Gabriel stood before a door that was so black it looked like a hole. Or would have, if it weren't for the bright yellow words painted across it: KEEP OUT! THIS MEANS YOU!

He knocked twice. "Luci? Are you here? Please help me!"

In his arms, baby Castiel cried, his face red and wet with tears. He'd been crying all night, and Gabriel didn't know what to do to help him. So he'd come to get help.

The door burst open. "What do you want, you little-" Lucifer snapped, before noticing that no one else was around. He dropped the act and said, "Come in, squirt. What's wrong with the baby?"

"I don't know! He won't stop crying! I've fed him, I've changed him, I've rocked him, I've sang to him . . . nothing helps!"

Lucifer pulled his younger brother inside quickly and shut the door. "Did you ask anyone else?"

"Mikey was busy, and Raph didn't know."

"Okay, let me see him."

Gabriel handed the baby over. Lucifer only had to touch him to know what the problem was. "He's hot," he said. "You've been keeping him wrapped up warm?"

"Yeah, Mikey said to."

"Well, I think you've been overdoing it a bit, squirt. He's overheated. Don't worry, I can fix it. Bring me a bowl of cold water and a clean cloth."

Gabriel did so. "Whatcha gonna do, Luci?"

"Watch me, kiddo." He carefully dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out. "Make sure it's just damp, not dripping. Then you do this." He took the wet cloth and ran it over the baby's face, down onto his neck and chest, and over his arms. Castiel's cries faded to whimpers.

"Is that better, baby? Huh?" Lucifer repeated the action a few more times, until the baby was quiet at last. "See? It's that easy. Just keep doing that if his temperature doesn't go down right away. And don't wrap him up so tight!"

Gabriel looked down. Baby Cas wasn't crying anymore, and his face was no longer bright red. The young angel placed two fingers on the baby's cheek, and found that it was a lot cooler. "Thanks, Luci."

"Any time, precious boy." He walked Gabriel to the door. When he opened it, he saw Ezekiel and Raphael at the end of the corridor. "Now get outta here, brat!" he snapped, but with a private wink that belied his harsh tone.

"I'm sorry," Gabriel murmured, playing his part. "Sorry, Luci."

"Yeah, whatever. What are you lookin' at?" he shouted at Raph and Zeke, who turned away.

Gabriel went back to his room. Cas had fallen asleep in his arms, so he put the baby down in his crib. He spread the animal blanket over him, but didn't tuck it in tight.

"Love you, baby. Luci loves you too, even if he's too cool to show it. 'Cept when we're alone. Why's he gotta be like that, huh? Growing up is weird. Don't you grow up, Cassie. Don't ever grow up. Be my baby forever and ever."

Of course Gabriel knew that babies have to grow up. He just wished that his family could be like they were before, when Dad was around and Michael and Luci weren't mad at each other.

"My baby," he repeated, stroking the baby's now-cooler cheek. "Forever my baby."