Gabriel walked into the living room with the most ridiculous grin on his face. When he got there, he saw Castiel sitting on the couch waiting for him. Castiel took one look at his brother and broke into a smile. He knew exactly what it meant.

"He called you Daddy, didn't he?" Castiel said knowingly. Gabriel was still grinning while he nodded.

"Yeah."

Castiel grinned and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Congratulations, brother." He said. Gabriel nodded his thanks and then conjured up two beers. He handed his brother a beer before popping it open, clinking bottles with him, and taking a swig.

"Is Dean-o doing okay?" He asked after a brief moment of silence.

"It was a fight to get him to sleep but eventually I got him down."

"Poor kid."

Castiel sighed. "Yes. And if I know him as well as I think I do he'll be up a few more times tonight."

"I believe it." Said Gabriel, still grinning like an idiot. Castiel smiled.

"I've noticed a change in you already." He said, changing the subject. Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're so much happier, Gabriel. Just look at the smile on your face." The second he mentioned it he tried to wipe it away, but just couldn't find the willpower.

"Get to the point, Cassie."

"The point is simple: fatherhood changes you. It changed me too."

Gabriel chuckled. "I never thought you'd be saying something like that to me." Cas nodded.

"It surprised me too. But you're doing so well. You should be proud."

Gabriel took another drink of beer. "I am proud. Of him and of myself." He paused for a moment, reflecting on the whole idea. "You know something, Cassie? I watched you doing this stuff with Dean for a while before I ever considered getting a kid of my own. You seemed so happy and so excited about everything, and you had this... This joy around you that wasn't there before. I saw it and I wanted it so much but I didn't know how to get it. And then I got the idea, and when Sam said yes it was like this door opened and suddenly there was this whole new world for me to explore. I had no idea how this felt, but now that I know... I don't think I'll ever be the same..." He finished quietly.

"That's what fatherhood is supposed to be." Cas commented. "We didn't necessarily get the best example, but the fact that we became the best example speaks volumes."

"I wonder what dad would think about having grandchildren." Gabriel wondered aloud. Castiel took a long drink of beer.

"Who knows? Maybe he knows. Maybe he'll come see them someday."

"Yeah, and maybe Azrael will stop trying to take over heaven." He said sarcastically.

Castiel conceded and put down his beer bottle.

"When I became a father, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing." He admitted. "I don't think I've ever felt so unprepared for something in my entire existence. Having someone- let alone a Winchester- put that much trust in you and make themselves so vulnerable is absolutely terrifying. There were a few times when I wondered if I was doing the right thing, and more than a few times when I almost gave it all up. But the first time he called me Daddy changed everything. Suddenly it wasn't just about me anymore. I had to take Dean into account for almost every decision I made. Every time he called me Daddy afterward just validated all the hard work that I'd done. It made everything worth it. But it was more than just decisions and making preparations. There was this burst of emotion that came with it all and I wasn't ready for it. The protectiveness, the understanding, the wisdom, but most of all the unconditional love. In all my years of living I have never loved anything more than I have loved that boy." He said honestly.

Gabriel finished his beer and set the bottle down on the coffee table with a thunk.

"I hear ya, Cassie. I do." He Said. Although he hadn't quite reached that level of emotional involvement with Sam yet, he had a feeling that he would be there sooner than he thought. "You're a good Dad, Castiel." He Said.

Cas smiled. "You're not so bad yourself."

Gabriel smirked. "I don't know how you do it, bro. One day with the kid and I'm already worn out. How can you do this every single day?" He questioned.

"It isn't easy, but at the end of the day when I put him into bed, I feel like I've accomplished something. I've managed to make his world a little brighter, even if it's just for one day. To know he looks up to me like I'm his hero makes me feel this sense of completeness that I can't begin to understand."

"Look at you getting all deep on me. I'm the big brother here, I'm supposed to teach you something. And look at you now, schooling me in parenting." Gabriel joked. Castiel smiled a little.

"You'll be a good dad, Gabriel. You're good at lightening people up. From what I've seen, Sam needs to have a little more fun in his life. If anyone can do that, it's you."

"Thanks, Cassie."

"Anytime, brother."

The two of them shared a smile. Castiel finished the rest of the beer and threw both bottles into the trash. Almost as soon as he sat back down, a loud cry distracted him from his conversation with his brother and he sighed.

"Duty calls." He murmured, getting up from the couch. Before he could move, Gabriel grabbed him gently by the wrist and Castiel turned to look at him.

"Keep that kid safe, okay? I'll be here if you need me." Castiel nodded his thanks to his big brother and then flew off to take care of his son.