Sorry for the late upload. I kinda forgot about it and then returned with a crazy idea and then decided to wait for christmas to upload it.

Merry christmas ya'll.

Please leave some comments so I know someone is there, it really makes me happy and motivates me.

She turned towards the angel laying on the ground, she kneeled down and silently closed their eyes.

"I'm sorry it went this far."

When Crowley began explaining his story, both Michael and Lucifer had piped up and told their version of how it happened and why they did what they did. They had all promised each other that they would be honest and not lie and change the version of events to their side. Surprisingly no argument interrupted his tale. They all listened to each other for once.

When Crowley stopped speaking, he quickly looked around the room, to see his siblings' reactions. It was strange to call them that in his mind again, he had to get used to it again, strangely, it didn't seem to be too hard. He was not sure what to feel about that realization.

He glanced around the room, tilting his head and watching his siblings' reactions.

Michael looked ashamed and guilty and looked away from the others. It was visible the way the war had taken a toll on her, even after all these years. Crowley couldn't help but almost feel bad for sharing that last part. Almost.

Lucifer wore a blank mask, not even his red eyes showed any sort of reaction. But by the way he stood stiffly and flexed his knuckles, only to hide them, it was clear how he felt about his actions.

Uriel and Gabriel exchanged disturbed looks. Neither had known what went on in that time before this.

Aziraphale looked horrified and shocked, but most of all, like he wanted to walk right over to put a hand on his shoulder or give a hug. He was always very empathetic. Crowley decided to ignore that thought for now.

Before he could think too much about it, he spoke. "Why do we have to start with my road to taking a tumble out of the clouds?"

"Don't put it like that!" Uriel squawked, shocked at the way he described his fall.

"Because that was the… what is it that teachers call it? The 'point of no return'," Gabriel said.

"What about starting the war?" said Lucifer, quickly coughing into his elbow, acting like it wasn't him who said it.

"That's a different story but also a part of this one."

"They do align," Aziraphale piped up from where he stood beside Crowley. Somehow he had managed to sneak over to stand beside Crowley. If he had given him a quick hug, no one had said a thing, and if Crowley had hugged back with sad desperation, no one had said anything either .

Awkward silence fell over the room; no one really knew how to continue. The pregnant pause settled all too quickly, making every attempt at conversation to stutter and feel futile.

"Why don't Gabriel and Uriel say where they had been during that time?"

"As if we remember exactly when and what we did that day."

"I remember, close to that time at least," Gabriel said and sighed. He grimaced and looked down at the old fashioned desk he stood beside. The desk itself was old, it was distinguished by not only its out of time design but also by its vast and immense presence. The pointy corner of the desk closest to him had cracks and fissures that ran all the way over to the opposite side of the desk, showing the object's ancient age, yet also its steadiness. A few of the smaller fissures had small flowers growing out of them. He tried to not let the fact that the flowers were dying bother him too much. Sadly, he couldn't control how his mind worked, no matter how hard he tried.

The desk held a steadiness Gabriel felt he was missing as he attempted to describe what he had been going before Michael had called to inform him of Rapha- Crowley's? He still is not sure what to call him, even now - mission.

"Why are you not with the regiment?" Sariel asked, curious blue blinking softly as they looked at Gabriel. "It is your regiment after all, should their commander not be there with them before they are to march out into battle?"

Smiling softly, he placed his hand on their midnight coloured hair, softly touching it. It amazed him, even after all this time that their hair still held that beautiful dark purple.

"I was, I saw and I made it awkward. So I left ."

Sariel chuckled the corners of their lips curled upwards, a sly smile. They glided around him in a teasing way. "Awkward? You?" they said, a teasing air around them.

Gabriels features contorted into a grimace. "Commander? I only lead them into battle, but it is Michael, who they take orders from, not me. I'm just the messenger."

Sariel's teasing smile shifted into a more serious expression. Gabriel looked at them with inquisitivity as they had a visible internal dilemma with themself. He continued to look at them. He decided against commenting on the brief flash of guilt that came across their face.

"Do you have doubts again?" they asked softly, their face eerily blank as they stared at him.

Gabriel stared back at them, conflict plastered on his face. He didn't know what to answer, each time he attempted to speak, something unknown stole the words from him and all that came out was not even syllables.

Gabriel sighed and gave up on all forms of communications, and decided to simply walk over to the balustrade on the bridge.

It was an old bridge, made from square formed stone bricks that created a route over a sizable yet beautiful river. The balustrades on the bridge were made of wood that looked like it was a strange blend of healthy and rotten. It was held up by tall rocks with gems of different shades. Underneath the bridge, the water was flowing calmly. Like it didn't have anywhere specific to go to, no place needing its touch with desperation, it would get there in the end. It had all the time in the world afterall. The water had a warm blue and greenish hue on its surface that was reflected from nature in the proximity.

The bridge had been there for quite a while, almost as old as he was by now. It was strange how to the younger angels, the bridge was something that had always been there or made shortly before they were created.

The bridge led to a temple, one of the few left. The war had left many of them ruined and destroyed. Gabriel understood why Lucifer had destroyed them like he had. It was a holy place. And God, if nothing else, was the embodiment of holiness.

The temple was a dome shaped structure made out of beautiful pale marbles. The marble had four linear markings that ran from ceiling to the base stiles. The engravings and decorations framed the marble, giving the place a majestic and mysterious air. There were tall columns standing imposingly at the entrance, silently biding people welcome.

The inside of the temple was plain and simple, there were a few scriptures and sumptuous carvings. Well, plain it was, if you ignored that the ceiling was made out of turquoise stone.

A column pedestal stand stood in the middle, an altar by its side. Both were devoid of anything at the moment. Gabriel wondered if that were to change soon.

Gabriel stood in front of the temple, unsure if he were even allowed inside one anymore. He proceeded with trepidation, walking inside with a downcast gaze.

He stood merely two meters in front of the altar when Yophiel bumped their shoulder against his and gently their left wing against his. The action surprised him for a moment, but he quickly scolded his features into a neutral expression.

"Why so reluctant?"

"I am not reluctant," he denied.

"Oh alright then, so hesitant then," Sariel continued asking.

"I am not hesitant."

"If not that, then what?"

"I'm lost… I don't know what to do!" Gabriel snapped. All of his previous energy having left him, making him feel hollow and drained. "Is that what you came here for? Is that what you wanted to hear? I doubt it! Well, now you have it! I do not know what to do. It has become something akin to a cold war. A stalemate."

Sariel stared at one of the temple carvings beside Gabriel, who had been staring at the same ones since he walked inside the temple to stand near the altar.

Instead of saying anything, they said nothing. Much to Gabriel's dismay.

The silence between them dragged on, making room for every other sound from the surrounding area. Such as the water streaming from the river. A small dripping sound came and went. Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

DRIP.

The trees and bushes rustled peacefully and unbothered, the non existent wind guiding them forward onto a new place.

Gabriel felt like he could hear the tree's bark creak and groan all the way from inside the temple.

When had he touched the water? He felt water on his face.

It all felt so loud, so loud, too loud. TOO LOUD-

"Hey, hey! It is alright… I'm here…"

Gabriel suddenly realized the water was coming from him. Big and small tears came and ran down his face. It took him a few more seconds to realize the new sounds were also coming from him.

It thankfully had not taken him so long to realize it was Sariel who was comforting, draping their wings around him.

Their wonderful midnight black wings, filled with purple streaks. Their four wings curled around them. Like they were trying to shield them both from the world, taking them away from the pain, the world had given them.

Gabriel struggled to compose himself, each time he nearly succeeded, he failed and returned to bawling his heart out with tears and pathetic sounds.

It felt like it had been hours, might as well have been, when he had composed himself. Schooling his expression into a neutral one. Trying might be the better word.

He made a note to never let himself show so much emotion and so quickly. He had to be better in the future.

If he had one, a dark part of mind whispered.

"Thank you Sariel, for following me and making sure everything was alright. I will return back to my battalion. I recommend you do the same."

"No."

"No?"

"No. You don't get to just do that Gabriel. I know you are hurt and have doubts and I think you do not just have doubts, but you doubt her. And that is okay! I doubt her! I agree with Lucifer! My doubt runs so deep that I am no longer able to see things God's way anymore."

"No! It's not okay. How can you say that?" Gabriel howled. Sariel's words registered seconds after. Gabriel's face turned into a shocked expression. His eyes were wide, shifting between shock, surprise, betrayal and guilt on repeat. His face paled as he took a step back in realisation.

He took a slow step back in disbelief. Bumping into the wall.

Sariel regarded him silently with stony features, with stony features they sighed, which sounded more like a huff of air. All of his earlier tears were forgotten.

"You- You… You are siding with him are you not?" Gabriel said. It was not a question but a statement. "And to think, I kept thinking a traitor was in our midst, and that traitor was determined to make all I do fail. All of my battalion's plans were sabotaged before they were even set in motion! Or a plan at all." Just saying the words filled Gabriel with bitterness.

Gabriel looked at Sariel, who stood silently in front of him, Betrayal written across his face.

Sariel looked back at Gabriel but with such a scrutiny that made him feel like he was the one who had done something wrong!

No one spoke, both parties just studied each other with a whole new perspective for a little longer than necessary.

"So, it was you," Gabriel croaked, giving up all pretenses of avoiding the contemporary elephant in the room.

"Yes."

"Why."

"Why side with God?" Sariel countered bitterly.

Gabriel could not find an answer for that, but just as Sariel was about to speak, Gabriel spoke. "It was your fault… Do you even know the full consequences of your actions?"

"I hope so."

Gabriel took a step back, stumbling, as if physically struck by Sariel's words or the realisation of Sariel's real involvement in, well, everything.

"I cared about you… Who are you anymore Sariel?" Gabriel questioned.

Sareil straightened up into a military pose, one they had a hundred times by now. They had straightened up as one would standing straight up against a wall. Their eyes had a different look in them than unusual. A gloomy look.

"I am Sariel, cherub and former guardian of the healing ward. Current right hand of Lucifer."

…

"Leave."

"Gabriel-"

"LEAVE!" Gabriel shouted. Betrayal churned in his stomach strongly. Why was it Sariel… Why could it not have been anyone else? Why them? Was thoughts that swam around in Gabriel's head. He did not understand, why did Sariel betray them- him! He didn't understand. His head buzzed with so many thoughts.

"I thought we were friends, I knew you! Maybe not enough… I trusted you and you violated my trust… And for that I hate you." Gabriel spat the last part bitterly.

"Gabriel-" Sariel began.

"I do not want to hear it. Leave and never come back, you are not welcome here anymore." Merely the thought of her now made him buzz with so many emotions, prominently bitterness and anger. It used to be different. Gabriel felt broken in a way he had not ever before. He knew it would only get worse thanks to this stupid STUPID war! With what Lucifer was doing and what Michael was doing to oppose him. Two were two sides of the same coin. It irritated Gabriel like an annoying bite from one of those small new creatures from the garden.

"They do not deserve this!" Sariel yelled with bitterness, their features beginning to twist into an expression of rage unlike any she had boren before. Gabriel wondered how much he really had known her.

"Leave. I won't say it again. You are not welcome here anymore. Go back to your real regiment." The words were spoken as a sneer. Gabriel's expression looked blank, yet stern on the outside, his eyes filled with steel that wouldn't leave easily in the future.

Sariel turned around and walked away. Their tempo was uneven, but masked with a calmness they did not feel. One day they would, they were certain of it.

If Sariel had waited while flying away and just looked back one last second, they would have heard the last words Gabriel had spoken.

"You made me hate love, how could you do that?"

… Huh, maybe they heard it after all.

As Gabriel told his story, weaving everything that happened in the past, to be told not only by Gabriel's words, but by the air and making them into images and giving them colours, simple colours but colours nonetheless.

He knew it was a good thing that he had kept his horn inside his side pocket, he knew might have needed it for something other than the paper weight he had been using it for.

As he drew nearer and nearer the end of his tale, the colours in his airy images became sombre, matching his mood unintentionally.

When he came to the part where Sariel had- that was not her name anymore… it didn't matter at the moment, he just needed to get this before he hid it away again, but forever this time.- admitted to be siding with Lucifer, Gabriel had stopped talking and just let the images show what he could not with words anymore.

"Do you know what happened to Sariel? Gabriel?" Michael asked

"Yes- we have worked together on recent occasions."

"Have- Wait! I have only seen you with- Is it–?"

"Yes, it's them."

"No way."

"Yes way."

"Ngk," was the only response.

"Anyway, let's move on. There are too many feelings moving around here."

"Gabriel, why had you not told Uriel or me of this? Maybe we could have helped you to deal with it in some way."

"Could you? Really," Gabriel answered dryly. Since when did his siblings become professional psychologists?

"I don't know, since I cared about you and you needed my help." Michael retorted, beginning to get annoyed at Gabriel's remark.

Gabriel kept quiet after that.

"Wait, where did Aziraphale go?"

"Oh, right. I asked him to fetch something for me back on earth," Crowley explained.

"Why didn't we notice he was gone?"

"Don't know," Lucifer whispered as he shook his head slowly.

Right at that moment Aziraphale knocked politely on the door and came in and shuffled over to Crowley, who was spinning around on something that looked like an office chair.

"There. I got it for you. Oh! And I told them when what was going on, I hope you don't mind Crowley. The guilt was killing me when they began asking me about all of it. I think Anathema had worked it out before I came, she probably just wanted to see me squirm," Aziraphale rambled as he gave the item to Crowley. It took him to correct his baby blue bowtie and two extra seconds to realize his mishap. "Oh dear."

"Crowley?!"

"Surprise," was all Crowley could say as the others began speaking over each other and Lucifer's laughter rang in his ears.