This story is some kind of a sequel to one of my Supernatural Christmas Stories I have witten and posted last year.
The first story is getting called "Christmas Angel" and can be found on this accout too for those who have interest in it.
You should know this story before you start reading this one, otherwise some parts in this story might confuse you.
I have to say that the beginning of this story turned out to be pretty emotional, but it will change in the middle of it ;).
Christmas is such a melancholic time; I can total feel with Michael in here...
Oh and one important thing: Sam and Dean aren't born yet ;).
And again I am sorry for grammer/spelling mistakes.
I don't translate my german stories anymore and thus I write some stories of mine in english only from now on ;).
The gift of laughter
For most people Christmas was the most beautiful time of the year.
At that time, they laughed a lot, were happy and simply enjoyed their life.
Of course there were people who didn't like the Christmas time as much as other people did, but these people were in the lower number. Nothing to worry about…
But not only humans enjoyed this wonderful time of the year, but also God's radiant angels.
For them, the Christmas time was the most beautiful time of the year.
No wonder, because it was the birthday of God's beloved child Jesus Christ and they had to celebrate this day as much as they could.
But even among the angels there were some who weren't as cheerful as they had to be on such a day and one of these angels was the strongest among heaven's warriors.
Too many bad things have happened in the past as if he could have been happy on such a day.
Where his brother's and sister's enjoyed the Christmas time, only grief was to be seen in his eyes.
Michael had come down to earth again this year, because God had spoken to him and he had given him the order to go down to earth and enjoy himself, but that was easier said than done, because how should he enjoy this time when he wasn't happy at all?
But he would never say "no" to one of his father's commands and thus he had come down to earth and now he was sitting there, on a Christmas Market full of people and invisible to the human's eye, because he didn't want to take a human vessel. He wouldn't need one though, because he had just come down to watch and not to do anything else and besides no human on this planet was strong enough to hold him. At least not yet…
He remembered a Christmas that had long passed.
He had come down to earth as well on Christmas Day, because he had heard a prayer, coming from a young human child and said prayer had been directed to him. The girl hadn't prayed for Christmas gifts or anything else, no. She had prayed for a Christmas Angel so she would never be alone ever again and Michael had been that Christmas Angel.
A tiny smile was tugging on the strong Archangels lips when he thought back to this Christmas.
It had been a beautiful evening for him, because this little girl had given him back his joy, had made him laugh and had filled his heart with a warmth which he hadn't felt for almost an eternity. He also remember how full of grief he had been on this day, because he had thought about his fallen brother Lucifer and what he had done to him and how much he missed him, but a small human child had made him forget about all these bad things in that Holy Night.
But now Michael was all alone in this big crowed of humans that surrounded him and he could feel how the grief was reaching his ice cold hand out to him yet again.
Here he saw love couples who were hugging and kissing each other, there he saw best friends who enjoyed the time together and there he saw parents with their children who made them laugh so much that he thought they would explode any moment.
But what hit him the most was an old couple that stood in front of a church entrance.
They hugged each other so lovingly and smiled such warm smiles that the melancholy hit Michael like a sword blow. He could practically feel their strong love in the air and this made it all so much worse for him and slowly God's strongest Angel crumbled under those strong feelings that rushed through his body like a tidal wave.
In that moment, when he saw these two humans and how much they loved each other, he missed his little brother Lucifer like nothing else in the universe. The memories of what had happened hit him hard, made his whole body shake and he had to ball his hands into fist to not surrender to his feelings now.
When he looked around this place he could only see happy people and none of them was alone and that made him feel like the loneliest being in existence, because he was sitting there, on a bench that stood next to an old church that was in the middle of a big Christmas market, full of happy people and was bathing in his self-pity.
In short: He felt horrible!
He didn't know why his father had sent him down here, why he showed him all these wonderful things and joyful humans when he himself felt like the loneliest and saddest angel in existence.
Wasn't he a good son anymore, or why did God punish him so horribly now?
He send this ask to heaven, but no answer came.
Typical for this father!
A sigh left his lips and he let his head sink to the ground as the grief seemed to overwhelm him. His wings hung limply on his back, already touched the snowy ground beneath his feet. A cold breeze swept over the place, moved his long, curly blonde hair out of his face, showing a small tear that rolled down his cheek as the grief finally took its toll on heaven's oldest angel.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw his reflection in an ice floe on the ground.
He saw himself, dressed as a mighty warrior and with tears shining in his bright blue eyes and that sight was too much for him to handle and the strongest warrior of heaven became a small fledgling again when he let the tears flow…
For how long he sat there and cried he didn't know and he didn't care for it in the slightest, but at some point the sound of beating wings reached his ears, but he didn't dare to look up. He was too ashamed as to look at the angel who now stood there next to him. He could feel the looks said angels threw at him on his body and this made it all so much worse for him.
Heaven and Hell!
He was the leader of the heavenly hosts and now he sat there, looking like a little crybaby!
"Michael?"
The voice was soft, was almost like a whisper but Michael had understood it and he winced as he recognized the voice of his little brother Gabriel.
Great, from all the angels his father had created it had to be the Trickster that had to visit him!
The angel, who had disappeared from heaven all of a sudden and now he dared to approach him while he was crying and feeling miserable?
God really had to hate him…
"What?" was Michael's short, but also angry response and out of the corner of his eye he could see how Gabriel's body winced and the Trickster took a few steps back from him in fear he might harm him.
And this made Michael feel even worse, because he once had been a loving big brother to Gabriel and all the other angels of heaven and now everyone feared him for what he had done to Lucifer and to heaven…
"I am sorry Gabriel. I didn't mean it like that," he quickly said, his voice only a whisper, but Gabriel must have understood him, because he dared to come closer to him again and he even seemed to gather enough courage to sit down next to him.
"It's been a long time Michael," he said and to Michael's surprise Gabriel's voice wasn't full of scorn. It was serious and finally the older Archangel looked up and looked at his little brother's face.
And Gabriel winced again when he could see the tears in his big brother's eyes.
It had been a very long time since he had seen heaven's most powerful weapon cry like a little fledgling and the last time he had done this, had been right after the Great War and Lucifer's fall…
As if he would read his thoughts (and Gabriel was sure that he did) the older Archangel turned his face away from his little brother and looked at his feet again.
"What are you doing here Gabriel? I thought you'd never want anything to do with us ever again?"
Now it was Gabriel's turn to turn his eyes away in shame.
"Were those the words I once said?"
Michael nodded his head and Gabriel felt a sting inside his heart.
"I didn't mean it like that Michael. Really…I didn't…" he whispered.
They were silent for a while and both of them seemed to look for the right words as they let their eyes wander around the place.
"Humans are fascinating, aren't they?" Gabriel said and a small smile tugged at his lips during his words when he saw a group of older men who were singing cheerful Christmas songs not far away from them.
"Indeed they are."
"Look at what they can create and look how joyful they are on a day like this."
The younger angel turned his head back to Michael.
"Why can't we be like that too?"
"We have been like this once Gabriel."
"Yes, once. But I want us to be like that again."
"This is not possible and you know that. I have changed Gabriel, like we all have changed and you know that there is no way back for us. Not after everything that has happened…"
"It's still about Lucifer, isn't it?"
Michael winced at the mention of his little brother's name.
"Michael, look at me."
Hesitantly, the elder turned his head to the other Archangel to look at him.
"I know it's hard, but you have to let him go. We all know that Lucifer will never come back to us and even if he would, you know that he wouldn't be the same anymore. You have seen what happened to him and how much he has changed; how deep has fallen into the darkness. And I know how much you suffer deep inside you. You have to let him go now brother. And I know that you can do this, because I have seen you when you have been with the human child this one Christmas. She had cheered you up, has even made you laugh and I know that you have forgotten about Lucifer, the War and everything else that has happened since then and just because of a human child that has prayed for a Christmas Angel. Why can't you let go of all this now brother? It pains me to see you suffer like that. Please…let Lucifer go…"
Gabriel's words hit him right into his heart and the tears started to flow again.
"It's not so easy Gabriel. You, from all of us should know best."
"I know Michael and I do miss Lucifer as much as everyone else does, but I also know that his soul is lost, that he will never be back to his old self ever again. Keep the good memories of him and banish the bad ones brother, otherwise it will destroy you."
Gabriel wasn't wrong with his words; even Michael had to admit this.
He had to let go of all these bad feeling, or they would destroy him.
He turned his eyes back to the crowed of people, tried to banish all of those bad memories that were inside his head, but this wasn't working very well. Every time he tried to focus on something else, let it be the Christmas Music that filled the air around them or the children's happy laughter, Michael's thoughts went back to Lucifer over and over again.
"Do you remember how we sang like this together when Jesus was born?"
Michael winced slightly when Gabriel's words interrupted his thoughts and he turned his head back to him and raised one of his eyebrows when he saw the huge smile on the Trickster Angels lips and the dreamy look in his eyes.
"Yes, I remember that day," the older Angel answered him.
"Wasn't it just wonderful Mikey?"
When Gabriel mentioned his old nickname, Michael couldn't help but smile at this.
That of course didn't go pass Gabriel and the younger Archangel had to grin at this.
"Now look at that! My big brother can still smile?"
The smile on the other angel's lips grew a bit at those words and he quickly turned his head away from him.
"Oh no, no, no, don't hide that pretty smile from me Mikey."
Gabriel tried to lean closer to Michael, tried to get a look at his face, but his older brother turned his head away from him as much as he could.
"Oh come on you old spoilsport. Show me that smile of yours!"
To underline his words, Gabriel poked him into his side, laughing when Michael's whole body jumped and when his wings twitched.
Quickly his brother turned around and grabbed his hand, because Gabriel was about to poke him again and he grinned when Michael got a hold of his hand and shoved it away from his body.
"Heh, still ticklish Mikey? That's awesome!"
Michael only rolled his eyes at that and he let go of Gabriel's hand again.
"Stop that Gabriel, that's childish," he said.
"Childish you say? I wouldn't call it childish Mike. I would call it a great way to cheer you up."
A growl came out of the older Angels throat.
"Don't even think about it Gabriel, I am warning you!"
"Your warnings are always so convincing…"
"Oh they are little brother. You know how this will end if you mess with me!"
"Oh yes? Do I know that?"
"I can always show you!"
"Uhhh I am sh-shaking with fear already~."
Another eye roll and Michael decided to end this childish conversation here and now and instead he looked back at the crowed of humans around them.
It didn't even take five seconds until he could feel poking fingers on his side again and every time he got poked, his whole body flinched at the light tickling sensation. He took a deep breath as he could hear Gabriel chuckle at him and he used his second hand to poke him into his ribs as well.
It was when Gabriel hit this one little spot between his armpit and his highest ribs that Michael lost the last bit of his patience and he grabbed one of Gabriel's hands and with a strong tug the younger angel lost his balance and landed on top of Michael's lap. Immediately the older angel rolled him onto his back, grabbed his hands and pinned them above his head and held them pinned there with only one of his own. His still free hand hovered over Gabriel's already shaking belly and heaven's messenger had already started laughing.
"What are you laughing at? I haven't even done anything to you yet!"
"L-let me gohohoho you ohohold meanihihihi!"
"Oh? So I am an old meani now? Really Gabriel? Let me remind you that it was you who started this, so deal with the consequences now!"
He wiggled his fingers right above Gabriel's belly and the younger angel almost hit the roof when he saw that and that sight made even Michael laugh.
His little brother tugged at his arms, tried to free himself, but the warrior's grip around his wrists was too strong and he wouldn't let him go. Not before he was done with him and this thought made Gabriel shiver and laugh even harder, since he knew how brutal Michael had been the last time he had tickled him.
But then again…maybe Michael had forgotten how ticklish he was in the first place?
"Oh I would never forget such an important thing, little brother," the Elder said and he was grinning like a Cheshire cat when he read his thoughts and Gabriel blushed at the teasing tone in his big brother's voice.
Oh how long he hadn't heard this playful voice of his.
It was wonderful to hear it again, to see the mischievous sparkle in Michael's usual cold eyes, the wide and playful grin, the sound of his soft laughter…
A shriek left his lips when the fingers came down, only softly touching the fabric of his white angel robe, but that was enough to make Gabriel laugh like he hadn't laughed in an eternity and Michael fared no better in that moment. All of his dark memories were forgotten now and only joy and serenity spread inside his body as he looked into the laughing face of his little brother.
But then he remembered something and he stilled his hand for a moment, but didn't take it away from where it lay on Gabriel's belly and he waited patiently until the younger Archangel had stopped laughing and until he lifted his head up and looked into his face.
"Why did you stop?" he asked, making Michael grin a bit more.
"Don't worry Gabe, the break won't last long. There is one question I would like to ask you."
"S-sure."
"Where is your human Vessel?"
Now it was the Trickster's turn to grin up at him.
"Took you long enough to realize that it's actually me in person you are talking to and not just a human Vessel. And to answer your question: He is fine. He is with his family and celebrates Christmas and…oh come on Mikey, don't gimme that look. His family doesn't know what happened to him and that he was gone for such a long time. I took care of that."
"You shouldn't have left him. Not even you know if he will say "Yes" again."
"Oh don't worry about that bro. I am pretty sure that he will say "Yes" to me again. We have become good buddies."
Another eye roll, coming from Michael.
"Yeah, who could hate you in the first place huh?"
"Oh I love you too Mikey."
The Elder grinned and his eyes started to sparkle again.
"Since we have now clarified this…Where were we? Ah yes, here!"
And the fingers started moving and Gabriel shrieked so loud that a few human children turned their heads into their direction and Michael couldn't help but chuckle at this, when he saw their befuddled looks. He knew that some children were able to see angels, even in their true form, and apparently a few of these children were near them now.
"Shhh Gabriel, not so loud. We want to remain secret, right? And this won't work if you laugh so loudly."
"F-f-fine! I-I won't l-laugh then!"
"Really? I would love to see you try!"
Great, just great.
Gabriel should have learned it by now that Michael loved challenges and he had just given him one…
The mean hand was now traveling all over his upper body, searching for those places that would break him and make him laugh like there was no tomorrow, but Gabriel tried all his best to remain silent, gritted his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut and tried his best to keep his laughter in, but his big brother was relentless!
The evil hand went from his belly up to his ribs, massaging them through his robe.
First on the left side, then on the right, before the hand traveled upwards and the fingers started wiggling under his left arm, making it harder and harder for Gabriel to keep his laughter in, since he could feel how it bubbled up inside his belly.
"Nononono! M-MIKEY! NO!" he squeaked and he shook his head wildly from left to right when his brother attacked his ears and all the while the warrior angel was laughing himself at this cute and funny sight.
"Still one of your weak spots I see? How cute. You really haven't changed at all when it comes to tickling."
"S-shut uhuhuhp!"
"Oh no Gabe, you better shut up, because the children…they are looking at us already."
And Michael was right, because Gabriel could see them with his own eyes when he turned his head to the side and was looking at a small crowed of children who were looking into their direction. And some of them were already giggling, telling him that they could indeed see them and apparently they liked what they saw.
Great!
It couldn't get any worse now…
The messenger angel tried to hide his flushed face into the crook of his arm as the first few giggles poured over his grinning lips when he could feel wiggling fingers on his neck that tickled up and down and up and down his skin…
His left wing started beating up and down slowly as he couldn't take the tickling anymore and he also tried to move his right wing, but he couldn't do this, since it was trapped between the bench and his own body. He could practically feel Michael's grin on his body by now and he knew that he just had to attack his trapped wing now to break him, but he didn't do it and Gabriel was more than grateful for this. If there was anything he couldn't take at all it was getting tickled on his wings!
But his brother's hand moved away from his neck and also from his wings and the messenger would have sighed with pure relief, when the wiggling fingers wouldn't have traveled back to his belly; his second most ticklish spot!
And this time he couldn't hold his cheerful laughter back anymore, when Michael's hand disappeared inside his clothing…
When had been the last time where he had seen his big brother practically crying with laughter?
Gabriel didn't know, couldn't remember it anymore and he didn't care for it in this very moment. All he cared for was how happy Michael was in this moment, how much he laughed and how much he enjoyed the time he could spend with his little brother right now…even when Gabriel was practically screaming his soul out of his body right now; so much he laughed!
Damn! His big brother still knew how to tickle him to make him lose total control…
He tried everything to shake the mean hand off of his body by rolling from side to side as good as he could and he even tried using his feet to push Michael's arm away from him and at the same time he tried to free his hands from his iron grip, but nothing was working. He could only lay there and laugh like he hadn't laughed for a very, VERY long time as the tickling sensation rushed through his whole body.
"NO! NO! NO! NOHOHOHO! M-MICHAHAHAEL! MICHAEL PLEAHAHAHSE! S-STAHAHAHAP!" was all he could get out between his hysterical laughter, but his brother only laughed down at him and dug his fingers a bit deeper into the warm skin of his soft belly.
"Oh come on little brother, first you challenging me and now you're begging me for mercy?"
"YEHEHEHEHS! P-PLEASE MIHIHHIKEY! I-I GIVE UHUHUHUP PLEAHAHASE! YOU WIN! YOU WIHIHIHIN PLEASE! Y-YOU PROHOHOHOVED YOUR POHOHOINT HAHAHAHA!"
"Oh yes? Did I?"
"YEHEHEHEHES!"
And God's oldest angel couldn't stop laughing himself anymore at those funny noises his baby brother made. He enjoyed every little second of this childish moment with him and he just love the sight of a happy laughing little brother and in this very moment he had forgotten about all those bad things that had been on his mind earlier.
And it wasn't only Gabriel's happy laughter that filled his whole body with such a wonderful warmth, it was also the happy laughter of the human children around them and the wonderful Christmas music, sung by humans, that filled the air around them and now he knew why God had sent him down to earth.
He had wanted him to enjoy himself and that was exactly what Michael was doing right now.
In this very moment he wasn't a mighty warrior of heaven anymore, no.
In this very moment he was just a big, loving brother who loved to spend some time with his little brother…
When he looked down at this laughing and shrieking mess that squirmed around underneath his nimble fingers he couldn't help but feeling a bit sorry for Gabriel; especially when he saw the tears that had gathered in those golden eyes of his and he decided to stop. But even after he had stopped tickling the other angel, Gabriel still needed several moments to calm down and to stop laughing. But even when he did stop laughing, the wide grin never left his face.
"Well, that was fun, wasn't it?" Michael said teasingly and Gabriel could only giggle cutely and tug on his arms again.
"L-let me gohohoho Mikey."
"Why should I? So that you can take revenge on me? Forget it!"
"I-I wohohon't do this Mike, really. I-I promihihihise, pleahahase."
"Why should I believe you? You are the Trickster and not even I trust the Trickster."
The grin on Gabriel's lips widened at this and Michael narrowed his eyes at him.
"See? That's what I mean. I won't let you go…not yet…"
"W-what do you mean?"
Now it was Michael's turn to give his little brother an evil grin.
"Remember what I did to you and Lucifer whenever one of you dared to prank me? Made you two laugh like I haven't heard an angel laugh before."
The younger Archangel's eyes widened and he tugged harder on his arms and started to squirm around in his big brother's grip again.
"No! Mike, no! Don't even think about it!"
"Don't even think about what?"
"Oh you know exactly what I mean! Don't do it!"
"Or what?"
Now it was Gabriel who narrowed his eyes at him.
"Do it and I pluck your feathers! Every. Single. One. Of. Them!"
"Do you really think you would get the chance to pluck a single one of them?"
"No, but I can still try it, right?"
The elder chuckled and he tightened his grip a bit more around his little brother's wrists as a warning.
"This wouldn't end well for you and you know that, so I would advise you to not even think about trying it."
"Just let me go Mike!"
"Oho, look who is losing his patience. Well, if you want to get a second round, why didn't you just ask?"
"I hate you!"
"Of course you do."
Michael waggled his eyebrows as he grinned right into his face and his still free hand started to open the golden belt that was wrapped around the messenger angel's waist.
"Want to hate me some more?" he asked teasingly.
Gabriel's eyes widened even more and he grinned so much that his face must have hurt by now.
"P-please Mike, don't! PLEASE!"
The last word ended in a shriek when the other angel's forefinger tapped his belly button, when he had shoved the upper part of his white robe upwards to expose his soft belly.
"Why not? It always makes you laugh and I know that you love to laugh."
"B-but…but not here Mikey…"
"Ohhh so that's your problem? You are embarrassed? Awww how cute is that?"
"That baby talk voice doesn't make it better…" Gabriel mumbled and he blushed even more at the teasingly grin his big brother gave him and before he could ask him what was wrong, Michael snapped his fingers and they disappeared from the Christmas market.
The messenger angel shrieked again when his back crashed onto a soft bed and his big brother was above him in an instant, straddling his legs and grabbing his arms and pinning them back above his head.
"There. Better?"
Gabriel looked around the place, before he gave the Elder a questioningly look.
"Where are we?"
"Oh that's a deserted hut in the middle of the forest."
"Sounds like the start of one of those many horror movies humans love to produce for their amusement."
"Perfect for you then, isn't it?"
Gabriel just rolled his eyes and the big grin was right back on his face, when Michael leaned his head down to him so far that his long golden hair tickled his face and the evil grin on his lips made way for a soft, loving smile and before Gabriel could ask what happened, soft lips were pressed against his forehead for a gentle kiss.
"What was that for?" the messenger wanted to know and the amusement was audible in his voice.
Michael leaned back and still smiled down at him.
"For everything you have done for me tonight. It has been a long time since I have laughed so much and since I have had so much fun."
Gabriel, too, smiled at him gently.
"You are welcome Mikey."
He tugged at his arms yet again, but his brother still wouldn't let him go.
"Uhhh Mike? Would you please let me go now?"
And the big grin was right back on the older Archangels face.
That was never a good sign…
"I am still not done with you yet, little brother. There still is something I want to do and since we have some privacy now…"
"NO!"
"YES!"
Before Michael could do anything to his little brother, Gabriel managed to free his hands from his grip and he immediately braced his hands against his big brother's chest, trying to shove him away from him and all the while he giggled like a little fledgling. And he even managed to shove Michael away from him and he immediately rolled onto his side, tried to crawl away from him, but soon there were two strong arms that wrapped around his waist and rolled him back onto his back and Michael was there again, leaning himself over him, pinning him down with his own body weight and his hands shot down to his belly, grabbing his robe and pulling it upwards, but before he was able to do anything, there were hands on his face, that tried to push his head away.
"Gabe! Get your hands out of my face!"
"No!"
A deep growl rose in the other angel's throat and before Gabriel knew what was happening he felt wiggling fingers under his arms and he immediately pulled his hands away from Michael's face as he pressed his arms against his body. His older brother pulled his hands out from under his arms and grabbed his hands again, pinning them onto them mattress next to his sides and held them pinned there. With the biggest grin heaven has ever seen he made himself comfortable and leaned his head down to Gabriel's shaking belly.
"Hmm let's see. One for every single year you have left us…"
"NO! MIKE NO! Y-you will kill me!"
The elder looked up from his belly and grinned up at him.
"I won't, don't worry about that. I will give you enough breaks…"
And when soft lips met an also soft belly, more angelic laughter filled this Holy Night, making even the Lord himself smile softly when those gorgeous sounds reached his ears and he knew one thing for sure:
The gift of laughter was still the best gift for Christmas…
The end
And I wish all of you happy holidays, since I won't post anything anymore before Christmas on this account.
