"Gabriel." Joshua set down the seedling he had selected in the box he was preparing to transplant. Straightening up he looked at his older brother. "You are troubled."

"Is it that obvious?" Gabriel asked.

"Of course it is!" Joshua stepped forward. "You're frowning and your shoulders are as rigid as Atlas'."

Gabriel sighed. "There are so many things happening right now and everyone looks to me to handle it. If I knew this was what Dad had in mind, I think I would hidden inside of an active volcano somewhere."

"At least you are trying to joke about it. That's a good sign at least." Joshua said, picking up the box and handing it to Gabriel. "I'm planting Palm trees today. You can help. Physical Labor can go a long way toward relieving stress."

Joshua picked up a shovel and started walking. "Tell me your troubles while we walk."

"War, Joshua. A war that I don't want to involve us in, but I can't see any way around it." Gabriel answered.

"You mean wars don't you? As I see it two wars are brewing one among the vampires," Joshua paused, "And one among the pagans."

"Crowley's demons will be involved in the Vampire war, not the Pagan one." Gabriel said.

Joshua stopped and looked at Gabriel. "And the pagans fight over you. Which do you think is of more importance to me, and to Castiel and Balthazar?" Joshua took the box of seedlings from Gabriel and set them on the ground.

"We remember Gabriel. What it was like when we were a family bound to each other though love. It was inconceivable to raise our hands against each other or to allow an outsider to do so. It was Michael and Lucifer's bickering that corrupted us.

I think our father wanted you to leave. He wanted you to stay clear of the corruption in preparation for this day. Raphael stayed and in the end was as corrupted as Michael and Lucifer before it was all over, but you my brother stayed clear.

When you returned it was just a handful of us left, those who still remembered what we meant to each other in the beginning and you brought that back to us. The young ones see heaven the way our family was meant to be." Joshua said as he plunged the shovel into the earth creating a hole.

"If we go to war it is what we were created for. Our father created us to be warriors and warriors fight wars." Joshua picked up a seedling and gently placed it in the hole packing dirt loosely around the root. "But no General has to go to war alone, You have officers to help you plan. You have soldiers to carry out your plans. Just remember it does not all rest on your shoulders."

"Joshua I begin to see why he only talked to you for so many centuries." Gabriel said. "You have a gift for helping others to see clearly.

Would you be willing to take a trip with me? I think you are probably the most skilled diplomat I know."

"I swear those two are driving me crazy." Murphy said as he sat down with his coffee.

"Tell me about it." Connor grunted. "I am so tired of Connor tell Sam or Connor tell Dean. I'm about ready to lock em up together and throw away the key!"

"Castiel, why don't you talk to them." Murphy suggested.

"I do not think Sam and Dean will listen to me in their present states of mind." Castiel said. "Perhaps you should talk to them apart from each other. I believe that they may be able to better relate to you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Connor asked.

" I believe that you both have begun to bond with the Winchesters. Sam and Murphy seem to commiserate with each other over how annoying you and Dean can be." Cas started.

Annoying Murph? You think I'm annoying?" Connor yelled.

"There are times when you are a right pain in the arse with your older brother bullshit, so yes." Murphy answered.

"I'm the elder, I'm allowed to be a pain in the arse when you're being a childish idiot." Connor countered. And things went downhill from there.

"Well that went well." Meg said watching the twins arguing. "Gabriel can deal with two sets of arguing brothers when he gets back."

"It's okay Joshua, I don't think the Asgard are going to do anything." Gabriel said as they mounted the stairs to Odin's hall.

"I'm simply wondering if they will be as welcoming as you think." Joshua said worrying at his tie. For the umpteenth time. Gabriel stopped looking at Joshua and snapped his fingers switching out the suit with Jeans and a work shirt, Joshua's normal attire.

"I killed the Men in Black dress code remember? I'm not going in here looking like Agents J and K! Thor would never let me live that down." Gabriel grumbled. Gabriel continued up the steps and through the large doors that opened as soon as he approached. He stopped with Joshua at his side as silence fell over the hall, every pair of eyes fixed on them.

A large blond man sitting at the high table stood up annoyed at the interruption. Then his frown grew into a wide smile. "My Brother! Don't just stand there! Come, take your place by my side at the high board!"

"Are you sure you want an Archangel sitting at the king's side, Thor?" Gabriel asked.

"In this Hall you are still Loki Odinsson and a rightful prince of Asgard. Father made it so when he stood at the board and raised his horn declaring you his son before all assembled." Thor answered.

The woman who had been seated at Thor's left had stood up and made her way to stand in front of Gabriel. She gave him a bright smile and hugged him tightly. "Lok...Gabriel, You may not have been born to us but we adopted you into our family and our hearts. Welcome home."

Gabriel couldn't resist smiling at her. "Thank you." Taking her hand he turned toward Joshua. "Mother, This is Joshua, one of my brothers. Joshua this is Freya my adopted mother."

Freya gave Joshua a bright smile as she threaded her arm through his while doing the same with Gabriel and other other side. She led the angels to the High board. Releasing Gabriel she smiled as Thor and Gabriel hugged.

She turned to one of the servants, "More mead! Tonight we celebrate the return of my son and welcome his brother Joshua to Asgard!"

Joshua, Gabriel and Thor stood as Freya got to her feet. The mead was still flowing and Thor showed no signs of slowing down. He was entertaining Joshua with stories of some of Gabriel's pranks among the Asgard as Loki. Freya had finally decided it was time to let them men talk.

"Gabriel, you will break your fast with me in the morning." Freya said "Joshua you are welcome in our hall the servants have prepared a room for you when you wish to take your rest. I don't think Gabriel and Loki will close their eyes this night." She gave her sons a smile before leaving.

Once she was gone from the Hall, Gabriel spoke. "I'm sorry Thor. If Odin had listened to me, maybe he would still be alive. On top of that now I've managed to drag you into a civil war."

Thor placed his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Odin was ever pigheaded brother. There is no one who could have convinced him of the threat. And as for Poseidon, If that waterlogged son of a sea serpent thinks Asgard will give up one of our own he is sadly mistaken. The house of Odin will not bow to a bunch of Greeks who lost all power to the upstart Romans. He wants a fight he will get one."

Joshua now spoke up. "It is not just Pagans we will be at war with, demons and Vampires also will find reason to take up arms."

"Truly?" Thor said looking at Joshua. When the angel nodded Thor turned to Gabriel with a laugh. "Why does it not surprise me that trouble follows you about like a dark cloud, brother. No matter, your enemies are my enemies. Asgard will stand shoulder to shoulder with heaven against all who would wish you harm."

Gabriel picked up his horn of Mead. "Well here's to standing on the field of battle together once again. Only this time I have no reason to hide what I am."

"So you won't be hiding behind me?" Thor raised his own horn, "That will be a new experience!" He teased.