Daniel up the little one struggled thrashing his wings. His wails only increased. Castiel felt an emotion between horribly confounded and mortified. He tried his best to soothe his fledgling by rubbing Daniel's back between his wings, singing in Enochian, and whispering sweet words. Nothing calmed the little fledgling's wails of agony.

Castiel rushed out of the bathroom to grab Afriel from the living room. Daniel simply threw his beloved bear and continued to cry. Castiel felt that even though he was a powerful angel of the lord that he himself might begin to cry. Michael had come downstairs looking a little sympathetic, but mostly annoyed. "Why won't his sobbing and shrieks cease?"

Castiel glared at Michael for his lack of assistance, "I do not know!"

Michael sighed, "I wish for it to stop. Jonathon never goes into a fit like one of this. This is troublesome. Allow me to put Daniel into unconsciousness."

Castiel wasn't going to allow anything of the sort. He rocked Daniel in his arms to the rhythm of soft lulling. Michael sat down on the couch, "I have never looked after the fledglings in heaven. I do not have any answers in regarding to what the problem is with him."

Castiel asked, "Little one what is it that pains you? Do you require sustenance? Are you ill?" He received no reply other than sobs. Castiel wished that Dean was here. As Castiel had observed Dean was much more capable in these types of situations. John also knew much more about Daniel and would surely be a comfort to him. Hearing his fledgling's cries was becoming almost unbearable. He imagined that in this context saying his heart was breaking would be appropriate.

Gabriel had simply gone on a simple candy run. He had been in desperate need of some Choco Truffle Delights and Bumblebees closed at 6. He was sure that if shit hit the fan the eldest Archangel could handle it if not Balthazar and Castiel. There were no demons, ghost, murderous angels, or giant mutant lizard monsters at the house when he returned although a mutant lizard would be cool. No when Gabriel came home he found Castiel looking absolutely distraught only wearing pants holding his fledgling that was in the process of screaming till his lungs burst. Michael had a pair of noise canceling headphones on as he skimmed through a Highlights magazine. Gabriel would compare Castiel to either a weary war torn soldier, or new single mother who had no idea what to do after she brought her child into the world.

Both were fairly accurate descriptions. Gabriel yelled over Daniel's wailing, "CASSIE WHAT'S GOING ON!"

Castiel's face filled with hope that had once been lost, "Brother please I beg of you I do not know what to do! I do not know what is wrong he has been screaming for about twenty minutes. Please Brother help me! Please assist me in some way I beg of you. It's grown beyond agonizing and he appears to be in so much turmoil."

Gabriel felt a little guilty about leaving seeing that Castiel was so close to throwing in the towel. He also felt irritated that Michael was a dickhead. With a snap of his fingers he took Michaels' headphones and turned the child magazine into a very kinky porno mag. Michael threw the magazine "Brother what is the meaning of this!"

"Why the hell didn't you help Cassie with Danny?" Gabriel demanded, "Surely the eldest of all angels didn't just decide to ignore his younger brother in a time of utmost horror filled agony."

"There was nothing I could do. Castiel would not let me put him into unconsciousness, and I know little about the ways of fledglings."

"Mikey, you are a great general and military man and all the crap, but we have got to get you into some parenting classes of some sort."

Gabriel ran his hand through his hair and went to examine Danny. Castiel looked at Gabriel with such hope filled eyes Gabe hoped he could provide. He mused to Danny in Enochian, "Calm now little one, I shall see what ails you." He checked for broken bones, bruises, and scratches finding none. It was when Gabriel got to Daniel's wings he chuckled softly, "Well shit Cassie, his wings just need to be groomed is all."

"When a fledglings wings don't get groomed after some time it can get pretty painful, especially since he's still growing his flight feathers. After his bath it must have hurt like a bitch."

Castiel nodded, "Can you groom them Brother?"

Gabriel sighed, "I'd be better if you did Daddy-kins."

Castiel slowly reached for Daniel's feathers. When his fingers brushed them Daniel jerked away attempting to escape his arms while still crying. "You have to get him to allow you to by opening up to him, allow trust, and show him your wings. Let him touch them a bit and he'll let you groom his. I remember when I had to do that with Balthazar."

A dreary voice asked, "What about Balthazar?"

"Well look who slept through a mini fledgling apocalypse!" Gabriel answered, "I was just telling Cassie how I used to groom your feathers. You hid amongst the cherubs while in pain just because you disliked me for teasing you because I said your wings were bird-like. The first time I groomed them you nearly tore out one of my main flight feathers on my third wing with your fiery little fist!"

Balthazar snorted, "You seemed really dodgy at the time!"

Daniel's sobbing interrupted the walk down memory lane. Castiel kissed Daniel's forehead before he put him down on the floor. It was much easier to open his wings when shirtless because he did not have to manifest them through his shirt. Castiel sat on the floor and pulled Danny into his lap. The crying had grown softer. Daniel reached up and stroked one of Castiel's long feathers. Castiel took that as a go ahead and ran his hand over Danny's downy feathers. Danny whimpered, but he did not pull away. Castiel gently began to brush through Daniel's feathers, untangling the down, and separating the growing flight feathers that had clumped together. Castiel's wings cocooned almost completely around Daniel. The little fledgling had stopped crying with the exception of a few hiccups here and there.

Michael watched the ordeal observantly. Gabriel watched proudly for a while, but eventually got bored and took to pulling Balthazar into his lap. Balthazar fought Gabriel's suggestions of grooming his wings now that he was grown, yet it didn't bother Gabriel at all. A wrestling match involving four sporadic bright golden wings, and two tawny ones ensued. Castiel felt as if there was nothing else in the world but him and Daniel. Daniel's gaze never once left Castiel's as he streamed his little fingers through Castiel's strong feathers. He hoped he could grow up to have such magnificent wings like his daddy's. Gabriel, Michael, and Balthazar's were nice, but he found himself more awestruck upon seeing his daddy's.

Once Castiel was finished he ruffled Danny's hair, "All better now Little One. I apologize for not knowing what had caused you so much pain."

Gabriel had Balthazar in a headlock, yet he was more than capable of dragging Balthazar along to hand Danny a truffle, "You did really good Danny-boy. Such a big strong boy like you once you're flight feathers come in fully you might be able to take on Mikey!"

"Take on Uncle Mikey?"

"Hell's yeah!"

Danny giggled hiding behind his hands embarrassed. He was a tad spoiled, but being told you could take the Archangel Michael in a fight was something else. Michael said, "Gabriel I find it insulting that you find that plausible. He is a fledgling only existent 6 months before. While I have been in existence since the very beginning when father created me as the first angel a fledgling would be of no match"

Balthazar muttered, "That's coming from the guy who got dragged into the pit by a mud monkey by the name of Sam Winchester."

Gabriel rolled his eyes, "Remind me to kick your ass later for being a kill joy"

"Why would I remind you of something of that sort I do not wish for my 'ass to be kicked' thus it would be much more beneficial for me if you were to forget."

Castiel handed Daniel Afriel. The little one apologized greatly to the bear for disregarding it when he had needed his wings groomed. Danny said, "I'm gonna tell Mama about my booboo when he gets back and how Daddy fixed it!"

Castiel asked, "Why is it Daniel refers to Dean as 'Mama' I believe that is a term used for females, correct?"

Gabriel shoved two truffles into his mouth, "Danny doesn't have much concept of parental figures. He is an angel after all, not a full-fledged human. Once time he was playing in the park and I guess he heard parents are Mama and Daddy. Also I guess it's more on a subconscious level, but it was Dean's soul that reached out to your grace."

Castiel exclaimed, "I had not meant to! I only wished to offer Dean comfort in his time of need. He and I share a profound bond."

"Profound bond Sure…" Balthazar grumbled

Gabriel explained "I'm not judging you Cassie. I was just going to say that in that case Dean would be more like a mother if you put it in human terms. God is Father; you're daddy, and Dean's mama. You could try to get him to start saying Papa but it probably won't get through to him."

Danny tilted his head, "I don't got a Mama?"

"Mama is Papa Little One. Dean is a human male thus Papa would be much more appropriate in certain situations."

Danny pouted, "Dean Mama! Mama said so!"

Balthazar asked, "Why is this even up for discussion when Dean doesn't even have any idea that Danny is his kid?"

"We're gonna tell him at some point", Gabriel said, "We just have to wait for the right time. Dean-o isn't exactly a 'let's all talk about our feelings!' kind of guy."

"If Castiel were to seduce Dean then it is plausible." Michael suggested "They already share a profound bond and if it were to be brought to the surface of Dean's consciousness then he would come to accept it."

Gabriel laughed, "Wow Mikey when did you become such a Romeo! Offering up your ex- vessel like that."

Balthazar whistled, "Oh what we do for true love. We're turning into a group of cherubs."

Castiel's eyes widened, "Love?"

Gabriel patted Cas's shoulder, "Yeah, Love. You're in love with Dean, Right?"

Castiel began, "I love all of humanity, I love all the angels in heaven, I love our father as we are supposed to. When I pulled Dean Winchester from hell I knew that was my mission and he became my charge. I knew it to be my duty to protect the righteous man. He and I have been through much together. I hunted, rebelled; I did all of that for him. He claimed to be like family and I believed that as well. I will do anything for Dean. I am his friend as he is mine. He is just a human and he claimed he would die for me. I knew I should not disobey my brother's and I knew I should not put one human above the rest yet I did. For some odd reason I knew this, yet because of Dean I did not regret it in the slightest. Dean had taught me many things. He claims to be horrible when in truth he's beyond righteous, kind, gentle, and protective. Never before have I been so enticed by a human."

Balthazar had started making gagging noises and pretending to vomit behind the couch.

Castiel asked, "Is that what being in love is Brother?"

Gabriel grinned from ear to ear, "Yeah Cassie, you're in deep. You two making goo-goo eyes at each other is practically smothering. You could cut the sexual tension with a knife!"

Castiel titled his head, "Sexual tension? What do you mean? "

"That's a conversation for another day Oh innocent little Cassie."

Balthazar groaned, "Now I really think I'm going to throw up!"

Castiel looked at his feet, "Are you quite sure that Dean feels the same way that I do?"

Gabriel picked up Danny and said, "Got living breathing proof right here."

Danny looked from Gabriel to Castiel then reached out to pat his daddy's face, "Daddy love Mama. I mean Papa!"

Castiel mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly.