Author's note: Thanks so much to Ghastly Eternity for beta-reading and to Maknatuna, Mello18, Creativity Incarnate, BloodyRosie, Tendencia, Jeanny, slashify, keacdragon and Slashify for last chapter's reviews.

10

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G," Gabriel mumbled between snores and kicking his legs in his sleep.

Apparently, the golden hamster was taking learning his ABCs very seriously. Unfortunately, Sam couldn't fall back asleep, as things were. He had woken up a few minutes earlier and had wanted to tell Gabriel that there was enough time for learning more in the evening, so he should just please shut up for the moment being. He had quickly realized that the smaller hamster was reciting parts of the alphabet in his sleep, however. Well, damn!

"M, N, O, P," the golden hamster mumbled with a huge grin Sam couldn't quite explain to himself. He wouldn't have thought that dreaming of the alphabet would feel great enough to warrant a reaction like that.

The taller hamster sighed. He really wanted to just wake his companion up for a moment, so they could both go back to sleep afterward, but he was looking so happy with his dream. Sam supposed he could wait another little while. Let Gabriel finish that dream and then wake him up, if he was still sleep-talking afterward.

"Nah, you're just a great teacher," the golden hamster muttered bashfully while his paws were kneading the sawdust.

The taller hamster couldn't help chuckling at that. Not only was Gabriel reciting the ABC, he was also having a conversation, quite possibly with Sam even.

"I love you, too," the smaller hamster sighed happily and finally settled down to sleep peacefully. He was still snoring softly, but the brown hamster was used to that sound by now.

Sam still found himself unable to get back to rest. Okay, he had known that Gabriel was developing feelings for him. Hell, he had known that the golden hamster thought he loved him. But, that things had gone so far that his smaller companion was even dreaming of them confessing their love to each other was a surprise. At least, it had sounded like the Sam in the dream had told Gabriel that he loved him first.

The taller hamster sat down in the far corner of their cage to think things through. One might say that thinking things through all the time was one of Sam's major problems. He wouldn't have to think so much, if he could only take his gut feeling more seriously. His gut was quite convinced that Gabriel was one hell of a great hamster, after all. His mind didn't disagree completely, but it was quite adamant that the other hamster would make a better child than a partner.

Still, Gabriel was funny and he tried really hard. Not to mention that he looked very cute and rather handsome as male hamsters went. It wasn't because of nothing that Sam didn't mind his companion's cuddly nature, after all.

The brown hamster sighed heavily and looked over to the hamster-house and his sleeping friend once more. It wasn't like he had many options, right? Gabriel was the only other hamster he'd probably see in his entire life. Still, Sam didn't want to settle for someone just because there was nobody else and he didn't think that the golden hamster deserved to be treated that way, either. Not to mention that they'd have a real problem if things between them ever hit a rough patch.

The taller hamster was still brooding quietly when a small paw was placed on his shoulder.

"Can't you sleep? Did you have a nightmare?" Gabriel asked worriedly and cuddled up to Sam as if he was trying to chase the nightmares – he hadn't had – away with cuddles.

"I've just been thinking," the brown hamster replied quietly.

"You always do that," the golden hamster stated seriously and pushed Sam over to the hamster-house when the taller hamster didn't show any signs of resistance.

"What are you doing?" the brown hamster asked honestly curious but also a little amused.

"Lack of sleep is not healthy, so I'm getting you to sleep," the golden hamster replied with a few quick nods.

Once they had reached the house, Gabriel was forcing his friend to sit on the spot where he had been sleeping earlier. The sawdust was still warm and Sam had to admit that he was feeling quite cozy and cared for.

"Castiel's mother sometimes read him stories at bedtime when I was still living over in his room," the golden hamster told Sam, settling in the sawdust next to him, "I could tell you one!"

The brown hamster just nodded. He was a little speechless at this point, to be honest. Well, he had known that Gabriel cared for him. He was surprised by the lengths his fellow hamster would go to in order to make him happy time and time again, though.

"Once upon a time, there were two little hamsters who got abandoned in a forest by their parents," the golden hamster started with the story, taking some artistic liberties with his retelling, of course, "The taller of the two had wanted to leave a trail of bread crumbs so they would find their way back out of the woods, but the other hamster was very hungry and ate all the bread."

Sam chuckled quietly and snuggled a little closer to Gabriel as he went on with the story.

"They ran around trying to find their way by themselves, but they came to a house made from sweet stuff, instead," the smaller hamster quickly summarized, because he was getting very tired himself, "An evil witch was living there, but then the taller hamster kicked her ass to next Thursday and they lived happily ever after, eating all the sunflower seeds from the walls."

"Thanks, Gabe," the brown hamster whispered and allowed his smaller friend to put his head on Sam's back.

"My pleasure," Gabriel mumbled, already half asleep again.

"Gabriel?" Sam asked very quietly and only spoke on when he didn't get a reply for a couple of seconds, "I think I might love you, too."

The taller hamster slept like a baby for the rest of the day after that.