5
When David was ten Snow suddenly found herself looking at Gabriel in a new light. It was as sudden as her laughter that day all those years ago when she had slowly started to become normal again. Gabriel was in the yard teaching David to control his slowly growing wings, which Snow could only see a shimmering outline of, and to hide them from humans. It was pure luck that he hadn't knocked over some kid or teacher at school really. But Gabriel had been teaching him slowly about the things he could do with his grace and flying was one of them.
This afternoon Gabe was helping David to hide his wings in another plane of existence and the boy was watching his Uncle with a mix of concentration and adoration on his face. It was only a short while ago that David had revealed that he could see Gabriel's wings no matter what the archangel did to them. And he was in awe of the towering golden appendages.
"You need to remember the joins too David. You have to make your back look as smooth as a humans." Gabriel reminded the shirtless boy. David was concentrating and his eyebrows were drawn down. Gabriel ran his fingers across his shoulder blades and nodded in approval.
"Very good David. Now can you keep them hidden while you aren't thinking about them?" he asked and reached his fingers down to tickle into the boys ribs. David laughed in surprise but his wings didn't materialize. Snow beamed in pride.
"Good job kiddo. Now why don't you run inside and get at that math." Gabriel tousled the black hair that was in desperate need of a cut. David smiled to him and did as he asked, stopping long enough to kiss his mother quickly.
"He is so smart." Gabriel said proudly as he walked up the steps and stood by Snow.
"He is Sam's son after all." she replied.
"Cas wasn't no slouch either Snow." he grinned at her.
"You think he'll be able to keep them cloaked in school?" she asked the angel as they walked inside. She was glancing at Gabriel who was watching as David bounded up the stairs to his room.
"He'll be fine." he nodded. He smiled over at her and Snow was struck with just how handsome his vessel was. He wasn't traditionally handsome, with his short stature and jutting chin. But there was so much life to him, a face that creased when he smiled and laughed which was quite often. His golden coloured eyes were often flooded with emotion even though he tried to hide it. Snow had been living with him long enough to know his tells.
"I'll start supper, meatballs for the kiddo tonight." he grinned and veered off to the kitchen. Snow walked to the laundry muling over feeling she had long considered dead and buried. In the past ten years every time she had considered dating or finding someone else she went into a full blown panic attack. The idea of putting herself out there like that was terrifying, and how did she ever expect to replace what she had found with Dean, Sam and Castiel? And as a single mother of a mixed heritage child like hers how was she supposed to ask someone to come into her life and deal with everything? And how was she supposed to explain "Uncle" Gabriel to any new man in her life? It was just easier to be alone and deal with her pain.
She was folding one of Gabriel's shirts when she paused. She hadn't been dealing with her pain alone though had she? Through it all the archangel had been there, silent yet supportive. He had raised David as his own son even though he was clueless about humans and babies in particular. He never got mad, never demanded she step up and get over herself. Snow trembled as she realized just how much Gabriel meant to her and her son. Tears began to prick at the back of her eyes and she thought about loving someone again. What if he left when David was grown? What if some supernatural badass came by and took him away from her like the others? What if he grew tired of her and decided they weren't worth his effort any more? Could she open herself to him with all those risks? Snow continued to fold her families clothes while she thought about all these things.