Gabriel,

I send this missive not to the trickster god of the Norsemen but to the Archangel of heaven in hopes that it will remind you that before you became the bane of the Pagan world, you were a creature of honor. I hope that by appealing to your honor you will understand and act honorably toward us.

First let me say that from the moment you entered the hall of Olympus with Odin and Thor that long ago day, I expected this. My brother Poseidon was not the only one who saw how Thetis watched you, I too noted her regard. I should have stepped in at that point I knew of her promiscuous ways, having fallen prey to them myself; but I left it to my brother to control his mate.

I do not absolve you of your part in it but you were the Trickster after all, your actions were to be expected. And now we find ourselves about to face each other across the field of battle. A circumstance I fear that has been forced upon us by Poseidon's wrath.

Had I my choice, I would shun the field as I truly have no quarrel with you. After all, I myself have enjoyed Thetis' charms and the list of those who have is by no means short. I will not face you as a hypocrite.

It is an oath to Poseidon that forces my hand. Hera and Athena see what Poseidon proposes as suicide. I find myself agreeing with their decision and will not force any other god to follow me to their doom. I have released my brother Hades from his oath to stand with us, it is he who brings this message to your daughter Hel in hopes that she can see it quickly into your hands.

You see this letter is more than an explanation, it is a plea for mercy. I remember well the lesson you and your brothers dealt to Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. It was fresh in my mind when Christianity began to spread to Greece where I still held sway. I ordered that we retreat to Olympus, I had no wish to see your plagues spread to our beautiful land then just as I have no wish to see those who will not fight slaughtered because of Poseidon's stubbornness.

When we leave for battle many will remain in Olympus, Those who have argued against the raising of weapons in a war we are destined to lose. I ask, no I beg you to show mercy to those who remain, they will offer you no resistance and they will bend their knees in subjugation to your Father.

I beg you that your wrath be spent on those who take up arms against you and that your mercy extends to those who do not.

Zeus

Gabriel watched as Michael rolled the scroll carefully. "You mean we find ourselves at war with the pagans because my little brother couldn't control his libido in the presence of a harlot?"

"Oh stow it, Mike. We both know Gabriel was never cut out for celibacy." Lucifer said. "Some of us understand the stress relieving benefits of a good toe curling orgasm. Maybe if you made a habit of having them on a regular basis you wouldn't be so uptight."

"I do not think that a discussion about the health benefits of sexual mating will accomplish anything." Castiel said.

"Cassie I don't know who is worse, you or Michael." Balthazar said. "Perhaps we should get you both laid."

"Balthazar," Gabriel started. "I believe we should table our decision until will actually stand inside Olympus. Who is to say that they won't decide to attack us?"

"Look guys, I didn't call this meeting to discuss the letter or my sex life." Gabriel said. "The Leviathan are done. That means we have to deal with Benny, then the pagans. Oh and now that Lilith has raised an army, demons."

"It is all being thrown at us at once." Joshua said.

"I know, and I'm out of my depth here. I know Dad put me in charge but..." Gabriel let out a deep sigh. "Michael you're the one with the experience. I need your help. I don't know what to tackle first, how to deploy our forces. I need you to advise me here."

"That's the Gabriel I would follow to hell and back." Balthazar said with a smile.

"I can't make your decisions Gabriel." Michael said.

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to share the benefit of your experience. We will be fighting three different enemies at once." Gabriel told him. "I don't want to get our brothers and sisters killed because of my own ignorance."

"Of course. But you have to understand that some of them will die Gabriel." Michael said. There will be times when you have to send some to their deaths to win the war. It is not easy. It can kill something inside of you."

Michael turned toward Lucifer. "It can even make you harden your heart against those you love the most after a while. You think it makes it easier."

Lucifer stood up and went to his older brother and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It is just as difficult to watch brother."

"Dammit!" Dean swore. "This is a friggin church! You would think there would be at least one rosary somewhere!"

"Uh, Dean this is a Baptist Church." Sam said.

"A church is a church right?" Dean shot back.

"Not exactly Dean. Baptists are basically an off shot of the Protestants." Connor explained. "There's a lot in the Catholic faith that the Protestants rejected. They thought it smacked of idol worship."

"Yeah like reciting the rosary." Murphy added.

"How in the hell are we supposed to make holy water without a rosary!" Dean yelled.

"Make holy water?" Connor said. "You're not a Priest!"

"He doesn't have to be." Darius said as he entered the room carrying a box of iron implements. "Anyone can make holy water."

"Well then," Connor said as he and Murphy pulled out their rosaries. "If all you need is a rosary, we have a couple."

"It doesn't need to be a rosary." Darius said, "Any container of water would do if Connor or Murphy were the ones blessing it."

"What?" Sam asked.

"What do you think that Latin incantation is? It's a blessing, Sam. The rosary is simply a focal point for the blessing but Connor and Murphy don't need any focal point." Darius explained "All they have to do is stick their hand in the water, the one with the tattoo, and instant holy water."

"How is that going to make holy water?" Dean asked.

Darius grabbed Connor's hand and lifted it to Dean's nose. "Because that mark is God's true name, and these two are his hand appointed saints."

"So if we filled the bathtub with water and Murphy or Connor stuck their hand in it we have Holy water?" Dean asked as Darius nodded. Well Sam what are you waiting for? Let's start filling everything we can find!

Thor looked out over the huge army waiting to cross Bifrost. There was a hodgepodge of gods from different pantheons scattered among his own Norse Warriors. It would almost be comical if not for the foe they were about to face.

Jorm and his mate 'Just call me Quetz' we're huddled together with Sleipnir and Hel discussing something. Probably Jorm trying to talk his sister into going back to the underworld to sit this one out. Considering she had 100 of the most bloodthirsty Berserkers ever to grace Valhalla's Thor doubted that she would listen.

The dark haired Moon Maiden sat proudly on an Indian Pony amid the sea of blond Valkyries. A quiver was slung across her shoulder, a leather thong held her tomahawk to her waist and her left hand held a bow.

"This is a most unusual army my son." Freya said as she joined him. "This is a day none of us thought would ever come. All of us bound together against a common foe and allied with the Celestials we once all hated."

"It is passing strange." Thor agreed.

"I would hope that this day is the start of a lasting peace. But I know better. Sooner or later we will revert to the old days of bickering and warring among each other but for today, it is peaceful." Freya noted. "Take care my son, and return safely to us."