Baby Castiel and Big Brother Gabriel

Gabriel walked through Heaven, flashing his gorgeous smile at a passing angel. His massive, golden wings fanned out behind him; six of them, to be specific, three pairs. He was going to see what his brother, Michael, was up to, when he heard crying.

To a human, an angel crying would sound like a beautiful melody, but whenever an angel cried in Heaven, rain fell somewhere in the world. And he was pretty sure a storm was starting from the wails he heard.

He followed the sobbing to where a fledgling sat, whimpering and sniffling. "Hey, little buddy," he greeted, stooping so he could talk to him easier. "What's wrong?"

A tiny angel with messy black hair looked up at him through big, wet, blue eyes and sniffed unhappily. "I can't fly," he said, his voice quivering.

"Well, little guy, your wings are a bit too small for that," he said, chuckling and he pulled the fledgling's tiny wings gently.

"But I want to fly!" he cried, pouting. Gabriel laughed, a deep, rich sound, and scooped up the tiny angel in his arms and stood up, hugging him to his broad chest.

"Well, soon you will be able to. You just have to wait a little while," he said, cradling him. "What's your name?"

"Castiel," the fledgling said, wiping his eyes with tiny fists. "Will my wings get big like yours?" he asked, turning his big blue eyes to look at Gabriel's golden wings.

"Yep, then you'll be able to fly too," Gabriel said, messing up his hair and smiling down at the adorable creature. "How about you run along now," he said, setting him down and walking off to find his brothers.

A few days later, Gabriel was walking to the armory where he liked to practice with the weapons. Every step he took he could hear some shuffling behind him. He paused, smiling, and turned to see Castiel, looking up at him, a finger in his mouth.

"Gabe!" he cried, stretching up his short arms towards him. Gabriel picked up the angel, swinging him around, not bothering to tell him that he should be taking his nap with the other fledglings, as angels sleep in Heaven.

"I want to fly," he told Gabriel, staring at him expectantly. "You can fly. Fly with me."

Gabriel tilted his head at the fledgling before giving in to those begging blue eyes. "Alright, little guy." He cradled Castiel in his arms and fanned out his wings. He fell forward then flapped them, rising higher and higher. Castiel squealed with joy and clapped his small hands.

Gabriel grinned down at his little brother and flew even higher. Castiel began to get too excited and squirmed around. Gabriel tried to keep a grip on him, but Castiel wormed his way out and slipped from his big brother, falling through the air, crying.

Gabriel swooped down in the blink of an eye and caught the fledgling, holding him tightly until he landed. "Castiel?" he asked, his heart pounding as he stared at him. Castiel trembled in his arms, his little body shaking and his blue eyes wide with fright.

Gabriel tried talking to him again, but Castiel seemed frozen. Panicked, he ran to find Lucifer. His older brother sat on the highest branch of his favourite tree, humming. "Lucifer!" Gabriel cried, flying up to sit next to him with a single bat of wings. "I think he's hurt," he said, passing the still shaking angel to him.

Lucifer took him gently, holding him against his chest. Castiel leaned his head against him, gripping Lucifer's robe in his tiny fists. "The little one is scared, brother," he said, cuddling the fledgling to him. "Have you been up to your tricks again?"

Gabriel explained, staring at his little brother the whole time. Lucifer sang to him, a short, sweet melody and Castiel's little body slowly stopped quivering. "Here," Lucifer said, handing him back to Gabriel. "He's alright now."

Gabriel thanked his older brother and Lucifer smiled back at him before he flew off his branch. Gabriel hugged the tiny thing to him and a soft voice said, "Gabe?"

"Hey, it's me, little brother. Are you okay?" he asked, shifting Castiel so he sat on his lap.

"Th-that was sc-scary," he whimpered, hiding his face in Gabriel's robe.

"It's alright, I have you now," Gabriel cooed, petting his head and stroking his messy hair. "Maybe now you'll be a little more patient to fly?" he asked, cracking a small smile at the fledgling.

Castiel turned his blue eyes to Gabriel's radiant face and smiled back. "Yes, Gabe," he said, before squirming against Gabriel so he lay on his lap, his tiny body curling up to fit perfectly. Gabriel crooned to him and stroked his hair until Castiel fell asleep on him and he later drifted off, his head resting against the tree trunk and a hand wrapped around the tiny fledgling.