It was a hot day that Sunday, the temperature was the highest they'd ever seen, and the four of them retreated with their fledgling to the private lake that lay just a bit of a ways behind their villa. The entire trek there, the fledgling clutched to the Morningstar's hand as though she were walking to her end, and he exchanged a confused look with his oldest brother. Their fledgling loved going to the lake, loved kicking at the water and jumping over the waves that rolled softly inwards, so the hesitance was confusing on their part.
The Messenger was the first one to break away from their caravan, running forward for the lake, running into the shallows and collapsing into the cool water. The Healer was behind him, though a bit more leisurely, and sat in the shallows that came up to his mid waist.
Their fledgling let go of the Morningstar's hand when they got to the edge of the water, the waves lapping up against her toes, and she stared down at it silently. At the release of his hand, the archangel turned to look at her in concern, kneeling down to speak to her, "What's wrong, little one?"
"Luci, can't."
He brushed his hand over the side of her head, "Can't, what?"
"Can't!" the fledgling gestured towards the lake and he frowned as it took him a moment to piece it together, slowly but surely, and he nodded, "You can't swim." She nodded, looking down to her feet as though it was shameful not to know such a simple thing, and he chuckled, "Why such the long face?" he scooped her up and began wadding out in the water, they got about mid deep and sat down, the water circling above his upper chest.
She clutched onto him tightly, her little fingers like kitten claws digging into his shoulders, and he gently pried her away from him to hold at arm's length, so she took to clutching his arms instead.
"It's okay, uncurl yourself, little one, you can still touch the bottom."
Slowly, she did, and though the water came up to her neck, she could indeed touch the bottom and that brought relief to her. He instructed her, guiding her to float on her stomach, she whimpered in fear and he dug his fingers lightly in the belly "You feel that?" she nodded "I'm not going to let you go." She nodded, clutching at the hand that held her front up.
"Spread out your arms and legs."
She did as she was told, spreading her arms and legs out widely, looking up at him for further instruction.
"Kick your legs and wave your arms."
The fledgling did, and she sprayed water everywhere, but managed to spin herself in a circle. Though the Morningstar held onto her belly securely, keeping her from sinking under should she begin to, and he laughed at her success and accomplishment, pride evident in his tone.
"You're doing great, little one!"
Lucifer looked up to meet the gaze of his oldest brother, Michael had settled himself just a bit away and was watching them practice their new action, raising his arms for the fledgling, he looked down to his charge "Do you want to try and swim over to Mike?" she seemed unsure at first, fingers curling around his again, but he nodded encouragingly, thus convincing her to do as was wanted.
Michael held his arms out for her, smiling encouragingly to her coming triumph, and she smiled at him from her place in the security of the Morningstar's arms, kicking harder under instructions, and felt his hands slowly move away from her body and she felt herself move forward of her own accord, there was a brief struggle, and though both archangels were ready to jump in if it were needed, they let her continue on her way.
A good five minutes later she felt the fingers of the oldest archangel curling around her middle and pulling her close to him, and she smiled in triumph, shrieking as she was lifted up above his shoulders, "You little fish, did you see that?"
"I did it Micha!"
"You most certainly did."