Imagine being Gabriel's sister and making him promise something important.

A/n - at the beginning, you're young, like around 8

Word Count: 1149

~

You watch your big brothers wrestling on the soft grass, admiring their skills as they pummel each other. You, Cas, Samandriel, and Balthazar observe them with bated breath, occasionally cheering.

When they pause to catch their breath, you clap vigorously, "Wow! My turn!"

Michael scoffs, "You're too small, you can't play with us."

"Yeah, you wouldn't last a second," Lucifer nods.

Crestfallen, you frown, wringing your hands behind your back nervously, "Please?"

"No, now get out of the way."

You sniffle and turn away, Cas and the other staying behind to watch some more. Soft grass brushes against your legs as you wander around Heaven. Picking a flower, you twirl it idly in your hands before tossing it down.

A tear falls down your face as the feeling of being left out washes over you. Why can't they ever play with you?

Suddenly, you hear a familiar tune radiating from a tree right by the river. Looking up, you see Gabriel, his golden wings flowing in the wind as he sits atop the highest branch.

You smile as he continues playing his golden kazoo. Scrambling up the branches, you make your way to his side. You carefully position your wings so that they are teased by the wind as well.

He pauses his playing to ask you, "Mikey and Luci not letting you play with them?"

You nod sadly, watching them in the distance as they battle playfully, Cas, Balthazar, and Samandriel watching them and applauding.

Sighing, you lean against your big brother, "They never play with me."

"Aww, cheer up buttercup," he smirks, ruffling your hair. "I'll play with you. How about hide-and-seek?"

"Yes! I'll go get the others to join!" You chirp excitedly and flutter down to the ground before racing to them. "Cas, wanna play hide-and-seek? Gabe's gonna seek first!"

He nods and so does Balthazar and Samandriel. They leave Michael and Lucifer to their fighting and follow you as you dash back to Gabriel. He stands there smiling brilliantly, waiting for his younger siblings to gather around him.

"Count to fifty," you order your big brother.

He smirks, his whiskey eyes alight with mischief, "One...two...three-"

He continues counting as you squeal and search for a place to hide. There are so many places in Heaven that prove to be excellent hiding spots, you just have to find the best.

Allowing your wings to catch air, you launch into the sky, flying low to search for a space. You finally manage to find one - a small crawling space underneath a smaller tree at the edge of the small forest.

Heart hammering in your chest, you try to slow your breathing so that no one hears you. Hidden by leaves and roots, you peek out and spot Cas rushing past, frantically looking for a place to hide.

Smothering a snicker, you watch him panic and run away just as Gabriel yells out the final number.

Quiet as a mouse, you wait.

You can hear yelling and squeals of laughter as Gabe catches Cas, Balthazar, and Samandriel. Your breath catches in your throat as you try to hear them coming.

Silence encompasses you, as you strain your ears, trying to hear what they're saying. Minutes pass by, and you start wondering if they forgot all about you.

More minutes pass, and you can't help but worry. What if they left you? What if they're never gonna find you?

As the minutes wear on, you eventually crawl out and shake off the dirt that had clung to your frame. You run to where you hear Gabriel, and wrap your arms around him.

"Hey there, squirt, what's wrong?" He asks, looking down at you.

Sniffling, you hug him tightly, "I was scared you weren't gonna find me, I was lonely."

He sighs and crouches down, "Aww, I would have found you eventually, cupcake. You don't have to be scared."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll never leave you alone, you know that."

"Promise?" You ask him, staring into his sweet whiskey coloured eyes.

He grins, nodding as he takes your hand and uses his other hand to cross his heart, "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

You beam back at him, "I love you, Gabe."

"Love you too, cupcake."

~

Panting, you sprint down a dark alley. The walls drip with rain, the water forming puddles underneath your feet as you run over the pavement. Wings damaged after all the angels fell from Heaven, you can't escape using your normal means.

The sky above is shrouded in grey clouds and they leak raindrops sporadically. Your clothes are tattered and torn, bloody from the wounds inflicted upon you by your pursuers. Streetlights reflect off the cold pavement, illuminating the harsh scene as you flee.

Each breath you take is like inhaling broken shards of glass. Each footstep you take is like stepping on tiny razors.

Pain is your universe.

And yet, you still dash shoeless underneath the cloudy sky, a faint hope dwelling within. A hope that maybe, just maybe, you'll get out of this alive.

Maybe you can live to see another day, perhaps even go back home, to Heaven.

The hope is misplaced because you know deep down the outcome of this night. You stumble down the road and hastily cast a glance behind you.

You really shouldn't have.

They are right there, five steps away.

Losing energy with each stride, your heartbeat picks up speed as panic takes hold of your senses.

You won't make it.

Stumbling again, your wounds are chasms that bleed crimson in a flood. The assailants have angel blades and they aren't afraid of using them.

You can't keep running.

With resolve, you falter in your retreat with them right behind you. You know what'll happen next, you don't want to face it but you know it is inevitable.

You turn around to face them, standing brave even as your blood flows to the soiled ground. They laugh and jeer as one of them steps forward with his angel blade ready for the killing blow.

Looking into their taunting eyes one last time, you breathe deeply and close your eyes. Fire, white-hot, ignites in your gut as the shiny blade is made filthy with your fresh blood.

They retreat, you can hear them walking away as your breathing becomes harsher and a coppery taste fills your mouth.

Falling to the ground, you twist onto your back to stare at the sky.

Raindrops plop onto your cheeks, melding beautifully with your salty tears. Sobbing, you stare upwards, dreaming of a simpler time when everyone got along.

Your only fear in this world was to be alone, and now it has become a dark, horrible reality.

"Gabe, you promised...where are you?" Your voice is hardly discernible as you lay dying on the murky streets of some city, far away from anyone who ever loved you.

Lightning flashes above you as your eyes fall into the temptation of closing.

Darkness embraces you and you are no longer alone.