Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Looks like Hannah won't be having the smooth pregnancy we were hoping for. Can it get any rougher?

Sit back and find out!

Love always,

Avoline

Gabriel rubbed her back as she threw up into the toilet. She was nearing the end of the first trimester, but it wasn't getting any easier for her. She couldn't hold down much of anything aside from water, and she was loosing weight. He was scared to death that she wouldn't live long enough to deliver their child, and he knew if she died, so did their child. If only there was some way he could make the worst of the symptoms just go away.

Oh wait. He was an archangel.

"Gabe," she croaked, her throat raw. He pulled her against him, letting the mix of sweat and vomit and tears stain his t-shirt.

"It's okay, Hannah," he soothed while his fingers combed the short strands. "I'm right here. I can ease the sickness a little, babe." She nodded, and her pressed two fingers to her head. A smile crossed her face shortly afterwards.

"Thanks," she whispered. "Took you long enough to think of that." He chuckled and wiped the dribble from her chin.

"I was too focused on one huge fact, sugar," he pointed out, lifting her face to stare into her eyes. "We're having a child." She smiled and snuggled into his chest.

"Yes, we are," she replied sleepily. "And I'd bet money she'll look just like you." He smirked as he lifted her in his arms.

"So you think it'll be girl," he murmured. She nodded against him, and he couldn't help but kiss the spot where he pressed his fingers. "I think it'll be a boy. And he'll look just like you. And have your kind heart." She chuckled, and he made his way back to their room.

"It's already gonna have a big heart," she answered. "Just look as us. We're both more tender hearted than we care to admit." He kissed her temple.

Yes, their child would have a big heart, he thought fondly. He remembered the terror in her eyes when he explained what he had to do to survive the apocalypse. He remembered how his own heart nearly stopped when she had crashed her car months before the Mystery Spot debacle. He knew that they were almost destined for each other, even with him being an archangel. She was his soulmate, and he her guardian.

Snoring reached his ears, and he glanced down to see she had fallen back to sleep. He gently laid her on the bed, covering her and making sure she was comfortable. He then stood and made his way to the kitchen. He didn't need sleep, or coffee for that matter, but he liked the taste and had nothing better to do. He smiled at Castiel as the other angel sat at the table.

"How's that grace holding up," he asked lightheartedly, trying to mask his growing concern.

"If I can avoid using my powers too often, it should last another week or so," the dark haired man replied. "But I'd rather get my own grace back from Metatron." Gabriel chucked as he poured a cup of coffee and joined his little brother at the table. "We've got bigger problems than borrowed grace." The blond raised an eyebrow. "When I was going through the trials to lock the gates of Heaven, the first one was to take the heart of a Nephilim. He referred to her as 'an abomination,' despite my protest."

It all clicked into place, and the arch angel's face fell. If Metatron found out that Hannah was pregnant, he would kill her. If he couldn't kill Hannah, he would kill their child. He had already killed on, one that Gabriel wish he had known about. If Metatron was serious about making Earth the angels new home, he wouldn't hesitate to kill the baby.

"Castiel, you can't let any of the angels know," he pleaded, his heart pounding. "Please, I'm begging you. It'll destroy Hannah if he kills our child." Cas met his gaze, and Gabriel could see a promise within the clear blue eyes.

"I have no intention of letting Metatron, or anyone, harm your offspring, Gabriel," he responded, causing the golden eyed man to relax. "Besides, I recall an older brother telling me not to step on what I thought was just a fish, saying that it would go on to become something great."

The older angel's jaw dropped as the moment Castiel spoke of flashed through his mind. It had been eons ago, and he had forgotten about the young fledgling that had clung to him. But he remembered saying that, and had often wondered if it had influenced the young angel in any way.

Now, that same fledgling was sitting across the table from him, a fully realized angel, who had based so many of his decisions on the lessons Gabriel had taught him.

"That was ages ago," he breathed. "And yet you never forgot." Castiel smiled.

"Every time I wonder about a decision or if a life is worth sparing, I remember what you said about the fish," he explained. "Every life I come across, I wonder if they could be descendants of that fish." Gabe bit his tongue and shifted his gaze to the cup in his hands. "Gabriel, you taught me that every living thing has a purpose, and I will fight to defend your child from anyone that tries to kill it."

"You don't have to," the blond countered. "I won't ask you to put yourself in danger like that."

"You don't have to," a gruff voice piped in, drawing their eyes to the owner as he sauntered over and sat down. "Whether the rest of the angels like it or not, we're not going to let them kill someone who hasn't killed." Dean's green eyes met Gabe's. "You're a dick. No arguing that. But you're not one to raise a child to kill, or to even encourage it. So I'm trusting that your kid won't be a threat. You've got my word that I'll fight to my last breath to keep the rest of the dick bags from killing it." The arch angel let out a bark of laughter.

"Why," he inquired, confused and truly wondering why they would take on such a task.

"Because that's what we do," Sam tossed back as he joined the rest of them. "That whole shoot-first-ask-questions-later never really sat well with me, and I think Dean is realizing the same. If they can coexist without killing innocent lives, we leave them be. If they can't, then we kill them." The tall man shrugged. "Basically, no matter if you're human, not human, or some hybrid, just don't kill for the pure hell of it and we'll leave you alone." Gabriel shifted his eyes between the other three.

"You're family, now," Dean stated, answering the silent question. "We defend family. Even if it kills us."

"Which it has, a few times."