I dedicate this chapter to all those that lost family, friends and their homes and businesses in the deadly tornadoes that hit the South this past week. My heart goes out to them.

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Chapter 12

Realizations

"Who is she? There's chatter that our big brother is interested in her and I don't mean for dinner and a movie," Gabriel announced in his casual way. " Whatever is going on, nobody is talking."

"We've been trying to find out who she is but we have had no luck. It's frustrating." Castiel explained. He was glad to see his brother again. Maybe he could help him sort out these feelings he was having. Having existed for thousands of years, his only feelings had been unconditional love for his father and his fellow angels. Gabriel had always been his favorite sibling.

After God had created Castiel, Gabriel had taken little notice of the novice angel. As a luemal (new angel, he had no fighting skills and no knowledge of the workings of heaven and earth. But he had been there to watch Castiel learn the ways of heaven and watched in consternation as the beautiful angel became a hardened warrior. Castiel had listened and learned; he had fought hard and he had fought well. Within a short time, his skill with the angel blade had become legendary. No one could defeat him. The ability to absorb information astounded even the Xakelan, whose purpose it was to care for the knowledge of heaven. While the new angel learned about his heavenly father, Gabriel decided to teach him about humans. That however, had been more difficult than he anticipated. Castiel may have become a hardened soldier but his wide eyed innocence had remained intact. Everything was new to him and humans were especially difficult for him to comprehend. When his training was finished, he eager to accept his place among the host as a dedicated soldier. He loved his father with his whole being and stood steadfast in his duties.

While all angels had the ability to see the only the edge of grace each other contained, Gabriel could see the intense and true grace of angels. He was astonished at the brightness of his youngest brother's grace. It shone brighter than anything in heaven. Brighter than Michael's, brighter than even Lucifer's and it far surpassed Raphael's and his own. Gabriel sometimes thought it rivaled the glory of God. Castiel was the perfect angel. He was humble where Michael was arrogant, generous where Lucifer was selfish, belligerent where Raphael was hostile and loyal where Gabriel was fickle. Yes, the perfect angel. He had even pulled Dean from hell, risking his existence, when the other angels had fled. Brave beyond compare was his little brother. Gabriel was proud he had been so close to the young angel.

For thousands and thousand of years, the knowledge that Lucifer was God's favorite was uncontested. Lucifer had seen the face of the Lord more than any of the other archangels. When the Morning Star fell, all the angels believed it was because his love for God was so intense, that he refused to subjugate himself to humans. Gabriel had a nagging feeling that was not really the true cause. Something else had happened that no one, not even Michael knew about. Dear ole Dad was naturally secretive, sometimes disappearing for years and leaving Michael and Lucifer in charge.

Gabriel found humans utterly fascinating. They were such a paradox. Created by God in his image, gifted with free will and a soul, they seemed determined to grind each other into the dirt. But oh, how they could love. Angels didn't have or need sex but humans, but man thrived on it. The levels of caring they could show each other was astounding. Human mates could be fiercely protective and love their chosen one above their own life. Yes, humans had always captivated him. So one day, sick of doling out punishments, he left heaven and didn't return. Instead, he played the role of a trickster. It allowed him to punish the wicked and still left time to get it on with the hottest female(s) on the planet. He served mankind just as his father wanted and he reaped the rewards. There were so many things he enjoyed about humanity and one of best things about humans...sweets.

"Michael is determined to have Dean as his vessel. Lucifer is trying to escape. The seals are breaking and our brothers and sisters are dying. I don't know if we can win," Castiel sighed, staring toward the sky. He had always been able to talk to Gabriel about anything.

"We have to win. That's all there is to it," he grinned as it was that simple. "How does it feel to walk among humans again? It's been a long long time since you did so."

"It's confusing," Castiel admitted.

Meanwhile Velvet, seeing Castiel talking to someone he obviously knew, dished out two pieces of cherry pie onto small plates, grabbed two forks and headed out the door. This new friend was smaller in statue than Cas and had lighter hair. He stared at her as she approached, a small smile on his face. He looked harmless and it never occurred to her that he might hurt her.

"Hey Cas, I thought you and your friend might like some pie. It's still warm," she gave the stranger a shy smile. He had pretty whisky colored eyes that seemed friendly enough.

"I never turn down pie. My name is Gabe by the way," he took a piece and elbowed Cas. "The lady is offering you a gift. Take it."

With a wary look at the brown and red thing sitting on a small dish, he reached out and took it and the fork from her. He never imbibed human food finding its consistency disgusting. Hoping she would go back in the house so he could throw it away, she instead stood there looking at him in expectation. Castiel looked back at the pie trying not to appear unappreciative.

"It's really no bad. Just try it," she said trying not laugh at his obvious displeasure at the food.

"I don't know if I will like this. What are these red objects?" He asked poking at them with the fork with curiosity. He looked over at Gabriel who was shoving a bite in his mouth and making noises that told Cas he was enjoying it.

"Those are called cherries. It's a fruit," she explained. "If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. You need to try it first."

He just continued to stare.

"Here," she said taking the fork from him and putting a bite on it. "Open your mouth." It was obvious he wasn't willing to try it on his own so she treated him like the children she babysat years ago. "Here comes the train. Chug, chug, chug," she waved the fork around. Castiel opened his mouth and she quickly shoved the bite inside. "Now, chew."

Gabriel was watching the whole thing with an air of amusement. She was treating his little brother, a creature of awesome and terrifying power, like a child. What was even more amusing was the fact that he was letting her. He could tell that this human had affected Castiel in a way no one ever had before. He was putty in her hands. This was getting interesting.

He couldn't say no to her when she insisted he take a bite. Castiel rolled the food around in mouth. It was a unique taste, varying between sweet and tart. He looked up at Velvet and she was smiling at him. "This is...tasty," not knowing what else to say, but he knew he liked it.

Velvet felt a twinge of disappointment. Who didn't like pie? But then he surprised her by giving her a small smile, taking the fork from her and digging into the pie.

"I think he likes it," Gabriel laughed, licking the crumbs from his fork.

"How do you know Cas?" Velvet inquired. It was obvious Cas was more comfortable around Gabe than anyone else she'd met so far. Maybe he was a hunter like Sam and Dean.

"I've known him all his life. You could say he's like a brother to me," he grinned at her.

"You're an angel too?" She was shocked as she looked back and forth between the two of them. He didn't act anything like Castiel.

He looked over at Cas who nodded in acknowledgement. Turning back to the human he spoke, "I am the archangel Gabriel. I was God's messenger." Most of the time he was but he had many other duties as well. He had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and served as an angel of death on occasion. It had been these duties that caused him to retreat to earth. His fondness for his father's creation made him want to preserve instead of always punishing.

Was? Did angels get demoted? "Gabriel? As in "Mary you're going to bear the son of God" Gabriel?" When he nodded, she could only say "Ohhh!" Then sensing she was intruding she said, "Um, I think I should go wash the dishes." In all honesty, she just wanted to get away, being in the presence of this new angel was making her nervous. He was so different from Castiel. He seemed almost...human.

"Thanks for the pie," the archangel said watching in amusement at her obvious desire to get away. He was ok with that for he wanted to talk to his little brother about this woman. Besides he hadn't seen his favorite sibling in more than 50 earth years.

She took the dishes and walked away, Cas watching the slight sway of her hips as she went. Gabe laughed aloud as Cas's eyes followed her. This frail human was getting his brother's attention. "Baby should hang that swing on the porch," he teased. When Cas looked at him, confusion in his eyes, he explained, "It means she swings her butt in a nice way when she walks. I saw you noticed it."

Castiel blushed. He hadn't meant to stare but it was enticing to watch her. "I feel strange when I'm around her. I'm having all these emotions and I don't know what they mean," he spoke hanging his head and staring at the ground. He had been around a very long time and he'd never felt anything like he felt when he was around her.

Gabriel could see his brother was confused and Velvet was the root of it. "What kind of emotions?" He prodded.

"I don't like it when Dean or Sam touch her. I want it to be me, only me. When I'm away from her, I miss her. I want to be with her again," he spoke, continuing to look at the ground. "Touching her is pleasurable and when I kissed her, it felt better than being in heaven. And I've never touched anything as soft as her skin. She is the most beautiful thing I've every seen. I don't believe seeing God's face could bring me more joy. When she was hurt, I thought my soul would die Gabriel." His pain obvious in his voice, he lifted his head to look at his brother.

Gabriel saw tears in his brother's intense blue eyes. He knew what Castiel was feeling. He was in love. "There's a simple explanation for what you are feeling little bro. It rarely happens to us but it's quite a frequent occurrence in humans." He was trying to be gentle, knowing Cas would have trouble accepting what he was actually feeling.

The blue eyes were wide with apprehension stared at him, "Am I sick?"

He smiled. "You're in love." Gabriel knew what it was to be in love, truly in love. Almost four thousand years ago, he had loved a woman but he didn't take her as a chosen mate. Ordered by God to give her up or lose her in death had almost cost him his place in heaven. He obeyed, sending Nefertiti into the marriage bed of the young pharaoh Akhenaten. 500 years before, his brother Tidulaim had bonded with a human female and was punished severely. She was killed by and Tidulaim was stripped of his grace and cast to earth as a human where the agony of her death ate at his soul until he also died. No angel had taken a human mate in the 4,000 years since.

"No!" Castiel shook his head in denial. "It can't be."

"You know she'll have to die if you take her as a mate. I will be more than happy to take care of the little monstrosity," a male voice sounded behind them.

Gabriel saw Castiel grow rigid and recognized the icy calm in his features as anger. Gabriel turned and said, "It's good to see you too Zachariah."