Author's Note: I would like to point out that Gabriel references a played called M. Butterfly, which is not to be confused with Madame Butterfly. I highly recommend reading M. Butterfly, but for the sake of understanding Gabriel just know the story involves a cross-dresser tricking another man into thinking he's (the cross-dresser) a girl and having a relationship with aforementioned man.

Part 2

Holy Crap! Gabriel you're not going to believe this! Get down here quick, Sam's voice rang out in Gabriel's head.

Gabriel sighed as he took one last glance around the Play Boy Mansion's grotto. About twelve barely of legal age girls played in the water, either in bikini's or completely naked. They giggled as they splashed around and interacted with each other. To leave such beauty pained Gabriel, but if Sam was praying to him then chances were the kid was in trouble.

He flew out of the mansion, expecting Sam's prayer to lead him to another abandoned warehouse, a forest, or some poor suburban house filled with monsters or demons. He was caught off guard when the stench of horse feces assailed his nostrils and he was met with the sight of a small horse ranch.

Sam stood in front of one of the barns, leaning against the door frame. He waved Gabriel in hurriedly before disappearing inside. Gabriel just barely caught the smile on Sam's lips.

Gabriel's stomach churned. Somber Sam smiling for no reason, and no Dean within twenty feet? Gabriel was definitely in trouble. He double-checked that he had his angel blade on him as he trudge into the barn.

Sam stood in front on one of the horse stalls, his fingers curled over the door as he whispered something to someone inside the stall.

Gabriel eased closer until he was right next to Sam. His stomach dropped and sweat broke out across his vessel as large dark horse eyes that belonged to a dark brown muzzle that Gabriel was all too familiar with pierced him. The stallion trotted forward in his stall and shook his black mane.

"Loki," The horse thought.

Gabriel's mouth went dry and awkwardness heaped onto his shoulders like a pile of bricks.

"I was doing some research, and found out that this ranch had a horse named Svaðilfari, and it got me curious." Sam turned wide, innocent light brown eyes on Gabriel. If the archangel didn't know what a clever human Sam was, he might have believed that Sam had simply called him to the ranch in his never-ending quest for knowledge. "Is it the same horse as the one in Norse myth?"

"It's been a while, Loki." The horse took a step closer, sticking its head over the door.

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably. "It's not him."

Svaðilfari's nostril's flared. "Don't deny who I am, Loki."

Sam glanced between Gabriel and Svaðilfari. Sam either was a horse-whisperer or was just that sensitive to the emotions in a room, because he shook his head and backed up a few steps. "I think I am going to leave you two alone for a bit." Before Gabriel could protest, Sam ducked out.

Fury boiled Gabriel's blood. How dare Sam leave him at the mercy of Svaðilfari?

"Sleipnir wants to meet you still."

Gabriel sighed as a headache thrummed through his vessel's skull. This conversation again. When would Svaðilfari realize that his blatant emotional manipulation would never work; it just made Gabriel hate him more. "You know I'm not his mom."

"Yes, but the humans and their myths have made him curious. You know how children are."

A painful sting in Gabriel's chest reminded him that he knew exactly how children were when it came to absent parents. Gabriel took a deep breath to rid himself of the pain. "Listen, I got better things to do than listen to you try to manipulate me into some weird relationship with you. You got me for one night and that's all you get. By the way, did anyone ever tell you the best way to win a girl over is not to chase after her like a raving lunatic?"

Gabriel didn't wait for a response before flying out of the barn and landing right in front of Sam. He decided to take a page out of Castiel's book and press himself so close to the Winchester that they were inches apart. The idea was to intimidate Sam, but the effect was diminished by the abundant height difference. "Forcing me to meet with an ex, that's low Sasquatch, and truthfully, I never thought you could reach that low."

Sam gave Gabriel a pointed look for the height jab, but did not protest the ethics—or lack thereof—of his actions. He sidestepped Gabriel and walked past the angel. He craned his head back just enough to glimpse at Gabriel, as he spoke, "I really was curious. You never mention having kids or any of your relationships with the other Pagan gods."

Because it wasn't any of Sam's business, Gabriel was tempted to say, but he kept quiet. Begrudgingly, he joined Sam at his side as they walked through the ranch. He was still sore about being tricked into seeing Svaðilfari again, but perhaps it was time to shed a little light on his past before Sam read a misleading myth and got himself killed because he talked to the wrong god. As much as Gabriel would have liked to keep his personal life private, he would be pissed if Sam died. "I don't have kids."

Sam's head snapped in Gabriel's direction, his eyes slightly wider than usual.

Gabriel chuckled at the giant human's surprise. "You really think I would have children running about when I'm trying to hide from Heaven? Come on, during all these years you must have come across magical children at some point. You know how out of control they are when it comes to power, even if they're born with it. Most of my 'children' are just people I would hang out with a lot. Can't say all those friendships ended on a high note though."

"So what other myths are untrue?" Sam was a hundred percent in researcher mode, which meant his attention was plastered to whatever was providing him information, and in this case it was Gabriel. At first the hunger in Sam's eyes threw Gabriel off, but once he realized that he was currently the center of Sam's world he found himself brimming with delight. He'd always been an attention whore when he wasn't hiding from his siblings.

"Mary wasn't a virgin."

Sam stopped mid-step. "Mary from the bible?"

Gabriel continued to sashay away, enjoying how Sam in his stupor watched him go. "Yup. Poor girl fell in love with some pretty boy, had sex, and pretty much on her wedding day found out she was pregnant. She would have been stoned to death, so I took pity on her and told Joseph my dad did it." Gabriel paused and looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Got to save a girl, and at my dad's expense. It was a pretty good day. It's also one of my best pranks ever, because to this day people believe it."

Sam just stood there looking like a codfish. After a minute of staring, he shook his head and mumbled something to himself as he marched toward the parking lot. "I don't know whether to be impressed or… I just don't know."

Gabriel patted Sam on the back. "There, there. I know it's difficult for a mere mortal to comprehend my awesomeness."

Sam snorted on a choked down chuckle. Amusement danced in his eyes as he walked up to the Impala and slid into the driver's seat.

"Where is your brother by the way?" Gabriel asked.

"Napping at the motel."

Sam shut the door. The window was rolled down about six inches, and Gabriel rested his fingers atop the glass' edge. "By the way, Sammy-kins. This means war. Complete, unmerciful, prank-filled war."

Sam smirked as he turned the key in the ignition. "Don't call me 'Sammy'."

He peeled out of the parking lot, Metallica blaring through the car's open window, and Gabriel couldn't deny the flip of excitement his stomach did at the prospect of a challenge.

Gabriel liked his pranks to serve poetic justice. They didn't always, but he was very pleased with himself whenever he could craft a prank that would truly teach his victims a lesson. So he spent a few days mulling over what prank would best suit Sam. He contemplated putting Sam in a world where he was married to all of his exes and they were trying to kill him for keeping it a secret from them, but then Gabriel remembered two of those exes were Jessica and Ruby, and even on his worst day he knew any prank involving those two would be in really bad taste, especially Ruby.

It wasn't until four days later that he realized the best prank he could pull would be a repeat of what had gotten him in this mess to begin with—disguising himself as a girl—but this time there would be no horse sex. He disguised himself as a beautiful blonde, reminiscent of Jessica—it was only wrong if he pretended to be Jessica, looking similar to her was another matter entirely—and went to the bar where he knew Dean and Sam were spending their evening.

The two hunters were seated at the bar, and Gabriel plopped himself on the stool next to Sam. He then ordered a drink in a feminine voice.

No reaction.

He brushed his elbow against Sam's arm. The younger Winchester shifted away from him and focused his attention on Dean.

Dean noticed Gabriel though, and smiled flirtatiously.

Gabriel contained his scowl—Dean was supposed to be going after Castiel—and turned his head away.

Gabriel did little things throughout the night, just hoping to catch Sam's eye, but not even an hour later Sam left without even sparing him a glance.

Gabriel tried again two nights later. As much as it rankled him to consider it, Ruby had seduced goody-two-shoes Sam into summoning Lucifer, so maybe a curvy brunette was the way to go? He created an illusion that gave him a similar build to Ruby, but none of her facial features, and he pulled his dark hair into a ponytail, letting some strands frame his face.

He waltzed into the second bar in low riding denim shorts that had every person with a sex drive and an attraction to ladies staring at him with a burning hunger. So Sam must have been asexual, because once again the damn kid refused to look at him.

Gabriel made a point of bumping into Sam as the tall hunter and his brother hustled a few guys at billiards. He quickly apologized, batting his eyelashes up at Sam, and he not so subtly ran his hands over Sam's chest.

It really was a nice chest. Nice and firm, but still somehow soft.

Gabriel's admiration of Sam's sternum was cut short, by Sam smiling as he eased Gabriel away and told Gabriel that the angel hadn't messed up his shot, so everything was fine. Gabriel offered to buy Sam a drink and the hunter turned him down, earning a disbelieving look from Dean.

After that, Sam went back to ignoring Gabriel.

It was the third night, a week later, and Gabriel looked over his disguise in the full-length mirror of the ritzy hotel room he was borrowing for the last few minutes. Red curls cascaded over petite, pale shoulders, and stopped just short of the sweetheart neckline of the floral summer dress Gabriel wore. He frowned. He had picked the dress because Sam seemed to like his ladies to have an air of innocence about them, but the dress was just a little too good-girlie. Gabriel summoned his olive jacket. He doubted the jacket would give away his identity—as if Sam was expecting Gabriel to pretend to be a girl to seduce him then reveal at the last second who he really was. It might even help Gabriel gain Sam's notice. The only other clue to his identity were his golden hazel eyes. He'd already tried blue and green, so why not his vessel's natural color?

Taking a deep breath to calm his irritated nerves, Gabriel snapped himself into the bar closest to where the boys were staying. As he expected, the two were already there. Sam was seated at the bar while Dean was off talking to a girl in a booth. Although, by the looks of one of the guys playing poker a few tables down, Dean wasn't going anywhere with that girl without a fight.

Gabriel contemplated whisking Castiel in to remind Dean where his heart really lay, but then Sam would know Gabriel was there.

Gabriel sauntered up to the bar, and considered his options. Previously he had ordered a drink to get Sam's attention, and that had failed. He then had offered Sam a drink and that had flailed too. Gabriel sat down quietly, and made a point of not waving the bartender over. From the corner of his eye, Gabriel waited for Sam to notice him, but the boy was oblivious.

The bartender finally came over. "What can I get you, miss?"

"I'm not sure. What's he having? It looks good." Gabriel pointed to Sam who was nursing a glass of whiskey.

Sam glanced at Gabriel for less than a second before returning to watch Dean strike out with the girl in the booth.

The blood in Gabriel's vessel heated to volcanic levels. He didn't even hear the bartender's answer, he just told the man to get him the same thing and slid his stool right next to Sam's so their thighs were pressing. The physical contact had Sam's body jerking into full attention within a second. He looked down at Gabriel, who flipped his red curls over his shoulder.

"What's a girl gotta do to get your attention?"

"Excuse me?" Sam leaned away. "Do I know you?"

Gabriel huffed. "I've been trying to get your attention all night, and you keep ignoring me."

"But you just got here," Sam defended although his heart wasn't in it. It was pretty clear by the dazed look on his face that Sam was operating on autopilot momentarily until his brain made sense of the situation.

Gabriel smirked and lied, "You've just proven my point. I've been here all along."

The bartender returned with a glass of whiskey, and Gabriel downed half of it. Sighing as he enjoyed the burn. The drink was crap compared to Mud Slides and Mai Tais but right now the sharp sting of alcohol left unhidden by chocolate or fruit was what he needed.

"So what gets your boy bits tingling, because I can't figure it out. Does my hair color turn you off? Is my butt too big? Too small? Do I need to be more domineering? You gotta tell me, because I am dying here."

Sam laughed a little bit, but there was tint of worry to his tone. Gabriel was coming off too strong, but he was too desperate and curious to care.

"I'm just not interested," Sam said.

Gabriel pouted. "But why?" After all the effort Gabriel had put into this plan, he was not giving up now.

Sam looked down at his beverage on the bar as if deciding whether to be honest or not. A second later he sighed and brought the glass to his lips. "There's someone else."

"There is?" That was the last thing Gabriel expected to hear.

A real chuckle escaped Sam. "Is it really that hard to believe?"

"Well…no. You are good looking, but…" Gabriel couldn't continue the sentence without giving away his identity. Sam never talked about being in a relationship with anyone. He hadn't even mentioned being interested in someone.

"Hey, Sammy."

Gabriel jumped in his seat as Dean sidled up behind him and the elder Winchester's breath tickled his ears. He could also feel Dean's chest against his back. The proximity caused Gabriel's annoyance to surge. Dean might have as nice a chest as Sam's, but 1.) Gabriel was talking to Sam about some critical information that he could use against Gigantor later, and 2.) Castiel.

"Who's your friend?" Dean smiled coyly at Gabriel, as the archangel craned his neck to look Dean in the eye.

Gabriel matched Dean's expression with one of his own, soaked in saccharine. "Go back to your boyfriend, pretty boy."

Dean's mouth fell open an inch.

Sam snickered behind his hand, and the sight and sound had Gabriel beaming with pride.

Between sniggers, Sam glanced at Gabriel from the corner of his eye. "Gabriel?"

Dean spluttered. "Gabriel?"

Gabriel mock pouted and leaned into Sam. "Aw, Sam, what gave me away?"

"You are sick." Dean wrenched himself away from Gabriel and returned to patrolling the bar for beauties.

"I really should just trap him and Castiel in a closet."

"Don't. You'll ruin my plan." Sam sipped his drink.

"And what is your plan?"

Sam smiled over the rim of his glass.

Gabriel heaved a sigh then waved the bartender over. "Two Mud Slides, and if you don't serve those then whatever the sweetest thing on the menu is."

The bartender looked between the two of them. "For you and the young man, miss?"

"Did I stutter?" Gabriel clapped his hands together. "Now hurry, chop-chop." The bartender made an expression that could contend with Sam's bitchface, but went to work making the beverages.

"I'm not a fan of Mud Slides."

Gabriel held up the glass of whiskey he'd order. "Well, I'm not a fan of this." He tossed his head back and drank the last of the burning liquid. He smacked his lips together and set the glass down. "But I drank it for you."

"I could have finished it for you," Sam pointed out.

Gabriel waved off the comment and twisted in his seat so his knees brushed Sam's. "So you going to tell me about your new love interest?"

"No."

Gabriel slapped his hand over his heart like he had just been shot.

Sam rolled his eyes.

"C'mon Sam, who is the lucky lady?"

Sam swirled the whiskey in his glass then set it down. He looked over his shoulder at the door then up at the clock on the wall.

Gabriel refused to let Sam leave him just yet. "Okay, fine. Don't tell me who it is, but can you at least answer my original question: what is your type, because, Sam, I've tried to take you home twice already and you are like an impenetrable wall."

Sam wrinkled his nose. "Why were you trying to take me home?"

"To pull a M. Butterfly when you'd kiss me at the doorstep."

"Uh-huh." Sam glanced at the door again.

Gabriel seized Sam's arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I promise I won't use whatever information you give against you for this prank war, but I make no promises if there is a second one."

Sam slouched just as the bartender brought out two drinks that looked like strawberry milkshakes. "It's more of a personality type."

"Sweet," Gabriel supplied the word disdainfully as he drank the pink beverage that really was nothing more than a strawberry milkshake with alcohol in it.

Sam lips pressed together as he tossed and turned the word in his head. "I guess. It's more than that, though. Ruby wasn't sweet, and while I wasn't in love with her, there was something there. I think it had more to do with good intentions. When I was with her, I really thought we were doing the right thing, that she wanted to help. Now, I know better." Sam shrugged then lifted the milkshake to his lips and scrunched his face as he inhaled its sugary scent.

"Anything else?" Gabriel asked.

Sam pondered for moment. "Independence. A lot of the girl's I like can take care of themselves and aren't afraid to tell me what to do."

Gabriel nodded his head. "Good. Now tell me about your hobbies and I will set up your online dating profile."

Sam snorted into his fruity drink. "Shut up."

Prank: M. Butterfly had gone up in flames spectacularly, and after two weeks of failing to seduce Sam, it was time for Gabriel to go after some real ass and not just one he'd planned to leave with blue balls. It was a choice between looking for hot and willing ladies at the local strip club or the bar. His recent experience at bars with Sam had Gabriel flying to the strip club, only to flee when it was angel and devil themed. Some days he found such places cute—like watching a dog walk on its hind legs kind of cute. That night though, he wasn't in the mood to humor the role play, so he went to the bar.

The pickings were slim. The bar was filled with mostly males, and while Gabriel was willing to dip into the other side of the gender pool every now and then, the men were not dressed to impress. Well, except the guy with a baseball cap with four beer cans attached to the sides. It took a truly confident—or drunk—man to wear a hat like that, which was always impressive.

There was a trio of college-age kids seated at a table. Two girls, one guy. Gabriel watched them, taking note of their interactions until he was almost certain that the brunette and the boy were dating. Forty minutes passed and the boy and girl left behind their pretty blonde friend, who deflated as soon as they exited the bar.

Gabriel made his move quickly; he hadn't been blind to the other men looking for lonely women. He slid into the seat next her and smiled. The girl looked up, and with a few jokes to break the ice, Gabriel was buying the girl a drink and was one-step closer to sex for the night. He nodded and laughed throughout the conversation when appropriate, all the while he kept playing episodes of Dr. Sexy M.D. in his head.

The girl said something about using the powder room and Gabriel smiled and promised her he'd still be there when she came back, earning a giggle from her.

As he replayed one of Dr. Sexy and Dr. Piccolo's famous elevator make out scenes in his head, he was interrupted by a stray thought reminding him that technically he hadn't gotten back at Sam yet. He was a trickster; it would ruin his reputation if it ever got out that not only had he been outsmarted by a human, but his revenge against aforementioned human had failed; he'd be a laughingstock.

Gabriel scratched at the label of his beer bottle that secretly contained Mountain Dew.

He supposed it wouldn't be too bad, though, as long as everyone knew the human was Sam Winchester. The Winchesters did have a reputation of their own after all, and Sam was considered the brains of the operation.

No, it wouldn't be the worst thing if the world knew Sam Winchester had gotten one over on Loki, and unlike Dean, Sam would never flaunt it.

Beer splashed Gabriel in the face.

Gabriel blinked.

The blonde he had been flirting with was red faced and scowling. Her arm was thrust forward with the neck of her bottle angled at Gabriel.

At least he knew who had splashed him in the middle of his ponderings. Now he just needed to find out the reason for it. "Do you do this on all your first dates?"

The girl slammed the bottle down on the table. "You asshole! Just because you're hurt and upset doesn't give you the right to fuck around with your partner's heart."

"My what?"

The girl held up her hand to silence Gabriel. "Your partner was here, and he told me everything, and maybe its none of my business, but its so obvious that he loves you and he wishes he could take back what happened, which is so sad because it was not his fault."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Gabriel waved his arms in front of his chest in a crisscrossing motion. His chair scraped across the floor as he stood up. "What exactly did my 'partner' tell you? And what did he look like?"

The girl bit her bottom lip and glanced around the room nervously, only just then comprehending what a scene she had made, and that maybe, just maybe, the person she'd talked to might have been lying. She hesitated for a moment then puffed up her cheeks and huffed. "He was really tall and gorgeous. He had long hair too, and he said you left him when you found out about his…condition." The girl whispered the last word.

"Condition?" Gabriel fought the grin that threatened to spread across his face. Oh Sammy, what lies and slander have you been spreadin'?

"Genital Herpes," The girl mumbled.

Gabriel burst out laughing.

The girl sneered. "It's not funny! Especially how he got it, you heartless bastard. He was raped."

That cut off Gabriel's chuckles. Sam never struck him as the type to joke about such a thing. Perhaps someone had mistaken Gabriel for someone else? "Did he use the word 'rape'?"

The girl shuffled her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well… no, but he said someone really close to both of you lured him to a warehouse and gave him…you know."

Gabriel guffawed and doubled-over. Tears of mirth filled his vessel's eyes. "That sneaky bastard!"

"How can you laugh about something so serious?"

"Because I'm the one who gave him Herpes."

The girl double-blinked. "What?"

Gabriel snickered, stuffing his hands in his pockets and happily strolled out of the bar, not caring that once again if he wanted to have sex it would have to be with one of his illusions. Well played, Sam.

Gabe…

Gabriel's head snapped to the left, Sam's weak voice straining his ears as Gabriel tried to zero-in on where the prayer had come from. He closed his eyes to focus his senses. The prayer had been so faint, if he had been doing anything that required a minute amount of concentration he would not have heard it, but luckily he had been watching one of his favorite variety shows.

Gabriel focused on Castiel. If Sam was in trouble then the chances were Dean was too, and where Dean went Castiel was sure to follow. His brother's grace was only a few towns over, and with a flap of his wings Gabriel appeared in front of Castiel in a second.

Castiel was on his knees, cradling an unconscious Dean in his lap. The two of them were covered in splatters of blood. Beheaded and holy fried vampires littered the floor of the sewers-turned-vampire-nest.

Castiel pressed a hand to Dean's face, healing whatever injures plagued Dean, but the hunter did not rouse.

"Where's Sam?" A distant part of Gabriel cried out in panic, but it was smothered by his long forgotten soldier self, which refused to let him put the younger Winchester in danger by letting his more human side rule him now. He was calm, cool, and collected as any warrior of Heaven should be.

Castiel tore his worrying gaze away from Dean. "I don't know. Dean called for me. I arrived just in time to stop one of vampires from turning him."

Gabriel's grace bristled. He turned on heel and took a step forward, but stopped himself from continuing. He turned his head just enough so he could see Castiel over his shoulder. "You may love Dean, but he is not your only charge, Castiel."

It wasn't fair to say, and it was hypocritical, but he was more in tune with who he had been in Heaven in that moment than he had been in centuries. He was an archangel and Castiel his subordinate, even if they didn't act like it most of the time.

Gabriel tapped into his grace and explored the sewer's tunnels in seconds. He found Sam at the dead end of one of the tunnels with five dead vampires surrounding him. Sam sat upright with his back pressed against the sludge covered walls. His eyes were closed and he was drenched in blood, but his chest rose and fell, which was enough to let Gabriel relax and slip out of his soldier persona. Although, the sight of a vampire's head in Sam's lap and the body sprawled across the hunter put Gabriel on edge.

Gabriel inched toward the hunter, toeing away the carcasses that blocked his path.

Sam groaned and tensed. His eyes fluttered open as he raised his machete.

"Don't worry, it's your favorite archangel, Samsquatch."

Sam blinked up at Gabriel.

A weak smile tugged on Sam's lips before he groaned and his head forward with his eyes shut.

Gabriel crouched in front of the young man, flinging aside the vampire corpse that had been atop Sam. Now that he was only a foot away from the hunter, Gabriel could see the pallor of the boy's skin and the sweat that beaded across Sam's forehead. Gabriel ran his fingers through Sam's hair, forcing Sam to tilt his head up. The smile was still on his face. "You actually came." He said in a shuddering breath.

"You thought I wouldn't?" Gabriel examined Sam's body. He bit back a hiss of sympathetic pain when he saw a pipe lodge through Sam's leg. Blood dripped out of the wound into a small puddle on the floor. The pipe may have caused the initial damage, but so far it was the only thing keeping Sam from bleeding to death.

"You're a bit of a wild card," Sam said.

Gabriel grinned as he wrapped his hands around the pipe. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Sam grunted.

"I'm going to pull this pipe out, understood?"

Sam nodded.

"Good. Now!" Gabriel winced at the squelch as he yanked the pipe out of Sam. The string of curses that poured out of Sam simultaneously tugged on his vessel's heart and amused him; he'd never heard such a plethora of colorful language come out of Sam's mouth all at once before.

Sam took deep breaths as he tried to will the pain away. Gabriel set his hand on Sam's leg, letting his powers heal the injury. "So you and Cas fighting, or did you just miss me?"

Sam shook his head. "Dean. I didn't want to put him in danger, and I knew if Cas had to choose…" Sam trailed off, still weary from his battle. He let his head sink against the wall. He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Gabriel's, and for a moment something akin to amusement danced in those brown depths. "I have to admit, must be nice having a guardian angel. I'm a little jealous."

"Castiel isn't a guardian angel." He knew Sam was joking, but something compelled Gabriel to correct him.

"I know." Something in Sam's face changed, and like a crack in a mirror Gabriel saw through the façade of humor.

Sam really was jealous.

Gabriel had never been good with seriousness though, so he feigned ignorance. "What? You want your personal guardian angel?"

Sam shook his head. He pressed his palms against the ground and pushed himself onto his legs. His limbs quaked under his weight, and Gabriel touched his hip to keep Sam steady as he adjusted. "It'd just be nice to know that there is someone always there. Besides Dean, you know."

"Someone you can cuddle at night," Gabriel supplied. "Because not gonna lie, but Dean doesn't strike as the type to cuddle. Although, Castiel might change that."

Sam laughed. It wasn't boisterous. Short, quiet, and simple. Enough to let Gabriel know that even though Sam was mentally and physically drained, he would be okay. Gabriel rose to his feet, walking beside Sam.

The giant stumbled, and for a second Gabriel latched his arm around Sam's waist.

When Sam regained his balance, Gabriel slid his arm off the hunter.

The two walked in silence toward where Gabriel had left Castiel with Dean. Finally, the silence became too much and Gabriel's thoughts too loud. "You know…" Gabriel winced at what he was about to say. It was going to sound so corny, but he couldn't have a repeat of what happened today. "You can pray to me. It's not like you're Dean who needs help tying his shoes."

The corner of Sam's mouth twitched up. "Thanks."

Gabriel slung his arm around Sam's shoulders as he popped into the diner booth across from Dean and Castiel. Sam and Dean flinched at his sudden appearance and scanned the room to make sure no one had noticed. Once the two were certain no one was freaking out about Gabriel flashing into the room they relaxed. "So Team Free Will is holding a meeting without me?"

"Feeling like the ugly girl at prom?" Dean said.

"Please, everyone knows I'm the one whoring it up in the bathroom with the prom king." Gabriel twirled a strand of Sam's hair around his finger. Sam's large head conveniently blocked the action from Dean and Castiel's view.

Sam frowned and cast an inquiring look Gabriel's way but didn't dislodge the archangel. "We're just having lunch."

"Right, because Castiel has nothing better to do than eat lunch with you two."

Castiel shifted in his seat, the action similar to a bird ruffling its feathers. "It is not a matter of lacking important tasks to perform. Dean has assured me that sharing meals is an important social activity that strengthens bonds, and considering the ever-looming threat of danger, I feel it important to partake in such experiences to improve our teamwork on the battlefield."

Gabriel waved his hand in a flourish. "Just say you wanted be with your boyfriend."

Dean glared, and was it just Gabriel's imagination or did Dean slide a little closer to Castiel?

Whatever. Gabriel had better things to think about than Dean and Castiel's stagnant relationship at the moment; he'd get back to plotting various ways to trap them in a closet once he had his afternoon dose of sugar. Gabriel's fingers slipped out of Sam's hair and he poised his hand to snap in a sundae when Sam's hand clamped around his wrist. "You're going to draw more attention to us if you snap in food that's off menu."

Gabriel looked around, and noticed two people staring who were probably questioning when he had arrived. Gabriel ripped his hand out of Sam's grasp, and mockingly wiggled in his seat like a petulant child. "But Sam, I want my ice cream now, and the waitress isn't even paying attention to us. I'll have to wait like ten minutes. That's if I'm lucky."

Sam rolled his eyes and pushed himself halfway out of his seat. "I have to go to the bathroom anyway, so just tell me what you want and I'll ask her for it on my way."

"You spoil me, Sammy." Gabriel grinned, crossing one leg over the over as he leaned back in his seat. "Get me a sundae with everything on it."

Sam nodded and headed toward the bathroom, making a detour along the way to talk to the waitress. She was in the middle of clearing off a table and smiled at the giant's approach. Sam talked and the girl's face lit up. She nodded her head rapidly, and hurried to the back of the diner.

Gabriel snorted at the interaction then let his eyes drift. That's when he noticed that Sam still had a nice chunk of salad left, and he still owed Sam for more than one prank. He considered putting bugs in Sam's food, but the longer he thought about it, the less he liked the idea. He did like the second idea he had, though, and with just the tiniest use of his grace he manipulated and transformed the white bowl. It didn't look any different from the outside, but there was a special surprise waiting for Sam at the bottom of the bowl now.

Satisfied with what he considered a mild prank, Gabriel let his gaze wander.

The table was oddly quiet for the trio. Castiel was always quiet, so it wasn't too surprising for him to be off in his own head somewhere, but Dean almost talked as much as Gabriel. The older hunter was eating his burger with one hand, resolutely avoiding anything having to do with Gabriel.

The archangel opened his mouth to make a snide comment about Dean putting on weigh but stopped.

He hadn't thought much about Dean eating a burger with one hand, but the more Gabriel thought about it the more he realized just how awkward Dean looked. Maybe if he were holding a burger off of the McDonald's dollar menu Dean wouldn't look like he was just one "accidental" bump away from dropping his meal, but the burger in his hand was just as wide as Dean's head and stacked with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and more. It really should be eaten with two hands.

Gabriel trailed his gaze down the arm that to the unsuspecting eye was just casually resting at Dean's side. Gabriel saw the slight angle though and almost gaped. Dean's hand was resting on Castiel's thigh.

Gabriel had to confirm his suspicion, so he adjusted his position in the booth, feigning discomfort, and saw exactly what he had theorized.

"What?" Dean glared at Gabriel.

The archangel blinked, just then realizing he had been staring at Dean and Castiel for longer than what was considered polite. Normally, he would jump on the opportunity to tease Dean, but this new development was so unexpected that Gabriel felt like he was in the presence of a skittish animal. He didn't dare breath wrong in fear that the moment he did so the creature known as Destiel would break apart into its two halves and run away, never to join again.

"Just thinking about how awesome my sundae is going to be while you're stuck with a burger."

"Burgers are awesome." To prove his point, Dean tore a bite out of his.

Sam returned right when the waitress popped out the kitchen with large bowl of ice cream dripping in fudge and strawberry syrup with nuts, bananas, and a cherry on top. Gabriel was drooling at the sight. He didn't care if Sam was silently laughing at him with his eyes as the tall hunter slid into the booth beside him. All that mattered was that in a few seconds Gabriel's taste buds were going to be very happy.

"Here is your order, sir." The girl set the bowl down, and turned to go.

She hadn't even taken two steps by the time Gabriel picked up his spoon and dove into the ice cream, expecting nothing but sweetness.

Hot sauce burned his tongue.

Gabriel yelped, gagged, and spat the ice cream into his napkin. His vessel's skin crawled at the horror that was wasted ice cream. He then examined the sundae more thoroughly and realized that what he thought had been strawberry syrup was really hot sauce. "What kind of sociopath…"

Castiel stood up and leaned across the table. "What's wrong, Gabriel?"

Dean was tense in his seat, his gaze flickering to each patron, looking for whoever had attacked Gabriel.

Sam calmly ate his salad.

That's when Gabriel realized what had happened. Like a black and white video, Gabriel replayed the moment Sam talked to the waitress. Sam had said something that had caused the girl excitement and to rush off to fill an order while she was in the middle of something else. No one had had the chance to ruin Gabriel's sundae except the waitress and she had no reason to, but Sam…

Gabriel twisted in his seat. "You do not mess with my sweets, Sam."

Sam plucked up a lettuce leaf with his fork from his salad. He tensed and shuddered as he stared at the inside of the bowl. Taking a deep breath, Sam set the fork down—still with the lettuce on it—and Sam picked up the bowl. He held it up so Gabriel could see the image imprinted inside and scowled. The expression contrasted beautifully with the beaming clown face at the bottom of the bowl. "And you do not bring clowns into this."

The rage that had pumped through his vessel's veins and churned his grace vanished as Gabriel was reminded of the simple prank he'd just set up prior. Gabriel's lip curled upward, and he was delighted to see the Sam's mouth did something similar. Gabriel held out his hand toward Sam. "Call it a draw then?"

"I believe I'm one prank ahead of you," Sam said.

Gabriel quirked an eyebrow. "I can put worms in what's left of your salad, if you want."

Sam's hand launched into his, and they shook.

Dean and Castiel exchanged confused expressions. Dean shrugged and Castiel sat down.

Gabriel didn't point out that Castiel was pressed up against Dean's side. He also may have moved a little closer to Sam, and returned to playing with the younger Winchester's hair, but no one needed to know that other than him and Sam.

Gabriel ran his hand over the various Victoria's Secret catalogues, Sports Illustrated magazines, and Play Boy issues, searching for a lady of the night for him. They were all lovely and would make for perfect partners, but something was missing. He'd flip through the pages, see a beautiful girl that appealed to him, but just as he would conjure her into existence, he would stop himself and look at the picture again. Something was always missing.

Gabriel frowned and slumped against the couch. How could so many gorgeous women be missing such an important unidentifiable trait? Perhaps it was because they were all so beautiful? The same mussed up hair, the same plump lips, the same air brushed bodies, and the same smile and bedroom eyes. There was no spark, no individuality… and since when the fuck did Gabriel care about that?

He sighed and ran a hand over his face.

Wings rustled in front of him, and Gabriel titled his head up lazily even though his body was tense with worry. He always feared that one of these days it wouldn't be Castiel appearing in the room, but one of his other siblings.

"Hello, Gabriel."

The deep voice of his little brother rid Gabriel of his tension. He smiled up at Castiel. "Hey bro, what's up? Are you here to tell me about how you and Dean are officially a couple now?"

Castiel tensed, then slowly nodded. "I believed we were being discreet, but it seems I made an error."

"You were. I was just looking for it." Gabriel rested his hands behind his head. "So how'd Sam do it?"

Castiel tilted his head to the side.

Gabriel sighed in exasperation. "What did Sam do to make you and Dean confess your undying love for each other?"

Castiel's brow knitted. "Sam did not force us to do anything. He was very encouraging and supportive, though, when I discussed pursuing a relationship with Dean."

Gabriel's eyebrows shot up and he straightened. "Wait. You're saying Sam did nothing? He didn't even suggest you go out and buy Dean flowers or something equally cheesy?"

Castiel shook his head, but stopped in the middle of the action. "He did offer to distract you. I told him it wasn't necessary, however, it seems I was blinded by my infatuation with Dean and did not realize at the time that such a task would not…" Castiel paused. For a moment his face hardened and Gabriel could see the calculating warrior that lay beneath the naïve facet of his brother's personality. "I am not just here to announce my relationship with Dean."

"Oh?" Gabriel faked innocence, but his inside were curling with anticipation. Whatever Castiel was about to say was important, and such news was usually really bad.

"You were right, Gabriel. Dean is not my only charge, and there have been many times when I have neglected Sam over Dean, however, I plan to atone for my mistakes. My first step toward that goal is to issue a warning." The lights flickered in the room, and the shadow of Castiel's wings covered the wall behind the small angel. "Do not hurt Sam Winchester."

Laughter burst from Gabriel and he smacked his knee. "You're warning me," he pointed at his chest, "not to harm Sam? Someone has obviously found out about recreational drugs and has taken a house full of them." Castiel's frowned and Gabriel huffed in annoyance. "Oh, don't pout, Cassie. I'll still love you, even if you're totally baked."

A flicker of confusion contorted Castiel's face, but he brushed aside the emotion to take a step forward, returning to his intimidation tactics. "I am serious, Gabriel."

"So am I." Gabriel zapped a cherry-flavored sucker into his mouth.

"You are lying, not just about our current situation, but to yourself. You have developed a fondness for Sam Winchester, and you have demonstrated on numerous occasions what it is you like to do with humans when they have captured your attention, both in positive and negative ways." Castiel paused, letting his words sink in. "I cannot claim to know much about Sam's preferences in partners or relationships, but from what little information the brothers have given me, Sam desires more than just a night of carnal activities. If such a night is all you crave then I ask that you leave Sam alone to pursue a relationship with someone else."

Gabriel rolled his tongue around the sucker in his mouth, pondering what Castiel had said. Sam was good-looking. One night would definitely be fun, albeit awkward if Gabriel thought about the fact that Sam was Lucifer's vessel, however, Gabriel knew once he got that sculpted body over or under him, any weirdness would fade away. The more he thought about it, the more Gabriel knew he would want more than one round with Sam—there were so many positions to try—but an actual relationship…? That he would need more time to mull over.

Gabriel popped the sucker out of his mouth. "And if I wanted a relationship?"

"Then I would not stand in your way."

Gabriel hummed in thought, placing the sucker against his lips.

Castiel stared at him, as if expecting Gabriel to tell him exactly what the archangel had planned for Sam at that moment.

"I'm thinking about it," Gabriel said, his tone coming off a tad snide. He did not like being pressured or rushed. Heck, after the TV Land incident it had taken all of his willpower not to hunt down Dean and deliver some divine justice to the hypocritical asshole.

Castiel gave a slight nod and then flew out of the hotel room.

Gabriel bent forward, propping his arm on his leg and resting his chin in his palm as he eyed the many magazines that covered the coffee table.

Beautiful girls and he could have them all, but they would just be imitations, and illusions were never as good as the real thing. He could get the real thing too, though. He would just have to change his appearance or put himself in the right place at the right time, and he could probably have sex with most them. It would be better than his illusions, but they were just bodies and he was starving for something more.

The last time he had wanted such a relationship, Kali had wandered into his life. It had been fun, and the sex had been great, but in the end it just fizzled out. She wanted to cause the destruction of the world, and he wanted to keep playing in it; it just wasn't meant to be. Also, she seemed to only appreciate his "lessons" and found his more harmless pranks tedious and stupid.

Sam and him wanted to keep the world from ending, though. Sam also had happily engaged Gabriel in a prank war. Sure, the kid chastised Gabriel for pulling pranks too, but it was more out of wanting to keep everyone from ripping each others' throats out. How could Gabriel, the angel who ran away from home because he couldn't stand the fighting, begrudged someone for that?

The sucker had melted away in Gabriel's mouth, and the angel ran a hand through his blond hair, hating how serious his thoughts had turned.

He dug his hand between the couch cushions and pulled out the remote to the TV across the room. He turned it on and shuddered as The Hills Are Alive filled the room. He then smiled as he remembered he had been engaged in a prank war with Dean right before Sam swooped in and stole his attention away.

"He did offer to distract you, though." Castiel's words bounced around in Gabriel's head.

"I told him it wasn't necessary…" Gabriel turned down the volume on the TV.

"I was blinded …and did not realize…that such a task would not…"

Gabriel smirked as he changed the channel. Oh Sammy, I never realized how sneaky you are.

Candles covered the counters, nightstands, and the table of the motel room the Winchesters were staying in as they hunted for some creature that didn't stand a chance against them. A chilled bottled of champagne sat on the table with two glasses halfway filled. Barry Manilow played in the background even though there was no radio or CD player in the room, and a trail of red rose petals led up to the king-sized bed that Gabriel had replaced the two Queens with, which was where he lay. Naked.

This was both a prank and seduction.

Dean's muffled voice could be heard approaching the door, and Gabriel's positioned himself on his side, arm propping up is head and his goods on display for whoever walked through the door.

The knob turned and there was a click as the latch moved. The door swung open to reveal Dean.

Gabriel smirked.

"Agh!" Dean threw a hand over his face and whirled away. "My eyes!"

Gabriel chuckled. "Enjoy your new room, Dean." He snapped his fingers and Dean disappeared from the door frame. Gabriel had put Dean the room five doors down on the right, and had left two pies for the hunter to enjoy while Gabriel had fun with Sam.

Sam raced into the room, gun pulled out and his eyes wide with panic. When he saw Gabriel lying naked, surrounded by candles and Barry Manilow music playing in the background, most of the tension faded from Sam's shoulders. "What did you do to Dean?"

Gabriel snorted. "I'm lying here on display for you, and all you want to know is where I put your brother?"

"Yeah."

Gabriel released an exaggerated sigh. "He's just a few rooms down, don't worry." Gabriel grinned wickedly and patted the mattress. "Now come join me and we can teach Barry Manilow how to make real music."

One corner of Sam's mouth quirked, but he staved off his smile. He was still tense, and Gabriel could sense that the boy was slightly suspicious about the situation. "I thought we called it a truce on the prank war?"

Gabriel snapped and the candles, rose petals, and music disappeared. He grinned as he sat up and roved his eyes over Sam's body, excitement thrumming through his body. "All right, so I may have gone a little overboard for a few laughs, but that doesn't mean I'm not serious about my offer, or maybe I should say 'your reward'."

Sam swallowed hard and back stepped. "Do mind putting your clothes back on, because I'm really confused, and I'd prefer for you not to be naked while explaining to me what's going on.

Gabriel stood up, reveling how Sam did his best to avoid glancing at a certain body part of Gabriel's and failed. "Am I too distracting, Sam?"

Sam turned his head away, shielding the side of his face with his hand. "Gabriel, please?"

Gabriel huffed and zapped his jeans back on, but remained shirtless. "Better?"

Sam lowered his hand and looked at Gabriel from the corner of his eye. All the tension left Sam's body. "Yes. So what is going on here?"

Gabriel sauntered up to Sam, running his hand over Sam's chest. "A little angel may have let it slip that someone volunteered to distract me from making sure my little brother and Dean got in each others' pants. This same angel also told me that I wasn't allowed to hurt you, and it got me thinking." Gabriel slid his arm up Sam's pectorals, earning a shudder. The reaction had Gabriel's insides jumping with glee and desire. His hands traced over Sam's shoulders and then locked together behind Sam's neck. "Now while I can definitely hurt you in many ways, the implication was that I'd love you and leave you, which shouldn't cause you any pain if its just for gratification." Gabriel grounded his hips against Sam's to emphasis the point. Sam's hot breath brushed across Gabriel's face. "So that must mean that you must want me in more than just a physical way."

Sam's head snapped backward like he'd been slapped. He tried to slip out of Gabriel's hold, but Gabriel refused to let go. He had Sam right where he wanted him. "I've decided I like you."

Sam stiffened in his arms and looked down at Gabriel in disbelief.

Gabriel hands reached into Sam's hair and pushed the hunter's head down to his own. Their foreheads touched and their breathes mingled, but Gabriel kept a short distance between their lips. "It's not easy to trick me, Samsquatch, and you've done it multiple times." The biggest trick being the one Gabriel hadn't even realized had been played on him until Castiel arrived in his hotel room. Sam had completely and utterly sidetracked him from his original mission: to get Dean and Castiel together. "So you win."

He pulled Sam's head down that last inch between their lips and clashed their mouths together. His grace flared to life at the contact, and Gabriel found himself uncontrollably pressing his lips harder against Sam's as he prodded Sam's salty and soft lips with his tongue. He felt another burst of his grace as Sam opened his mouth and together they deepened the kiss. It was exactly what he had been craving, and he enjoyed the sensation so much that he cursed the fact that humans needed to breath as he let Sam go.

Sam took two deep breaths. A shy smile danced on his lips. "So by 'you win' do you mean that this is a one time thing or—"

Gabriel smacked Sam lightly on the back of head before he could finish his stupid question. He scowled for a second to communicate without words to Sam that any questioning of his sincerity and commitment would not be appreciated. He then let his mouth curl into a mischievous smile as his fingers massaged the back of Sam's scalp. "It means that Dean and Castiel are going to have some serious competition for prom king and queen."

Laughter ripped from Sam, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead into Gabriel's.

Gabriel really did love that laugh.

With a mock growl, Gabriel wrapped his arms around Sam's waist, and with his angelic strength picked Sam up and tossed the hunter on the bed. Sam bounced on the mattress with a grunt.

Gabriel pounced on him, slamming his mouth onto Sam's for another heated kiss. He pulled back to admire the lips that he knew would already be tinged red from their kissing. He was caught off guard when Sam tilted his head back and stared at the alarm clock on the nightstand. "Yup. Not even five seconds into this relationship and I'm already pinned on the bed."

Gabriel shortened the distance between them by centimeters. "And you have no idea how agonizingly painful it was just to wait that long."

Sam laughed and tugged Gabriel down for another kiss.

End.