Chapter 5

Yay~ Thank you all for your reviews and suggestions! And thank you to a guest for a storyline suggestion. I really want to try to incorporate it somehow. Let's see if it works~

Here's the next chapter~!

Apocalypse Begin

"Call it. Time of death-" The body on the floor jerked and shuddered before taking in a deep gasping breath.

"Gabriel, that was mean," he stated with a small frown.

The youngest Archangel just laughed and ruffled long black strands between his fingers. Pouting, Harry pushed away his older brother's hand.

"But you learned to fly did you not, fledgling?"

"Throwing someone out of Heaven and telling them to flap their wings is not a good lesson on flying!"

Gabriel's eyebrows rose. Then he chortled good naturedly. "So the shy little brother can get angry. How cute~!"

"Gabriel," a voice hissed.

The archangel froze and turned hesitantly to look upon the darkened countenance of his elder brother.

"Lucifer… what a surprise," he chuckled nervously.

He saw Gabriel chance a glance at him. He knew his face was burning now and the way his brother's eyebrows wagged for a second was not helping matters.

"What is this I hear about tossing the fledging out of Heaven?"

The beautiful archangel's face seemed to house disgust and anger. He actually looked about ready to strangle Gabriel so he knew he had to intervene. He did not want his brother to stop existing, because that is what happened to angels who died. They stopped existing.

"He was teaching me how to fly," he interjected softly.

Lucifer was very scary when he was angry and for a second, he had to suffer the brunt of it before the man's blue eyes calmed slightly. Then Lucifer shot a pointed glare at Gabriel and stalked off in a huff. He could have sworn he heard the retreating angel mutter about payback later, whatever that meant.

Michael soothingly brushed his hands through Harry's wings. It was like a ritual that they did every seventh day. A bonding experience. Michael would clean and fix Harry's wings and the youngest angel would do the same for him. The first time it happened Harry had been so nervous he was going to mess up his eldest brother's wings but the archangel only started singing Harry's favorite lullaby to soothe him.

Sometimes Gabriel, Raphael, and even Lucifer joined their grooming session. It was when the latter came that Harry became even more painfully shy and Michael just huffed in amusement.

But right now it was just him and Michael. Michael who was singing Harry's favorite lullaby.

Midnight moonlight shining through the curtain lace
Paints a perfect picture on your perfect face
One sweet angel sleeping in my arms
You are the promise I knew God would keep
You are the gift that makes my world complete

And you'll never know how much I love you
But I'll keep on telling you my whole life through
Now I believe in miracles, and you're the reason why
So dream on while I sing you my angel's lullaby

Harry sighed and finished jotting down the latest dream he had just had. He'd been in the hospital for a month now and he had only left critical care last week. The doctors were baffled how he was still alive and functional. He had been dead for a full eight minutes before he had jerked and gasped in much need oxygen. The EMT's were shocked and it was only Pastor Jinson yelling at them that pushed them into action again.

Ever since his meeting with Death he had been having more and more dreams (some of them repeating) and had asked one of the nurses to bring him paper. Instead he was given a notebook. Which was better in his opinion, more organized.

He was hoping he'd be able to piece together some clues to figure out his name or at least his purpose. He vaguely remembered Death being mentioned in one of his earlier dreams but the details always slipped away.

"How are you doing Mr. Star?"

Harry glanced up at the nurse and gave a slight smile. "Better, but I don't think I'm going to be getting out of this bed anytime soon."

A couple of months at the most he thought. His magic was helping him heal up quicker than any muggle would have been able to.

She smiled and jotted some things down on the clipboard that hung off the end of his bed.

"Your medicine will be here in a few minutes and you have a couple of church guests here to visit. Feel up to it?"

He nodded and she left.

Everyone from church had visited. They said he was God's miracle. Well, that was a bit more accurate than they'd like to think. He knew he had died as an angel and now he was reincarnated but apparently even God hadn't known according to Death. Miracle indeed.

It was a while after his first introduction from Father and he was alone near the gardens while the others milled about doing their own work. Or, well at least he thought he was. But a hand on his shoulder quickly disproved him of that and he jumped.

"Ha! You are cute little brother~!"

The newest born glanced up into honey brown eyes filled with warmth and he relaxed.

"Already stealing the fledgling Gabriel?"

Harry turned and couldn't help but blush in the face of this new arrival. His hair was as fine as spun gold and gleamed like the sun and his sea blue eyes were easy to get lost in.

"Oho! Like him do you," a voice whispered in his ear. "I think he likes you too."

The man behind him straightened again and then slung an arm over Harry's shoulders. His tongue was sticking out and Harry wondered what it meant.

So he asked.

Gabriel blinked in surprise and looked down at Harry with his tongue still slightly hanging out while Lucifer chuckled.

He really liked that sound. He wanted the man to do it more.

"Ah. I forgot you really haven't learned anything yet have you," Gabriel asked sucking his tongue back in.

He said no.

A glint seemed to form in his brother's brown eyes that went away when Lucifer smacked the back of the angels head. Harry started and back up a few steps at the show of aggression. Was his brother… mad? That was the emotion that usually expressed hostility right?

Lucifer must have seen Harry face because he chuckled again.

"Not to worry fledgling," he purred. "Gabriel was just being stupid. I was showing him that."

"So to show people that they are stupid you smack their heads," Harry said resolutely.

"Lucifer! That is not what you do, little one! That is just Lucifer's way of showing me… Eh… That is really only done to me okay? You don't smack anyone else. They might take offense."

"Offense?"

"They might get mad," Lucifer interjected smoothly.

Harry nodded but he was still… what was the word…? Ah, confused.

"So-"

"Why are you two over here? You are supposed to be finding… ah. Good you found him. Hello fledgling. I am Michael, the eldest and an archangel. Lucifer is second eldest and Gabriel is the youngest of the arch angels. The middle archangels are Raphael and Uriel but they are not here right now."

Harry blinked and gazed at his eldest brother shyly. The man was beautiful as well. Not as much as Lucifer but very close.

"Hello," he whispered.

He couldn't help but cry. Gazing upon the distraught mother who had just lost her child. The little girl had barely made it to the age of five before a nasty disease destroyed her lungs and she suffered until death. When Father made humans and told all the angels to love them more than him, many protested and some quite vehemently but none more so than Lucifer. His lover had almost started a rebellion and might have succeeded if it weren't his calming touch and soothing words.

He actually liked the humans. Many were smart and they lived off the land, surviving with what they were given. But he loved the children most of all. They were precious and so full of innocence and joy it made him happy! He showed Lucifer that and he had to agree the children were precious. It did not mean he liked the adults but he could love the children.

Lucifer thought humans would destroy Earth, God's precious creation and Harry was inclined to agree. But that was why God had created mages. Mages balanced out the destructive tendencies of humans with their ability to create. He showed Lucifer this and the archangel grudgingly agreed.

The rebellion was quelled before it even started.

But none of that made his job any easier. He hated taking children but he could not be remiss in his duties that Father gave him.

Harry was nervous. God had made him the angel of Death because of an agreement with Death itself. Angels were powerful beings and didn't die unless killed and there was absolutely no reason for an angel to kill another brother or sister. With all the humans now being created Death wanted an angel that would help with his duties. Now he was going to meet Death.

So you are the angel God has sent me. So young and small.

Harry stood taller and glared defiantly into the black oblivion of Death's domain.

"I am not young! I am three hundred and forty seven! And I am most definitely not small," he spat.

If there was one thing he hated was for others to comment on his height and age. Just because he was the youngest didn't mean he was any less competent.

Calm. Calm, fledgling. I meant no offense. To me you are young and forever will be. And compared to most of your brothers and sisters you are quite small. It was just facts.

Harry hmphed, crossing his arms petulantly. He could have sworn Death just chuckled.

Before you can help me fledgling you must accept Death into your very being. Will you allow me to exist in your very core?

"Of course! It is my duty."

Duty does not matter if you do not want it. You must accept Death with every fiber of your being. Do you understand?

Harry frowned and thought it over. To accept Death he would become a creature of Death. He did not want to lose his grace.

And you shall not. Your grace will always be with you. It will not be the same as the others though. Being a creature of Death, your grace will reflect that. Especially until you learn how to control death so it does not destroy everything around you. So while you are learning you will stay in my domain.

"But-"

I am sure you do not want to accidentally kill another angel do you?

Harry was horrified. That could happen?

If you do not learn, then yes. Understand, fledgling, Death is unlike anything else. It is inevitable. Everyone will die. Even you and your Father shall one day fall into my embrace. Though it may be a long time in coming.

"I thought angels ceased to exist when they die."

True. But as a being of Death you will be an exception. When you die death will be so ingrained into your very existence that you will become a part of me.

"What about Father?"

Well he is not an angel is he?

Harry shook his head and bowed his head in thought. It was a lot to take in. He knew that if an angel died Father would try his very best to recreate them even if they were missing memories in the end. But to know that he would become a part of Death if he died… It was strange. It was also somewhat of a relief. He would still die just in a different way and that did not bother him at all. He would be eternal. Death did not scare him. No it was being forgotten that frightened him and if you don't exist who will want to remember you?

Yes. He would accept Death with open arms.

"I am ready."

Very well then.

A cold sensation slithered into his core and-

Harry awoke with a gasp. He scrambled for his notebook and jotted his dream down furiously. It was the most informative yet and he needed to get as much down as he could before it started to fade to the back of his mind. Oh, how he wished for a pensieve right now…

A few minutes later, he dropped the pen onto the bed next to him and relaxed. It was a very good thing he had fallen asleep in a sitting position. Sure his wound twinged because of his jerky movements but if he had been laying down when he woke up and tried to go for the notebook… Ouch.

Sighing, he turned on the TV to the news channel. Two months in the bloody hospital. He was starting to go stir crazy. This was the longest in his life he had ever gone without activity. His magic was thankfully fully focused on fixing any and all damage done by Sirius' specter. If his magic had been sitting in his core waiting to be used he would have been worse than someone with a severe form of ADHD.

A random thought pooped up and he wondered how Sam and Dean were doing. He really wanted to see Castiel again and he had the strangest feeling the young angel was involved with them. Hey… at least he wasn't technically the youngest anymore…

"You're being stupid, Zachariah."

"What did you just say, fledgling," the angel hissed menacingly.

"I said your being stupid. I would whack the back of your head but Gabriel said that only he gets smacked when he's being stupid. I should just tell other angels that they are being stupid when they are," Harry said helpfully.

Well he thought it was helpful. His brother apparently didn't think so as the large white wings flared in annoyance. Zachariah looked scary when he was angry…

His brother started to advance on him with a very dangerous glint in his eyes when a voice was heard calling out for Harry. Zachariah jumped in surprise at the same time as the youngest. Harry, of course, could feel his face light up at the sound of Lucifer's voice. His older brother on the other hand looked even angrier.

Feeling a niggle of something in his gut that he didn't like, Harry opened his mouth to call back but an iron hand clamped it shut. Harry let out a pained grunt and wiggled around fiercely trying to find a way out of his brother's unrelenting grip. He didn't like the way Zachariah's hands felt. Lucifer's were much better. Even Michael and Gabriel's were better! He wanted him off but nothing was working.

He could his brother's breath on his ear now as he spoke in a low tone, "I don't like you. You think being the new baby that everyone loves you be-"

Abruptly the angel was ripped away. Harry turned cautiously, balancing himself in the process and almost sprinted (Gabriel was supposed to teach him to fly soon) the other way. Lucifer looked absolutely murderous. It twisted his beautiful features into something harsh and cold but still awe-inspiring.

With a foot upon his brother's chest to hold him down Lucifer asked, "Just what do you think you were doing with the fledgling?"

"Brother he was insulting me!"

"Oh?" Those dangerous eyes turned to Harry. "And what do you have to say to these accusations Az****," the man practically purred.

"I-I told him he was being stupid. I couldn't just smack his head like you do Gabriel. So I just told him instead like Gabriel told me to."

Lucifer tsked at the mention of the youngest archangel but asked what Zachariah was being stupid about.

"Um… he was bossing around other angels the same rank and frightening them. That is stupid right?"

"Not quite," Lucifer muttered. "But it is good that this was brought to my attention. I am sure that Michael would love to hear of this yes," he asked with a malicious grin.

His first time on Earth. On Father's beautiful creation but he could not feel the elements. Here he was invisible and intangible. He wasn't really supposed to be here but he couldn't resist and he was old enough to do what he wanted anyway. He wanted to know how the humans felt. So he was going to track down his vessel. Like the archangel's he only had one because of his connection with Death. Only a pure soul, unafraid of Death could hold him. He wanted to meet such a being, because even angels (him being the exception) were afraid of Death.

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back and let his grace expand, making sure to keep it thin so it didn't attract any unwanted attention. There was a very dangerous being down here that caller herself Eve and created monsters from humans. She didn't really care for angels and so getting caught by her in what she deemed her domain when it was really Father's!... wouldn't be good.

With a sigh, he pulled his grace back to try another area. It was almost completely reeled in when he felt a ping of resonance on the very outer range of his grace. Slowly, he focused more on the ping and the echo he got was stronger.

Hah! Take that Gabriel he didn't need to know who his vessel was to be able to find him. In his excitement he sped toward the signal and came upon a small farm far from the bigger village he had been in. To humans it might be a few days travel but to him it was seconds.

He touched down lightly in what he thought was a patch of carrots and gazed inside the crude house. A curious child poked his head out the door and stared in amazement at the spot he was standing in.

His vessel was a child… how disappointing. He loved children but he did not want to possess one. Maybe he would come back in a few years in human time.

"Wait! Don't go!"

Harry paused in shock and turned to the boy. Nathaniel son of John and Molly. What a beautiful name.

"You can see me?"

"Of course. Why would I not be able ta?"

"Hmmm. Because only special people can see me let alone hear my true voice."

"Are ya an angel?"

Harry smiled brilliantly. "I am."

"Your wings are pretty!"

"Would you like to touch them?" Now to see if the boy could touch him as well. If he could…! He would have the most amazing vessel ever!

"Uh huh," followed by a vigorous head nod had Harry bending to one knee and stretching his wings forward as an offering.

Small hand latched on and the angel hid a wince at the rough treatment but he still allowed it. He was more used to Michael's soothing fingers and Lucifer's skilled hands. Not a child that didn't know what he was doing but this was his vessel. He could deal with the pain; it wasn't that bad in any case.

"So soft!" The boy paused in his petting. "Why did ya come here Mista Angel?"

"Why," Harry grinned, "because you are my vessel and I am now your Guardian Angel!"

Nathan didn't understand the vessel part, Harry knew, but he would eventually. Especially since Harry was going to do everything in his power to keep this child safe until his Time of Death, when his body was too old to stay on Earth.

Harry finished his latest entry and gently set the book on his bed. Now he was able to walk around the room with no problems and he was even starting to do light exercise. Everyone was still calling him a miracle. First he comes back from the dead and then he heals at a phenomenal rate. The doctors were still baffled but some of them attended his church and were just happy he was still alive.

So after three months of a hospital stay he was finally going to be discharged in two days. Two more days before he could research the Angel of Death to find his true name.

Unfortunately for Harry in two days' time the Winchester brothers were coming to visit the unknowing pastor because of a rumor circulating in the Hunter society about a pastor coming back to life from the dead.

AN: Phew! Finally done~! I hope ya'll like it! Oh yeah the song is Angel Lullaby by Reba McEntire. Really pretty.

Review please~!