He's an archangel. He shouldn't be going to his older brothers room after something as common as a nightmare anymore. He's not a fledgling anymore. He should be back in his own bed like the grown archangel he is. But his self doubts don't stop him from reaching out for the door handle of his older brothers room and doesn't slow him in the slightest as he pushes the door open.

Standing in the doorway, he fiddles with his fingers for a moment, and steps into the darkness that sits before him. His eyes have long since adjusted to the darkness around him, and he can make out the mound under the blankets, snoring softly in deep slumber, the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breaths in and out.

He touches his lips lightly and chokes on a breath.

Hesitantly, he reaches out into the silence, and pokes the solid arm nearest him. When he gains no response to the first one, he does it again, a bit harder then the first. This one gains him a response, the soft snores cut off in a snort, and he can see his brothers eyes open to see what the disturbance was.

"G—Gabriel?"

The Messenger sucks in a rushed breath. "Raph, can I sleep with you?" if he hadn't asked then he would never have built the courage back up again.

When there's no immediate reply, he prepares himself for the denial, and closes his eyes tightly to avoid seeing the wave of dismissal given to him.

"Sure."

He opens his eyes, his brother has lifted the side of his duvet for him and he darts forward, sliding in under the blankets and against his side as quick as he could, and he settles against him as close as he can manage. A warm arm curls around his back and pulls him close, as his older brother settles back against his pillows again, fingers scratch soothingly at his arm. "What happened, baby brother?"

"I had a bad dream."

"Those are the worst, aren't they?"

He nods against his brothers chest, listening to the beating of his heart and the thrum of his grace under his skin, it's a soothing sound.

"You're safe here, baby brother, no one shall ever harm you like that again."

"It was like he was here."

Warm lips press to the side of his head. "He would have to go through all of us first. It would be an unsuccessful attempt. We've got you now, baby brother."

He licks his lips and nuzzles against his older brother. "I love you, big brother."

"And I you, with all my heart."

…

Lucifer slept on his back. In one position. For the entire night.

Which made it easy to know when his fledgling had a bad dream. When Akeelah has bad dreams she seeks physical comfort, and will touch as much of you as she possibly can, and will lay in the oddest positions if it means she has to.

He knows she's had a bad dream when she crawls up to lay on his chest, completely and wholly, curling up on his front like she's a small kitten, and she clutches at his tunic in a tight little fist.

The Morningstar rubs at her back lightly, pulled from sleeps grasp at the sudden weight of her laying on top of him, and whispers into the dark. "Did you have a bad dream?"

She nods against his shoulder.

"I've got you, little bird, it's alright."

…

He gives a soft whine when the memories of his tortures return in the middle of the night, and the archangel next to him listens, even in sleep, for the sign of a nightmare coming on.

When Michael hears the soft whine, he lifts the blankets off him quickly, and crosses to his bed just across the room. Touching his arm lightly, he wakes the Sentry gently, and Gadreel looks up at him with wide eyes.

"Are you still here with me, little 'Reel?"

He receives a nod, but he knows better, and slides in next to him. The Viceroy guides his head to lay on his chest, scratching lightly at his scalp, he hums under his breath like the Healer does. It's calming and sooths the tension building in the younger angel.

"I'm here, 'Reel, I've got you."

"I was there."

He nods. "I know. But you're free now. And you've got a home again."

…

He wakes slightly when he feels the two young boys lift his arms slightly and slide underneath them, coming to rest their heads on his chest, and he sighs sleepily and pulls them close to him under the blankets. They only ever climb into bed with him when they have bad dreams, and he knows they just like being held closed, so he does.

They nuzzle close and grip at his tunic.

He presses his lips to both of their temples and together the three of them fall back to sleep.

…

Oren starts when someone pokes him in the cheek, his eyes flying open, and he immediately reaches for something to use for defense.

"Woah, woah! It's just me!"

He squints in the dark. "Zaves?"

The youngest Virtue rubs at his arm lightly, as though embarrassed. "Can I sleep with you Ori?"

They stare at each other for a minute, and his older brother nods, lifting his blankets up to allow him entrance and he slides in next to him. He curls his arm around the younger angel and pulls him close.

"Were you alone again?"

"There was no one."

"I'm here." He rubs his back and rests his chin on his younger brothers wavy locks. "I'm not going anywhere."