Chapter 24: Pregnancy and Proposal

The silence following Gabriel's statement was nearly deafening. Dean's fork was poised, mid-bite as he stared. Castiel seemed to be confused by the statement as did Adam. Lucifer seemed to be in a state of shock while Michael seemed angry. Chuck and Amara however, exchanged worried glances. The whole room became tense.

"So um…" Dean said, slowly lowering his fork. "Is this because of that heat thing you told Crowley about?"

Gabriel shook his head. "No. Angels don't really go into heat. That was a lie I told him to try to get him to back off. Needless to say it didn't work."

Dean nodded, still looking a bit disturbed. "So…You're pregnant. Never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth. Then again I never expected to hear a dude say them either."

"If you aren't careful with Castiel he could end up in the same boat." Gabriel warned. "Then we could have a mini Dean-o or mini Cassie running around the bunker."

The hunter suddenly paled. "You're joking right?"

"Sorry Dean-o but it's the truth." Gabriel said. "As long as you guys are careful you'll be fine. You can wear condoms and I can get Cassie some Queen's Lace to take. Just in case. Safer that way for the both of you."

There was a sudden growl and it was only thanks to Adam and Lucifer that Michael didn't go charging at his brother and Sam. "What the hell do you mean you're pregnant Gabriel?! You know how to prevent things like that from happening!"

The smaller archangel glared. "Forgive me for not having my Grace to stop it or the right herbs to keep it from happening!"

"Why weren't you taking anything for it since you were human?!" The First Born yelled.

"Because I never once bottomed as a human you asshole!" Gabriel snapped, making Sam rush to soothe him. "My reproductive health is also none of your fucking business! So why don't you take care of your own relationship and I'll take care of mine!"

"Enough Michael!" Chuck snapped. "Do not put your brother's life in danger because you're upset. You know how archangel pregnancies are! If you cannot stay calm them I will ask you to leave!"

Michael fell into shocked silence and Lucifer and Adam rushed to calm him. Sam was doing the same for Gabriel, running his fingers through his blonde hair and kissing his neck gently. After a few minutes everyone was calm again and the questioning started up again. This time however, the tense atmosphere wasn't as bad.

"So you're really pregnant?" Castiel asked, his blue eyes flicking towards Gabriel's still flat stomach, as if looking for some sign of the truth.

"Yeah Cassie. I'm pregnant." The angel said with a sad smile. "Nothing wrong with that."

Dean looked down at his food then looked up. "So I'm going to be an uncle then?"

Gabriel suddenly looked heartbroken. "I…"

Sam pulled the archangel close. "We don't know. We only found out three days ago. I know you don't want to hear this but the night we got Gabe back… We slept together."

"So with the three day grace period you don't know who the father is." Adam said. "Gabriel I'm really sorry."

"Three day grace period? What's that?" Dean asked.

"When an angel is able to bare a child there is a three day period where the body becomes fertile and they're more receptive to conceiving." Chuck explained. "It's a three day window where they have the best chance of getting pregnant."

"So let me guess…Crowley and Sam both managed to fit into this three day period right?" Dean asked, looking worried.

Amara nodded. "That's why we're so worried. There is a chance that either Sam or Crowley could be the father of Gabriel's child. The problem is that there has never been a child like this conceived before. The risks are unknown. This child could be three quarters archangel or it could be a half archangel half demon nephilim much like yourself. We have no idea what is in store with this child."

"Get rid of it."

All eyes turned to Michael, who was glaring at Gabriel. The First Born was nearly vibrating in his anger and seemed ready to explode. Not even Adam seemed to be able to calm him. The rest of the room was staring at the dark haired angel in shock. Surely he hadn't just said that?

"Excuse me?" Gabriel asked softly.

"I said to get rid of it!" Michael snapped.

Gabriel stepped back, pushing closer to Sam. "I'm not getting rid of my child Michael."

"I have tolerated many things from you in this life Gabriel but this will not be one of them." The First Born said. "I said to get rid of that thing!"

"No. Not when there's a chance that this child could belong to Sam." Gabriel said, looking appalled. "This is none of your business Michael. It's my choice what happens with this child. Not yours. My body, my choice."

"It is when this abomination exists. I am not going to take the risk that this child belongs to a demon. I am not going to wait long enough to find out either." Michael snapped, getting even angrier. "Either you get rid of it right this instant or I will!"

The Fourth Born looked horrified and began to back away. He didn't make it far before Michael was suddenly on him, knocking Sam away. Gabriel hit the ground looking up at his older brother in horror before Michael was hit from a blur that tackled him from the right. Sam was suddenly there holding Gabriel while he struggled to figure out what happened.

What happened turned out to be Dean. The elder hunter had tackled the First Born and slammed him into the brick wall. The hunter was glaring down at the archangel with pure hatred. Michael, even though he was dazed, was looking up at the nephilim with some trepidation. It was clear to Gabriel that his older brother, on some level, feared the hunter.

"Sam. Take Gabe back to your room." Dean said. "We've got this handled."

Gabriel felt Sam grip him and then he was disoriented as he was actually picked up and carried, bridal style, from the room. Dean waited until he was certain that his brother was far enough away before he reached down and yanked the angel up. He slammed the angel into the wall and snarled, his eyes turning black.

Across the room Lucifer held Adam tight to his chest, keeping the blonde from turning to see what was happening. He didn't want Adam to see his older brother possible kill their mate. Castiel seemed proud that his mate was sticking up for his older brother. Chuck was watching with a frown while Amara seemed almost giddy at the fight.

"Get off me!" Michael snapped.

"Not until you listen!" Dean said. "Do you have any idea just how upset you just made your brother?! Any at all you dense bastard!?"

"That thing needs to be gotten rid of!"

"Kill that child and you'll have to kill Sam and me too!" Dean snapped. "Then you'll have several very upset angels, reapers, monsters, and hunters on your ass!"

That seemed to give Michael pause. "W-What?"

"Our friend Bille is Death. Our friend Garth is part of a were pack. Not to mention every hunter out there knows the Winchesters. Then you have Castiel, who would be pissed, and then you would lose Lucifer and Adam because guess what? I don't think that Adam would take too kindly to you killing off his family. If that child does belong to Sam…Then you'd be killing Adam's niece or nephew."

The First Born seemed to finally realize what was being said to him. He had just ordered his brother to kill his child, without thinking about what it would do to the rest of their family. When the idea of it being a demon and archangel had been presented it was all he could do not to lose his temper right there. As long as the child was raised right, by someone like the Winchesters, then the child would pose no danger. So why was he freaking out?

Dean eyed the angel. "If I let you go are you going to go flying off at the handle again?"

"No. I'm calm." Michael said. "I…I don't know why I'm upset. If the child is raised right then it won't be a threat."

"You're upset because this is a child that your brother is carrying that he might have been forced into having." Adam said. "If it is Crowley's then all you will ever see when you look at that child is the fact that you couldn't protect Gabriel."

"What are we going to do?" Michael asked as Dean finally released him. "How can we help Gabriel through this?"

"By being there for him and not upsetting him for one." Dean said. "For another you can start by apologizing for all the shit you've been putting him through since we found him again. You want to be his big brother? Then pull your head out of your ass and start acting like it before I do it for you! Now I am going to go by a shit ton of candy and start stashing it everywhere. Cravings are a bitch. Maybe I can grab a couple of baby clothes while I'm out. Hey Adam! Wanna come?"

Adam smiled and grabbed his coat. "I'd love too! Lucifer's coming too!"

Lucifer blinked as he was dragged along behind his younger mate. "I am? Wait! Was this is the fine print?"

Michael watched them go before looking down. How was he going to make this up to Gabriel now? It seemed like all he was doing was hurting his brother left and right. Why couldn't he just be a big brother like Dean?! Dean was the perfect brother. He was able to take care of both Sam and Adam and seemed to always know just what to say or do. How was he supposed to compete with that?!

"Michael."

Michael looked up at his father, who was looking at him with a knowing looking. "Yes Father?"

"Learn from Dean but don't become him. Dean's actions come from the heart, as broken and battered as it is. Stop thinking with your head and start thinking with your heart." Chuck said softly.

"How?"

"By realizing that all Gabriel wants is to be a family." Amara said. "Just like I did. But like me you're letting your heart be clouded. If I were you…I would go out in the world and find your peace."

Michael nodded and headed from the door. He would find his peace. Both for himself and for his baby brother. He owed both of them that much. Michael would find himself and be a better brother. Amara watched him go before she turned back to her brother.

"You think it'll work?"

Chuck nodded with a smile. "I think it will now. Michael will get better. Now…How about I teach you how to make one of Gabriel's favorite foods? I know he'll be hungry when he decides to come out again."

SSSSS

"He'll come around you know."

"I know. I just get tired of having whiplash from him." Gabriel said, smiling as Sam was placing kissing along his still flat stomach. "Sam? What if it isn't yours?"

"Doesn't matter. It's mine." Sam said.

"Sam I mean what if the child belongs to—"

"This child is mine. Doesn't matter what the DNA says. This child is ours." Sam said. "After all I had the best father in the world and he wasn't even my real father. Bobby was the best Dad I could have ever asked for. After having him raise Dean and I without thought or care how could I not do the same?"

Gabriel began to shake as he tried to hold in his tears. "I'm not sure I deserve you Sam. I just can't believe that you want me."

"Well if you don't believe that then will you believe this?" Sam said sitting up, holding out a small black box to the blonde.

The archangel was quick to sit up as well, staring at the box in shock; this couldn't be happening. Not to him anyway. "Sam?"

The hunter broke into a smile and opened the box. Sitting inside were two things. The first was a beautiful platinum ring that was set with a gold diamond in the center with four smaller green emeralds. The second thing, and the thing that made Gabriel's heart stop, was a feather on a chain. The feather was white and streaked with bits of emerald and brown; the same as Sam's eyes and hair. He could tell by the traces of Grace coming off the feather that it belonged to Sam. The hunter was proposing to him in two different ways. Gabriel's gold eyes flitted up from the two objects in the box and up to those smiling green eyes of his hunter.

"Sam?" Came the breathless question again.

"I'm asking you, Gabriel, will you not only be my husband, but my eternal mate as well?" Sam asked softly.

Gabriel's mouth was opening and closing but no sound came out.

Sam chuckled. "Is that a yes?" He asked with a smile.

"Yes." Gabriel managed to squeak out. "Yes Sam! I will marry you and be your mate! Nothing would make me happier then you be your husband!"

Sam smiled. "Then let's get dressed. We can pick you up a suit and we'll head into town. What do you say?"

"Now?" Gabriel asked in shock.

"Too soon?" Sam asked with a flush.

"No! Not at all!" He said, leaning up to kiss the hunter. "Better text your brothers. Can't have them miss this. I think I have a suit in my bag."

"If not then we can grab one in town." Sam said with a smile. "Let's hurry. I can't wait to see the look on Dean's face."

"Dean? I'm more looking forward to making my brother's faint." The blonde said, getting up and heading for the shower.