Chapter Text
The Day Everything Changed
Ever since the apocalypse had been averted, Gabriel had taken it upon himself to join the dilapidated bandwagon that had become Team Free Will. He joined The (not so) Righteous Man, The Abomination and the Rebel Angel in their quest to make their own decisions. Not that anyone really minded him being there.
Castiel didn't mind, because Gabriel was his brother and his superior.
Dean didn’t mind, because although Gabriel could be annoying as shit, he often conjured up dinner and made the best pie Dean had ever tasted.
And Sam? Sam didn’t mind at all. Not one bit.
Castiel knew. Dean knew. Bobby knew. Kevin knew. Charlie knew.
They all knew that Sam was completely, one hundred percent gone on the trickster god/archangel. And heck, Dean didn't judge him for it. Dean had his own, trench-coated, socially awkward angel. After his unwanted stint in 2014, he realised that he never wanted Cas to become the orgy-attending, drunk, high, hippy Castiel he had met in the future. He knew that obviously it wouldn’t exactly hurt for Cas to be a little more laid back, and he was- since stopping the apocalypse and all, but he never wanted to see Cas hurt himself like that. And Dean didn't want to hurt Castiel. Not ever. So after a spell of self-doubting, and a stint in purgatory, Dean manned up and opened his heart to the Angel of Thursday.
When Dean did his official ‘coming out’ it all went down a lot better than expected. Apparently, everyone already knew that Dean was a) bisexual and b) totally gone on Cas. And Dean had to admit, if he had been on the other side, he would have noticed the signs of his and Cas’ attraction to each other. The same way he could now see it, clear as day, between Sam and Gabriel.
When they fought Leviathans that had been released by Crowley and Raphael, Gabriel had made it his personal mission to keep Sam safe. He brought Sam’s soul back that Castiel had failed to raise. He looked after him dearly when the wall in his mind began to break down. And he built the wall back up, brick by brick with some extensive telepathic therapy. Now Sam was all healed, and didn't see hallucinations of Lucifer or his time spent in the cage anymore. The wall Gabriel built was completely different to the one Death had constructed. Death’s wall had been crumbling brick dust. Gabriel’s was hard cement. For the first time in a long time, Sam felt safe.
The two hunters, and their angels all lived comfortably in the recovered Men of Letters bunker. For the Winchesters, it was the first place they had called home since their lives before hunting. For the angels, it was the first true home they had ever had apart from Heaven. (Gabriel disregarded Asgard as home, and refused to talk about any of his time as Loki. Ever).
Bobby chose against moving into the bunker, for no more reason that he had considered Sioux Falls his home for so long, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. He didn't do as much physical hunting since Rufus died and he received a gunshot in the back of the head by Dick Roman (he still on occasion sent his thanks to Gabriel through prayer for getting him through that, not that he’d ever admit it). He continued to man the phones in his house, but often visited his boys to look through the libraries and help with news on minor hunts.
Hunts themselves were a little more few and far between. They still hunted, of course, the Winchester brothers knew no other life, but nothing big. Most demons, under strict orders from Crowley, gave the Winchesters a wide birth. Crowley was smart, he knew that considering the Winchesters and Castiel with the addition of an archangel on their team, the denim-clad nightmares were practically invincible.
So Dean and Sam didn't hunt as often. Bobby would occasionally call about a salt and burn or a vamp hunt near their area, but they didn't do cross-country road trips as often anymore. No matter how much it scared him, Dean had become a domestic, normal person. He had a frickin’ boyfriend, a home. Next thing Sam would bring home a dog.
Charlie had road tripped it down to visit the boys she now considered as brothers a few times, before disappearing off with her new fairy girlfriend to fairyland. Which was a totally serious sentence. She had been there for a little while, but promised to visit one day. Dean had just smiled and wished her good luck and told her she was welcome back anytime.
It was sort of weird that Team Free Will had pretty much settled down. Dean contemplated this as he laid in bed, head propped up behind his hands whilst Cas snored quietly next to him. Since Gabriel had joined the team, he had taught Cas how to be more human, little by little. He was actually quite interested in things like eating and sleeping and every once in a while took a shower, which relaxed him. Usually these showers also involved Dean and other ‘realaxing’ activities, but they were showers none-the-less. Although favouring his trench-coat ensemble, on lazy Sundays like these Cas would pull on a pair of (Dean’s) sweatpants and (one of Dean’s) old band T-shirts, that used to fit him five years ago. He’d grown out of them now, but Cas was a little shorter, and a little leaner than Dean and could slip into them. Cas thought it made him look comfortable. Dean thought it made him look damn sexy.
Dean knew from past experience not to wake Cas up in the mornings. Considering he was supposed to be an angel that didn't actually need to sleep, Cas indulged in it. He was grumpy if you woke him before he was ready, and usually woke up with a sleepy quint and the most adorable bed-hair Dean had ever seen on anyone. Dean was relieved when Cas began to stir beside him, turning into Dean and mumbling something into his chest.
“What was that, angel?” Dean asked, tilting his head down to look at the slowly waking man.
“I said, I would like pancakes for breakfast.” Cas grumbled. Still, he made no attempt to move out of the bed, and shifted up slightly so his head was buried in the crevice between Dean’s neck and shoulder, permanent stubble scratching lightly against Dean’s shoulder. But Dean knew what his angel was doing.
“Cas,” he said, dragging out the ‘a’ and smiling to himself “If you want pancakes, you either get them yourself, or get Gabriel to snap them up for you.”
Cas groaned. “Gabriel’s busy. I want you to get them for me.” He mumbled into Dean’s shoulder. This caught Dean’s attention. “What do you mean he’s busy?” he asked. He felt Castiel shrug beneath him.
“I don’t know. He left me a message saying he was urgently called to Asgard.” He said.
Deans eyes widened. “Asgard? Like, Norse mythology Asgard?”
“The very place.” Cas droned sarcastically. Dean knew he was still thinking about pancakes, but his mind was now more focused on Gabriel.
“As in, ‘never ask me about that place, I don’t want to talk about it’ Asgard?” he repeated.
“Yes,” Cas moaned, before moving a hand up to Dean’s toned chest, dragging his fingers up and down slowly. “Now can I please have pancakes.”
“Hey! Stop trying to seduce me into making pancakes!” Dean said, chucking dryly. Cas huffed, rolling his eyes and turned, sitting up next to Dean. “Why did Gabriel go to Asgard?”
“I don’t know,” Cas replied, shrugging his shoulders once again. “He said it was an emergency. He left the message in my head, it was the first thing I was aware of as I woke. However Dean, I highly doubt it is as important as my pancakes. Which I would very much like you to make for me.”
Dean rolled his eyes, but turned and kissed Cas firmly on the forehead. “Okay angel, you win. I'll make pancakes.”
oOo
Downstairs, Sam was already sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. “Mornin’ Sam.” Dean said as he walked into the kitchen flicking the coffee maker on to make himself and Cas a cup.
“Morning.” Sam said, flicking through the book in his lap. “Do you know where Gabriel is?” Sam asked.
“Hey, he’s you're boyfriend, not mine.” Dean joked. He turned his head to see Sam giving him bitchface #32 just as Cas walked into the room, sitting down at the table. “In regards to your question Sam, which I do not think Dean adequately answered; Gabriel had to make a trip to Asgard, in an apparent emergency.”
Sam raised his eyebrows and took another sip of his coffee. Cas sat opposite him, mumbling thanks to Dean for his own cup as Dean turned the hob on, getting the pan out to make breakfast. “Asgard?” Sam questioned. Cas nodded. “He never talks about it, his time as Loki. I asked him a whole bunch of times, but he shut me down. I guess it wasn’t as fun as the myths sold it to be.”
“You know what my brother can be like Sam. Gabriel can be very secretive when he wants to be.”
“Don’t I know it.” Sam mumbled under his breath. Of course both Dean and Cas caught it, but said nothing. “However, I am certain he will return soon.” Cas finished, with what he considered to be a reassuring smile.
oOo
They ate breakfast together, in a companiable silence chewing on fried bacon. Cas drizzled his pancakes in an unhealthy amount of maple syrup, a habit he had gained after being introduced to sugar by Gabriel. “I wonder how long Gabriel will be on his trip to Asgard.” He wondered, mouth stuffed with food.
“Ha, Asgard,” Sam said, smiling to himself a little and shaking his head.
“What?” Dean asked.
“Nothing,” Sam said, shaking his head but still smiling “It’s just, should I be worried that things like that don’t alarm me anymore?”
Dean gave an appreciative chuckle. “I don’t think anything could alarm us anymore.” He scoffed.
He regretted the words approximately three seconds later, when Gabriel appeared before them, covered in blood, with an unconscious toddler laying in his arms. He dress was white and dirty and her hair sandy blonde.
“Okay.” Gabriel said, eyes hard, chest heaving. “This is where it gets complicated”
oOo
The girl was sleeping on the couch, her dress now cleaned via angel mojo. She was still asleep, but a once over from Gabriel assured that she was unharmed. Gabriel cleaned himself up, and sat down on the couch at her feet, Sam, Dean and Cas standing in front of him, all with confused expressions on their faces. The four men where silent, and the air was thick with tension until Sam decided to speak up, clearing his thought slightly. “Gabe…” he said through gritted teeth “please tell me you did not steal this child?”
Gabriel’s mouth fell. “Sammy? Me? I don’t steal kids!”
“What about the little girl in walmart?” Sam said, smirking slightly. Gabriel rolled his eyes.
“That girl was adorable, and her father was a piece of shit. She went to a better home.”
“Well sorry to jump to conclusions,” Sam said, uncrossing his arms and running his left hand through his hair “But you just show up in the bunker with a kid. Well, what do you expect us to think?”
Gabriel went to bite back a reply, but Castiel interrupted, ever the peace-maker. “Gabriel I think what Sam is attempting to ask is, what exactly happened in Asgard for you to return with a child, and how exactly is she connected to you?”
Gabriel sighed. “Alright. So y’all know you’re Norse mythology I assume? If not, then you’re going to struggle to keep up.” He was met with nods from the boys. Gabriel cleared his throat and began to speak “Odin called me to Asgard to alert me of an… issue they had. If you know you’re Norse, then you know that I… I had kids.”
“Two boys and a girl.”
“Correct. Thank you Dean, glad to know that your head isn’t full of images of my baby brother and pie.” ignoring Dean’s glare and blush, Gabriel continued. “Odin called me, because he had heard that some wayward Pagans were going to attempt to raise Hel from the underworld. Which is the pocket of Hell where she was banished eons ago. And he wanted me to sort it. But… it went wrong. They didn't do the incantation correctly or whatever, because they only raised part of Hel…they raised her soul.
“I had to go and retrieve the soul, and I was supposed to shove her back into hell but… sentimentality I guess. She’s my daughter after all. So I took a trip, to get some help…”
“Help? Help from who?” Dean asked. as far as he knew, Gabriel was the last archangel in existence, and probably the most powerful creature walking the planet. Who would he go to for help?
“I… I went to God.” Gabriel said, hanging his head slightly.
“G-God?” Sam spluttered.
“Gabriel, our father has been gone for a long time… I-I do not understand. Where…why… How did you find him?” Castiel stuttered.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Gabriel said, leaning forwards and shaking his head in his hands.
“Please Gabriel.” Castiel pleaded. He stepped forwards slightly, but relaxed when he felt Dean’s hand touch his back lightly. He knew he had to stay calm but… he had been searching for his father for so long. Gabriel laughed. But not in a way that Cas knew meant he had found something funny.
“It’s Chuck. This whole time… that… that bastard was there the whole time, hiding right under our noses!”
The three men straightened simultaneously, all sharing worried looks. “Wait- Chuck is God?” Dean spluttered. Gabriel nodded. “Like crazy, alcoholic prophet Chuck, who writes the shitty book series about our lives, and went MIA after the apocalypse ended? That Chuck?”
Gabriel half laughed-half sighed. “Yeah, well I didn’t know the old man had such a sense of humour. I didn't even realise until, I reached out. I had her soul in my hands, and- I knew the only person that could help me was my father. And then-I felt it.” He turned his gaze to his brother “Oh Cas I wish you could have felt it. He reached out to me, and I flew up to heaven faster than I’d ever flown. And there he was… freakin’ Chuck. Just sitting there behind a big white desk; scotch in hand like he owned the place. But I knew it was him.”
Castiel was quiet, and Sam and Dean took a moment to compose themselves before Sam wrinkled his nose in disgust and said, “Wait… but Chuck dated Becky?”
“Did he?” Dean asked.
Sam shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, that’s what she told me.”
“Well, he did tell us he thought he was a God. Although, I’m fairly sure he tried to order several escorts at the end of the world. Hardly dad of the year”
“Whilst you two may think it as funny to discuss my father’s flaws, I am much more concerned as to why he almost let the apocalypse happen! And why even though I searched everywhere for him, he never came when I called!” Castiel said, He shot a glare at Dean and Sa quickly, but said the last part of his statement staring into the eyes of his own brother.. Dean knew the look, and straightened considerably. Sam noticed his reaction and did the same.
“I don’t know Cassie.” Gabriel said, wringing his hands together “He wasn’t exactly the open book he never was. He didn't even give me a chance to ask what the hell was going on. He told me that he had ‘greater things destined for us all’ and then gave me the vessel to put Hel’s soul into. Why he chose I child, I don’t know. He said it would be important. He said that she would not regain any clear memories, and is basically a slightly god-like toddler. And that he loves us.” Gabriel ran his hand over his face, and stared up into the baby-blue eyes of his brother “And Cas, He-He said he was sorry for not being there. He always heard your prayers.”
“If He believes I will forgive him straight away, He is mistaken. He is my father, and I love Him. But at the moment I suppose I… do not like Him.”
Gabriel put his hands up. “Hey , I don’t blame you baby bro. I’m not exactly his biggest fan at the moment either, but I doubt he’s mine. So I took Hel back to Asgard. I was gonna leave her there to, live her life or whatever but… Odin and some of the other guys weren’t exactly thrilled. They wanted to kill her… and I don’t know why but… I couldn’t let them do that. So I fought them off, killed a few demi-gods and flew back here. I doubt they’ll ever come looking for us but… now I’ve got a kid.”
The four of them were silent.
“I still can’t believe God dated Becky the psyco-fan…” Dean mumbled after a minute. Sam was about to respond with a joke, when a faint whimper was heard from the couch. They all shared nervous glances and turned their heads to the sleeping girl, who shook her head slightly, before cracking open her eyes. She sat up slowly, and Sam saw hat her eyes were like a mixture of gold and honey. The exact same unearthly shade as Gabriel’s.
The first person she locked eyes with was Gabriel, who was uncharacteristically silent. They appeared to be having what Dean called a ‘star trek mind-meld session’ under his breath. After a minute or so of awkward silence, the girl’s face softened, and she clambered into Gabriel’s lap, throwing her arms around his neck and clutching him tightly. She said nothing, and Gabriel softly whispered into her ear, something that Sam assumed to be enochian. Or Scandanavian.
“So… what are we gonna do?” Dean asked. Tearing his eyes away from the girl, he turned to Cas who’s own eyes were wide and sparkling as he watched Gabriel interact with Hel. He snapped his fingers in front of the angel’s face, regaining his attention. “Yo, earth to Cas?”
Castiel blinked and shook his head slightly. “My apologies Dean. It is just a lot to take in, it has been a long time since a fledgling his existed on Earth.”
“A… fledgling?” Sam asked, “I thought that was… like a human-angel?”
“Sammy, fledgling doesn’t strictly mean a human-angel. A fledgling is any kind of baby angel. We all started off as fledgling, but in Heaven it was different. This young, you were just… wavelengths, in the air. When you get older you possessed a temporary vessel, or if you were lucky you got one created for you. Then you learn skills from your superiors, like flying and dying and everything else an angel is supposed to do.” Gabriel explained rubbing his hand up and down Hel’s back gently. Cas nodded in agreement, remembering his own time in heaven as a fledgling. “Gabriel is correct.” He said, nodding “However, I referred to Hel as a fledgling solely because I can see that she has grace. I didn't see it immediately, but I can sense it now. All other angels probably could as well, if they got close enough.”
“Which, I’m guessing is not a good thing?” Dean asked. Castiel shook his head. Gabriel shrugged. “Nephillium and all other kinds of angelic hybrids were always looked down on in Heaven but… if daddy says it’s okay... Well, those SOB’s are just gonna have to suck it, unfortunately.”
“So she’s a … fledging angel hybrid?” Sam asked.
Gabriel grimaced slightly, “Let’s just stick to Hel, for now”. Dean furrowed his brow.
“Hel? I don’t know… sounds a bit… Hellish. And God knows none of us have the greatest experience of Hell. And you can’t exactly tell people your daughter is called ‘Hel’”
Gabriel glared at Dean with a fierceness that could match Sam’s bitchface. “Hel is her name. if it makes you feel better, we can pretend it’s short for Helen. Or Helena.”
“Well, what exactly are we gonna do with Helen. Or Helena.” Dean asked, turning back to his brother and his angel.
“We do what we’re supposed to do.” Gabriel said, as if it were obvious. Seeing the three confused faces, he rolled his eye. “We raise her.”
“We raise Hel?” Sam asked, eyebrows raised. Gabriel simply nodded. “Dude. I don’t know. None of us exactly have much experience with kids.”
“Sam is right Gabe. None of us have ever exactly raised a child.” Dean said.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, and stood up, Hel in his amrs. “That’s where you’re wrong, Dean-o. You practically raised your baby bro there, and he turned out perfect!” he nodded at Sam, who blushed slightly. “And Cas, I practically raised you and a bunch of other fledglings before I left Heaven. We’re four smart guys. How hard can it be to raise one little girl, right?”
Sam swallowed dryly, regaining his composure before scoffing. “Raising Hel? Hope it’s less deadly than it sounds.”
Sam of course, was wrong.
oOo
Gabriel’s power had been considerably drained since his trip up to Heaven and his fight against the other God’s, so he took the option of driving with Sam off to the nearest department store to pick up some supplies. Sam had been the first to point out that Hel was going to need clothes, and diapers ect and with a disgruntled sigh, Gabriel agreed to climb into the Impala and drive up the nearest highway.
“Not a scratch on my baby, or you’re both dead.” Dean had warned as he tossed Sam the keys.
Using the little power he had left, Gabriel snapped up a car seat, and slipped Hel into it. All she had on was the white dress, and Dean dug out an ancient looking pair of baby-sneakers he found in the bunker basement. They also found an old kiddie cot-bed down there, which he and Cas stayed back to build. Of course, it would only take Cas a few seconds to build the crib back to its full glory, and then he and Dean could lounge about together on the couch watching movies, enjoying some Sam-and-Gabe free time.
Thankfully, it was a sunny June afternoon, so they knew that Hel wouldn’t be looked twice at in her plain white cotton dress and blue sneakers. The drive to the store wasn’t a long one, and she sat soundly in the back, staring out of the window. Her eyes shone as she watched the cars speed past them up the highway. Sam assumed things must have looked very different in Asgard. Or Hell.
To break the silence, Sam turned the stereo on. He didn't exactly think Led Zepplin and Metallica were appropriate for Hel’s first car ride, and decided to put the radio on instead. Gabriel played with the buttons, before flicking it to a channel that was playing something soft and Spanish-sounding.
Sam wanted to say something, anything but he couldn’t quite think what. Heck, it wasn’t exactly what he had expected when he woke up this morning, for Gabriel to have a daughter but… he was taking every minute as it came.
“Wow Samsquatch. You’re thinking real hard there.” Gabriel said. Sam flushed in embarrassment and flicked the radio off.
“Shut up.” He said, never taking his eyes off the road, but smiling softly all the same.
“Not likely. But it’s okay, it wasn’t exactly what I imagined to be doing this morning either. But hey, she’s here and… I’m just gonna have to deal with it.”
“What was Asgard like?” Sam asked, changing the subject and taking the chance to glance at Gabriel quickly. Gabriel grimaced. “Same shithole full of old memories it’s always been.” He said, shrugging. Sam raised his eyebrows and Gabriel quickly added, “I-I mean don’t get me wrong. Asgard is a beautiful place and… I had good times there, at first. Then it all went to shit, and a lot of people got killed because of me.”
“Didn’t you totally date a horse?” Sam asked, grinning. Gabriel flushed red, and tore his eyes away from Sam, gazing out the window. “And that’s where this conversation ends.” He said. Sam laughed, and Gabriel joined in.
“I still can’t believe you’ve got a daughter.” Sam said, turning into a parking lot.
“Tell me about it.” Gabriel said, turning around and watching the little girl. She hadn’t spoken a word since she was created, but Gabriel could fee her in his mind. Her presence tickled softly, showing that she was very much there to stay. She swung her legs against the seat, and when she noticed him, smiled gently. Her teeth were tiny and white and sandy curls framed her round face. She also had slightly dimpled cheeks that reminded him of Sam. The moose in question interrupted Gabriel’s thoughts as he stopped the car, switching the engine off, and the two men climbed out. Gabriel opened the back door, and unstrapped Hel, before picking her up into his arms. “Here. You hold her.” He said, passing the child to a startled looking Sam.
“Dude, I don’t know, I’m not that great with ki-” Sam began to say as the girl was thrust into his arms. However it was too late for any form of protest and the little girl was now pressed against his chest, sitting on one of his firm arms. “Sam.” She said, reaching one of her arms up to grab at his hair. However she didn't pull, just twirled a lock around one of her chubby fingers. Sam couldn’t help but smile at her as she became transfixed with his hair, and looked over to Gabriel, who was also grinning.
“Well what can I say Sammy, I always thought you struck out with the ladies but looks like that one is a keeper.” He joked. Sam laughed, and picked Hel up in his hands. For a second, she began to whimper, confused as to what was happening, but calmed considerably when she realised she was now sitting on the top of Sam’s shoulders. She played with his hair delicately, and looked around in awe at how high everything was. Gabriel laughed, and Sam clutched at Hel’s little feet to keep her secure.
“Woah, look at you Hel. You’re up in the clouds!” Gabriel said, craning his neck to see her. Damn Sam was tall. Although Gabriel was an archangel, who’s true form would probably be the size of several skycrapers, he couldn’t help but feel in awe of the six foot four human walking next to him through the parking lot. Which was an odd way to feel about a human, and a Winchester no doubt. These two were supposed to be ever monster and every angels worst enemy, yet he couldn’t help but feel safe walking through the parking lot with Sam and his daughter. That feels so weird to say. My daughter. Gabriel thought to himself as he watched the three year old giggle as Sam tickled her shins lightly with those long, worn fingers of his. Sam would make a great dad.
Whoa. Okay. Inappropriate thoughts about Sam Winchester end there. Gabriel thought, shaking his head as they entered the department store. Sam lifted Hel down, much to her protests, but she calmed considerably when Sam explained that it was the rules in the store. Then she surprised Gabriel by walking closer to him, and clutching up at his hand with her fingers. The all powerful archangel-turned trickster God had never experienced a rush of emotions so strong. Her skin was so soft and it was almost as if he was working on auto pilot as he lifted the little girl into his arms.
Yeah, Gabriel thought, I could get used to this.
oOo
Hel, as it turned out was very girly. Her favourite colour was aqua blue. And she liked dresses. Lots of dresses. She guided Sam and Gabriel through the aisles of kids clothes in the store and picked out things with lots of silk and netting and full skirts and flowers. Sam’s eyes hurt.
“Dude,” he said, pulling Gabriel up from the ground where he was trying to estimate Hel’s size. “How are we gonna pay for all this?”
Gabriel smirked. “C’mon Sammy. This is me you’re talking too. What kind of trickster would I be if I didn't carry around an emergency loss of power gold credit card?” he reached into his pocket and flashed it in front of Sam. The name on the card read: Gabriel A Smith. Sam took the card out of Gabriel’s hands and read it. “What does the A stand for?” he asked, wrinkling his nose. Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Abstinence.” He said sarcastically. Sam hit him with his perfected I’m-Having-None-Of-Your-Shit look, and Gabriel laughed. “Okay. It stands for Angel.”
“Gabriel Angel Smith? You sound like a bad stripper.”
“Oh shut it Winchester. You and Dean have had some pretty dumb fake names. Agents Ford and Hamill? Your brother is such a nerd.”
Sam was about to respond with something snarky, when Hel interrupted them, something large and pink in her hands, saying “Daddy, this one!” and tugging on Gabriel’s sleeve. Gabriel bent down and smiled. “Whichever one’s you want princess. But, would you like to get some clothes other than dresses?” he asked, straightening up to look at the racks with less formal clothes.
“What for?” Hel asked wrinkling her nose.
Sam reached down on an instinct that he didn't know he had in him, and took Hel back into his arms so she was at eye level with the clothing racks. “You see Hel, whereas it is fun to wear dresses all the time, you need some other clothes too. What if you want to play outside and you get your dresses all messed up?”
Hel furrowed her little faded eyebrows in a way that was too cute to even be legal, as if she was thinking about Sam’s suggestion really hard. It was a good five seconds before her face softened again and she smiled at Sam, nodding her head and lisping “Okay”
oOo
“Oh come on Sam, these are to die for!” Gabriel whined.
“Gabriel, we already have four different pairs of overalls. We don’t need anymore.” Gabriel pouted, but held up the impossibly tiny denim skirted overalls with the teddy bear embroided on the side. “But Sam. These are adorable!” he argued.
Sam wanted to say no. really, he did. but damn it Gabriel looked cute when he pouted like that. And when he whined. Sam wondered what other usually innocent sounds Gabriel could make that would end up going straight to his crotch. Sam didn't know at what point in the shopping trip it was that he found himself staring to find Gabriel more and more attractive. Sam was so confused but he had to admit it, at least to himself that… Gabriel was turning him on… just a little bit. And that confused him. He dared not think about it too hard, because he knew if he was projecting, Gabriel would pick up on it instantly. So with a reluctant sigh, he gave in. “Fine, we can get them.”
Both Gabriel and Hel cheered, and Sam couldn’t help but grin. Then he noticed someone else grinning, just past Gabriel. “Now isn’t that sweet.” The woman said, smiling at Gabriel and Sam. Sam glanced to Gabriel, who he knew would react if the woman was any kind of a threat, but he seemed relaxed. The woman was innocent enough, and was at least sixty. “You two make the most adorable couple.”
Sam flushed bright red, and he was about to stammer out that he and Gabriel were in fact not a couple, in any way, shape, or form, when he felt Gabriel’s warm fingers slip into his own. He turned his head to Gabriel, who was grinning at the woman. “Thanks. We’ve been together six years last week, haven’t we Sammich?” he was saying.
Sam was too shocked, confused and embarrassed to even reply, with coherent words. But he somehow managed to nod and mumble out a “mhm.”
“Now isn’t that nice. You don’t see enough happy couples these days, but I see it with you two. And who is this adorable little person.” She looked down at Hel who was standing by Gabriel’s leg, ducking behind it. “What’s your name sweetie?”
Hel mumbled something incoherent, and Gabriel sent the woman a sympathetic look. He still had tight hold of Sam’s hand, but used his free one to stroke Hel’s hair gently, in a way that relaxed her almost immediately. “Sorry, she’s a little shy.” The woman nodded understandably. “This is Hel…ena.” He said, Quickly adding on the ending.
“Adorable. She’s got your eyes.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I won't keep you any longer. Have a nice day.” The woman said, smiling and heading off down a different isle. Gabriel waited until she was out of earshot, before releasing Sam’s hand and spluttering with laughter. “Oh Sammy, you should’ve seen your face!” he said between giggles.
Sam gave Gabriel his bitchface, which just made Gabriel laugh harder. Sam stayed silent and turned back to folding endless pairs of overalls into their basket. Gabriel had made him feel like such an idiot. “Oh come on Sammich. Don’t be like that.” Gabriel said. Sam flinched when he felt Gabriel’s hand touch at his waist lightly. “I’m sorry. Okay?” Sam turned to face Gabriel, who was giving him his best solemn apology face. “Forgiven?” he asked, batting his eyelashes.
Sam turned his head the other side, only to be met by Gabriel and Hel, both giving him almost equally adorable looks. “Sammy, please forgive daddy.” Hel said. Sam’s face melted into a smile, and Gabriel grinned. “Hey, I knew if you could say no to my pretty face, you still wouldn’t be able to say no to Hel. Right baby?”
“Right daddy.”
God Dammit, Sam thought as he watched the two grin like the devious partners in crime that they were. What have I gotten myself into?
oOo
After collecting what had to be enough clothes to fill several little girls wardrobes, Gabriel felt Hel tugging on his hand. “Daddy.” She whined, bouncing up and down.
“What is it princess?” he asked. Gabriel had to admit he was slipping into this whole father role a lot quicker and easier than he thought he would. Nothing could faze him. Nothing at a-
“I have to go pee.”
Sam laughed at the panicked look on Gabriel’s face. Gabriel shot him a dark look. “What?” Sam asked, grinning. “She’s you’re daughter. Bathrooms are over there on the left.”
Unsurprisingly, Gabriel didn’t look very reassured.
“Oh come on. A millennia year old archangel, can’t face the thought of taking a three year old to the bathroom?” Sam asked. He gave Gabriel a small smile, and said “Go on. I'll go and pick up some proper supplies, like diapers and toys and crap. You can go and find out if she's potty trained or not.”
Gabriel’s face twisted into a grimace, and he mouthed help me at Sam as Hel dragged him by hand off in the direction of the bathroom. Sam grinned, and was relived when Gabriel sent a small smile back.
oOo
After Gabriel delivered back the thankful news that yes, Hel was potty trained, but just needed a little help getting about in a bathroom, Sam crossed diapers off the mental list. He did however buy what the staff member, a girl named Rachel recommended to him; some kind of night time diaper for kids around Hel’s age, so they wouldn’t wet the bed. She said it depended on how much control Hel had, but that they were better safe than sorry.
Sam noticed that Rachel seemed to know a lot about kids, so Sam asked her to help them with the rest of their supplies. He also noticed Gabriel pouting behind them. Hel went quiet in the presence of the stranger, and the two of them sulked, lurking behind Sam and Rachel as they walked through the aisles.
Gabriel couldn’t help but realise he was jealous of Rachel. She was pretty, and tall with brown eyes and long dark hair. She seemed nice, sure, but Gabriel didn't like the way she was watching Sam like a piece of meat. He understood, of course, that Sam was six different shades of hot. He was tall and fit, with biceps almost the size of Gabriel’s head. And nobody could ever deny that Sam was good looking in his face too. Sure, Gabe teased him and called him a moose because of his long hair and large presence, but really all he wanted to do was run his fingers through the chestnut locks . And his face! Those dimples. Those cheekbones. Everything about Sam both physically, and personally were constantly causing Gabriel to think some very… ungodly thoughts.
So no, he didn't like the way Rachel stared at Sam as if he was her next meal.
He contemplated storming between the two, and pulling the couple act again, but decided against it quickly. He didn't want to piss Sam off again. Unfortunately, Rachel was giving them good advice, so he was just going to have to stick it out with Hel. He wasn’t sure why his daughter was so uneasy around strangers, considering how quickly she had taken to Sam.
They traipsed through the department store, buying an arsenal of toys, books and other crap that Rachel insisted would help with ‘healthy growth and progression.’ Gabriel scoffed. He had half a mind to say that Hel probably didn't need any of this crap, considering she wasn’t exactly human, but then again, Sam was really concentrating. It dawned on Gabriel that Sam was really trying, for him. He wasn’t acting like someone who had just found out he was gonna have to take his part in raising a three year old demi-god. Gabriel had always known Sam was a good friend to him but… he never imagined that Sam cared about him so much. The thought made his grace flutter in his chest.
OoO
They paid for their items with a swipe of Gabriel’s credit card, loaded up the impala and left the store, Sam behind the wheel, driving them back to the bunker. He turned to look at Gabriel, who was staring out the front windscreen absentmindedly.
“You okay Gabe? You haven’t said a word since we left.” He said. Gabriel rose his eyebrows, slgithy and turned to face Sam. “You called me Gabe?” he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. Sam immediately blushed, and spluttered. “Oh-I, I mean did I? Sorry. I didn't mean to-”
“Don’t hurt yourself Sam,” Gabriel laughed, interrupting Sam’s string of apologies. “Besides,” he shrugged “I like it.”
“Okay… Gabe.” Sam said, using the term again. He liked the way it tasted on his tongue. It seemed appropriate, giving Gabriel a nickname. Short and sweet, just like the man himself.
“Thinking of me again Sammy?”
Sam flinched, and the impala jutted. “God damn it Gabriel, don’t do that!” he said, regaining composure and continuing to drive straight. However Gabriel did not miss the way his eyes darted to the rear view mirror, checking that Hel was okay (which she was, of course, staring out the window in awe as she had done on the journey to the store)
“Do what?” Gabriel asked, innocently.
“Read my mind,” Sam huffed. “It’s super weird to think that you know what I’m thinking at anytime of the day. Some thoughts I would like to keep to myself y’know.”
“Hey, keep it between you and your internet service provider, fine by me” Gabriel said with a shrug, before he reached out and placed his hand on Sam’s abdomen, causing him to stop the car abruptly in the side road they were passing through. “Gabriel what are you doing?” he asked. It felt weird. Gabriel’s hands felt like they were shooting sparks through him.
“Hey, what happened to Gabe?” Gabriel smirked. Sam was about to reply, when he looked down and saw Gabriel’s hands were glowing. “Hey, wh-what are you doing?”
Gabriel didn't say anything for a few seconds, and then his hand went back to normal and he moved it back into his lap. “What did you do?” Sam asked.
“Take a look.”
Sam swallowed, and lifted up his shirt, just slightly so he could see where Gabriel had been touching him. Gabriel swallowed thickly as he caught a tiny glimpse of Sam’s perfect, toned abs that looked like they had been crafted by his father’s hands personally. Sam looked down his front, and raised his eyebrows. Just above his navel was a small mark, slightly darker than the rest of his skin. Almost like a birthmark. “What is this?” he asked.
“It’s an ancient enochian warding symbol. Now I, nor any other creature in fact, can read your thoughts. Only I can give it, and only I can take it away. Happy now?” he asked, smiling.
“You sure this isn’t some freaky bad-luck hoo-doo charm?” Sam asked, smirking as he lifted his shirt back down. But Gabriel knew he was half joking. He could tell by look that Sam genuinely appreciated the gesture. And that made Gabriel feel appreciated, in a weird way that he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
“Archangels honour.” He said, holding one hand up. “Now let’s get back to the bunker before Dean and Cas miss us too much.”
oOo
When they arrived back to the bunker, Gabriel went to take a ‘little lie down’. Sam as at first confused, but after a stumbling Gabriel made his way down the corridor yawning, Castiel explained that he needed a few hours of sleep to replenish his power. This left the remaining two men and the angel all sitting on one side of the kitchen table, their eyes trained on Hel, who sat opposite them, eyes wide.
“Hello, Hel, I am Castiel. I am your father’s brother.” Castiel said. Sam laughed a little, and Dean patted Cas on the shoulder. “Dude, she’s like three. She doesn’t need you to formally introduce yourself.”
Dean stood up, and walked around the table, before squatting down so he was below Hel, who sat on the kitchen chair, swinging her legs in her baby blue sneakers. “Hey there sweetheart.” he said, his voice tender and soft in a way Sam didn’t know his brother could use. Sam raised his eyebrows. He had never seen his brother like this before.
“Careful dude, she’s not really good around strange-” Sam began to say, but stopped short when Hel reached out her chubby arms to Dean, who lifted her up into the air quickly, causing her to giggle, before settling her in his arms. “How about we dress you in some real clothes?” he said. Hel smiled, and nodded her head.
Sam and Cas both watched in awe. Cas’ mouth dropped open a little bit.
“Oh, come on you two.” Dean said, pouting slightly “Kids like me okay?” he shrugged, looking back at his boyfriend and his brother. Both Sam and Cas both stayed silent, am’s mouth curved upwards into a slight smirk. “Right. Okay.” He said, shrugging and relaxing back into his chair.
Dean smiled, and walked over to a still frozen in place Cas. “Hey, angel.” He said, peering close to his face. Cas swallowed, and hung his mouth open again immediately after. Dean chuckled. “Me and Hel, are going to go and pick out clothes to wear. Catch you later.” He reached his hand up, and gently closed Cas’ mouth. “Keep your mouth shut Cas, you’ll catch flies.” He said with a smirk, before exiting the room, Hel still on his arm.
Sam laughed as Cas swallowed dryly again, regaining his composure, before turning to Sam, a perplexed look on his face. “What does Dean mean, I'll catch flies?” he asked, eyes wide.
“Nothing Cas,” Sam smiled, “It’s just an expression.”
oOo
Sam padded through the hallway, heading to his room. After dressing Hel in a red tartan dress with little white socks, because it was summer and the bunker could get hot, Dean took her to watch a movie in the projection room. Cas followed, completely intrigued by Sean’s interaction with the child. Gabriel was still somewhere in the depths of the bunker, sleeping off his mojo, so Sam headed to his room to catch up on some reading and absorb the mornings events. It was only 2pm, how much more crazy could possible happen?
Ooo
Sam walked to the end of the corridor, and opened the door into his room. He stopped abruptly in the doorway, surprised to see an archangel snuggled into his bed. Gabriel laid facing Sam, knees hunched up to his chest, sound asleep. Sam attempted to silently tiptoe out of the room, but Gabriel must have sensed him because his eyes bolted open. He blinked a few times, clearing his vision, and sat up slowly. “Sam?”
“Hey, Gabe. Have a nice nap?” Sam asked, smiling.
Gabriel scrunched up his face, and stretched his arms. Sam was going to save the way Gabriel looked when he first woke up in his mind forever.
“Yeah, actually I did… where’s Hel?” Gabe asked, his voice still groggy with sleep as he sat up straighter, kicking the covers down to the end of the bed.
“She’s downstairs watching movies with Dean and Cas. Dean’s really good with her, actually” he admitted.
Gabriel continued stretching as he spoke to Sam, “Yeah well, what did you expect Sammy?” he said. “I wasn’t lying when I said Dean practically raised you. He’s good with kids.”
Sam walked further into the room, stopping just short of the bed. “Yeah well, you should’ve seen Cas’ face. Dean was playing dad of the year and Cas was practically drooling.”
Gabriel smiled. “Those two are such idiots.”
“Yeah.”
The two were silent, Sam standing at the edge of the bed and Gabriel lounging on it, feet crossed over. “So, Samsquatch. How about joining me in this bed?” he asked, smirking. Sam smiled.
“C’mon Gabe. Stop kidding around.” He said, smirking.
“Who says I’m kidding?”
Sam’s heart dropped into his stomach. Did Gabriel really mean…? Or was he just messing with Sam. Gabriel was a trickster, and a liar and a player. He probably didn't mean anything… right. “Shut up.” Sam said, smiling softly. Gabriel smiled back at him, but somehow it didn't quite reach his eyes.
“Well then, I’m gonna go and see what crappy kids movie our brothers have been dragged into. Catch you later.” Gabriel said. He didn't meet Sam’s eyes, and walked straight out of the bedroom, leaving Sam standing behind him, unsure of… everything.
oOo
Hel and Cas were both fascinated by the little mermaid. The toddler had slowly been warming up to Castiel throughout the movie, edging her way closer and closer to him as the movie continued. She started off next to Dean, who had Cas snuggled into his left side, but now was on his lap, one hand resting on Cas’ leg. Dean didn't say anything and just amusedly watched the two of them, both engrossed in the movie. Sam had been gone a little while, so Dean assumed he had found Gabriel. With any luck, they had admitted their deep feelings for each other and were making out by now.
However, Dean knew that Sam could be just as uptight about his emotions as Dean used to be. But still, Sam would have to be blind not to realise how much Gabriel was into him. Dean on the other hand, saw it every day, the way Gabriel watched Sam, protected him, laughed at his stupid jokes, made him rabbit food. If you were with Sam, Gabriel was never far behind.
Dean contemplated this just as the little mermaid made a deal with a creepy looking fish lady, something about being a human, but not being able to speak. So much for ten year contracts Dean thought. He turned his head to study Cas and Hel’s reactions. Cas looked worried, watching the screen with wide eyes. Hel had moved off of Dean’s lap and was snuggled tightly against Castiel, half burying her head in his t-shirt, half watching. Dean smiled.
“Hey, Cas,” he whispered. The angel snapped his head round to Dean.
“Yes Dean.”
“I’m gonna go take a leak. You and Hel gonna be okay, just the two of you?”
Castiel, still listening to Dean, turned his head back to the screen. Both he and Hel nodded in unison, but did not turn back to the Winchester. Dean just laughed quietly to himself and left the room, heading to the bathroom.
OoO
He relieved himself in the bathroom, washed his hands, and headed back down to the movie room, bare feet padding across the hallway. He was heading straight back to the last half hour of the little mermaid, when he noticed Sam, pacing up and down at the end of the hallway, just outside the kitchen door. Dean knew his brother better than anyone and knew that Sam often paced when he was confused, worried or just thinking real hard about something.
“You okay there Sammy?” he asked walking towards Sam. Sam didn't meet his eyes, but nodded his head quickly, running a hand through his hair. “You sure?” Sean asked, raising his eyebrows “Because you don’t exactly look okay.”
Sam looked up at his brother, the two of them locking eyes. Dean knew immediately that Sam had gotten himself all worked up about something. “Sit,” he said, motioning to the table inside the kitchen. Sam sighed, but obeyed, walking into the kitchen and sitting in one of the wooden chairs. The same chair he had sat in that morning when Gabriel came and turned everything upside down.
“Now, I’m gonna go out on a whim here and guess this is about Gabriel?” Dean asked, eyeing his brother. Sam’s cheeks immediately flushed a light shade of pink. Dean just smirked. “Come on little brother, you’ve gotta wake up earlier than that to fool me. Stop being a moron and ask him out.”
Sam gave Dean his best bitchface.
“If it was as easy as just ‘asking him out’ don’t you think I would’ve asked by now?” he asked, folding his arms. Dean stood up, and grabbed two beers out of the fridge as Sam continued to speak. “It’s- I mean it’s Gabriel. Archangel, Messenger of Chuck. And he’s also Loki, the trickster, pagan god. How am I supposed to know he isn’t just playing another one of his tricks, making fun of me?”
Dean sighed, and set the two opened bottles down on the table. “You really think, after the apocalypse, after everything Gabriel would pull something like that? On you? Sam, anyone can see that he completely freakin’ adores you.”
“No he doesn’t.” Sam said, running his hand over the bottle. Dean looked up, running his hand over his stubble. “God, was I this bad with Cas?” he mumbled under his breath. “Sam, use that big old brain of yours and think about it. Really think about it. Al the things Gabriel’s done for you over the years? He helped us with the rings of the horsemen, he rescued your soul from the pit. He had to watch his two closest brothers, both fight and die, but his first thought, his first priority was getting your soul out.”
Sam looked up at his brother, and took a gulp of his beer. So maybe Dean had a point. Gabriel did care for him. “And remember when your memory wall started crashing down? Who was there to help you Sam, who rebuilt the wall? He did. If that isn’t love then I don’t know what is!
“It’s like you said, when you were trying to convince me about Cas. In our line of work, tomorrow is never guaranteed. So you gotta take your chances whilst you still have them, because otherwise, they’re gone faster than you can blink.”
Dean rocked back in his chair, taking a swig of his beer. Sam was so important to him, and that had always been clear. Sam was his number one. And all he wanted was for Sam to be happy. Even if it was with the biggest douchebag archangel on the earth.
“Okay, okay. I get it,” Sam said, placing the bottle back down on the table. “You’re right.”
“I’m your brother. Of course I’m right.” Dean said, standing up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must find out if Ariel the mermaid regains the ability to talk, or must stay mute forever.”
“Sounds like fun.” Sam laughed.
“Good luck!” Dean called as he turned out of the kitchen.
Sam smiled, looking back down at the table. “Thanks.” He said quietly, using his thumb to peel off the label of the bottle. So he liked Gabriel, what the hell. He was gonna ask him out. Tomorrow. Yeah, definitely tomorrow.